What type of college should I be looking for that is fit for a pretty prestigious student who MIGHT choose/get to continue on to medical/dental school or who might just focus on his major instead? Should I be looking at
The answer could be any of the above, depending on your circumstances. In terms of costs, the EFC is the relevant figure, more so than the category the school is in. Beyond that, you should look for colleges with appeal for you, just as a non-premed student would. This online list, though not inclusive of all schools that could be good for you, can provide you with further colleges to consider: “The Experts’ Choice: Colleges With Great Pre-med Programs.”
Merit money entails compromises that many students are reluctant to accept.
For example, would you accept a free ride from St. Bonaventure’s early acceptance program with George Washington’s medical school if it were offered?
Need-based, less so for high stat applicants looking at top schools.
Your list should have elements of all types of schools.
@merc81 and @BatesParents2019 Thanks for answering, I could tell you both understood my position. And yes, I would accept the free ride at St. Bonaventure’s, and I have been looking into early assurance programs as well as accelerated programs for dental school and med school
Look into all of them, just make sure you’re within the top 25% of the admitted student profile for the university as a whole. For instance, St Olaf is a great LAC for premed, has merit, meets 100% need. Middlebury, Trinity, Connecticut College would all serve you very well regardless of major. Honors programs would be another good solution. Only choose accelerated programs if you’d be ready to attend a PA school AND have shadowed/interned.
I also recommend reading some books by physicians. Some of the less-well-known, but very useful, is The Case of Dr. Sachs, by Martin Winckler.
And this is a great film, showing an idealistic 1st year medical student doing his first rotations in a hospital as the attending’s son.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc61Di-g-E4
Hey there - I am currently applying to dental schools…From what I have gathered (from my pre-health advisor, older students, other forums, etc…) is that for dental/med school, it generally doesn’t matter where you go to school for the application process! The first thing that med/dental schools consider is how well you perform (GPA and MCAT or DAT score). If you have a GPA and test scores in the top 5-10% of applicants, you will be a strong candidate in the application process no matter where you went to school.
So pick a school setting that feels comfortable for you - so you can do your best and get a great science education!
Also, choosing the option that will allow you to leave with the least amount of debt will serve you in the future if you decide to continue on to a professional health program! 
@CCGrad1 The statement that where you go for ungrad is not important seems to be common. However, the data from AAMC doesn’t support that statement. For example, with a 3.5 gpa and 30-32 mcat the acceptance rate nationally is about 45% to at least one medical school. However, some colleges and universities have rates much higher for those data points. So, there is probably something to where you went to undergrad.
muhlenberg college–has two early admit to med school programs
http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/admissions/templemedprogram/
http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/admissions/cooperativeprogramdrexel4-4/
but if you want to just major in bio and maybe not go on to med school, that of course can be done too.
also muhlenberg has happy students and a beautiful campus
“… with a … 30-32 MCAT the [medical school] acceptance rate nationally is about 45% … However, some colleges … have much higher rates for [that data point].”
I’d argue, as well, that the MCAT itself is not an independent result, and that it is at least partially related, on average, to the quality the college education a student receives.
^^ For sure - one’s test score is not necessarily independent of where they went to school. That’s why I said earlier to go where you will get a great science education - it will be very helpful when it/if it comes time for you to study for the test.
@BatesParents2019 The OP should definitely consider those schools that have higher than the average acceptance rates - without a doubt that is a good suggestion. I just meant to express that since the OP is not 100% set on pre-med, they may want to first concentrate on choosing schools that fit their other criteria for a college (i.e. size, location, general atmosphere) - If it turns out that the OP still wants to go to med/dental school, with hard work it is possible to make it happen!