College suggestions -- need matches, etc.

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello,
So now that my junior year is winding to a close, my mind has turned to senior year and the college application process. I've made my preliminary college list but it seems that I only have reaches and a few safeties. I'm not really sure what would be a match for me.</p>

<p>I'm interested in the medical field. I don't know exactly what I want to major in yet (except that I don't want to major in biology/biochem) but I am interested in international public health/global health studies/epidemiology, etc. I want to go to med school and then eventually work with the CDC. (my parents don't exactly agree with this, like all typical Asian parents they would prefer me becoming an anesthesiologist or a neurosurgeon). I also want to minor in Spanish or psychology.</p>

<p>Some of my stats:</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0
Weighted GPA: something like a 4.7 (so far)</p>

<p>Classes: all honors classes freshman/sophomore year (AP not available to underclassmen)
Junior Year: AP English Lang., APUSH, AP Spanish Lang., AP Chemistry, and Trigonometry/Pre-Calc (H).</p>

<p>Senior Year (plan to take): AP English Lit, AP Gov., AP Physics, AP Calc, and AP Biology</p>

<p>Standardized Tests:
-ACT: 35 (34 R, 34 E, 35 M, 36 S, 8W <---this really irks me)
-PSAT: 208 (I'm disappointed in this, wasn't feeling my best on testing day, and its right on the cutoff for my state last year :/) I am commended so far though.
-SAT: 2230 (730 CR, 740 M, 760 W)
-SAT Subject Tests: will be taking MathII, Chem, USH tomorrow (probably will end up retaking them)</p>

<p>Some ECs:
-Section Editor (10), Managing Editor (11), Managing Editor/EIC (12) of award-winning school newspaper
-NHS member (11), President (12)
-Tutoring in all subjects, focus on math/sciences
-Doctor Shadowing (summers)
-Political campaign interning/volunteering (summers)
-Founder/President of Kindness Club (organized everything 11, will be in full functioning mode for 12)</p>

<p>College List:
-Northwestern (#1!!!)
-Brown
-Stanford (my dad is making me apply to this one)
-UChicago
-URochester (match?)
-State school that will practically pay me to go there (safety!); will probably get into BS/MD program
-Rice? <---unsure
-University of Washington <---unsure
-Tufts? <---unsure
**I am also open to LACs</p>

<p>I don't have any matches and I feel I need more safeties. My family doesn't exactly make a lot (<40,000) so I'm looking into financial aid, both need-based and merit-based. I'd appreciate any suggestions/information about programs at certain schools. Thank you so much.</p>

2

<p>Wow, that’s a mega post…sorry!</p>

3

<p>You’re in great shape. </p>

<p>All I can really add to this conversation is to give serious consideration to the University of Rochester. They’ve got a fantastic program and even though they rank high it is a severely underrated school. Rochester is a great city, as well. Ignore all the haters and check it out yourself. </p>

<p>That said, visit if you can. Rochester is a tundra for a good part of the year. But if you visit and feel that you like it, go for it! I doubt you’ll regret it.</p>

4

<p>Thanks! I’ve heard Rochester is really great school if you’re studying the sciences. I’m definitely looking into it. Do you have any other match suggestions?</p>

5

<p>Well, what about Northwestern makes it your number 1? It seems like you’re looking for schools in or near big cities; am I right? What other criteria would make or break a choice for you?</p>

6

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<p>If you get into the BS/MD program with full scholarship, that may be the safest route to medical school, which ordinarily requires a very high GPA and MCAT to get admitted to any medical school in the US. Would you rather spend your undergraduate years taking courses that you are interested in, or avoiding interesting but “hard” courses because of the possibility of getting an A- or B+ grade that can damage your medical school chances?</p>

<p>Plus, medical school is ordinarily expensive; if the in-state medical school is less expensive (or even gives you scholarships beyond that), then that is very beneficial in that you won’t have to do residency or start practicing burdened by as much debt (which may be more beneficial if you are considering lesser paid specialties like primary care).</p>

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<p>@Eiffel: Northwestern has the program in Global Health Studies (I want to go into global health/international public health later on) and the Science in Human Culture major (super interesting!) and I like that the school has both top notch academics, strong social vibes and strong athletics. The fact that Chicago is half an hour away is also a plus. Evanston is beautiful. Make or break criteria? Hmm. I don’t think I can do a public school; I feel like public school classes are too big and there are so many students that you just get lost in the bunch. School has to give good financial aid, and be strong in the sciences/pre-med track.</p>

<p>@ucbalumnus: The BS/MD program is the only reason I would stay in state, but the thing is there have been so many cuts to the med school and the school is so new (so the programs aren’t very strong) that I don’t know if it’s really worth it. They also don’t offer any courses/programs that I’m truly interested in specializing in. The univ is really agriculture/mining focused.</p>

8

<p>You may want to look for schools which will be very generous with need and/or merit based aid, since you do not want to drag undergraduate debt through medical school. For example, at your family income, if you can get into Stanford or Harvard, you should get a full ride. On the merit aid front, some schools which would likely be safety level for you may throw full rides at you to get you to attend. You may also want to investigate other schools that have BS/MD programs.</p>

<p>But don’t be so quick to dismiss even a low ranked medical school, especially its net cost is low by medical school standards. Due to the limited number of medical school slots available, even the lowest ranked medical school in the US will be highly selective, and the shortage of physicians means that graduating MDs are more likely to make a good living than (for example) graduating JDs.</p>

9

<p>Have you and your family calculated your EFC?
Expected Family Contribution, at one of the online calculators, either Finaid or collegeboard.</p>

10

<p>With that low income, you should check out QuestBridge. Learn more about it in the Fin Aid subforum here on CC.</p>

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<p>@ucbalumnus: I’m definitely considering it, but, of course, I want to see where I get in and such next year. </p>

<p>I don’t remember what EFC was exactly, but it was only a couple thousand, maybe around 3000-4000? And does a <40000 income really qualify for Questbridge?</p>

12

<p>UWashington will not likely give you much aid - very few public universities give significant financial aid to out-of-state students.</p>

13

<p>Might look at Holy Cross-very good LAC with strong pre-med program and science majors. HC has nice campus 1 hour from Boston and is need-blind for admissions.</p>

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<p>[url=&lt;a href=“Financial Aid : Stanford University”&gt;Financial Aid : Stanford University]Stanford[/url</a>] and [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/financial_aid/index.html]Harvard[/url”&gt;http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/financial_aid/index.html]Harvard[/url</a>] financial aid policies are rather friendly to students from families with income under $60,000.</p>

<p>However, getting admitted in the first place is the (very) hard part.</p>

<p>[url=&lt;a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/cps/info.php]QuestBridge[/url”&gt;http://www.questbridge.org/cps/info.php]QuestBridge[/url</a>] says that annual family income under $60,000 makes one eligible.</p>

15

<p>Brown’s [Program</a> in Liberal Medical Education](<a href=“http://med.brown.edu/plme/prospective/index.html]Program”>The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University) may be of interest to you.</p>

<p>Brown also offers [full</a> non-loan financial aid to students from families with incomes under $60,000.](<a href=“https://financialaid.brown.edu/Cmx_Content.aspx?cpId=78#philosophy]full”>https://financialaid.brown.edu/Cmx_Content.aspx?cpId=78#philosophy) However, how this works in the context of the Program for Liberal Medical Education is something you need to ask them specifically about.</p>

16

<p>Brown’s PLME is actually one of the reasons I became interested in the university. Well, that and the fact that Brown is incredibly liberal and I feel like I’d fit in there. :slight_smile: </p>

<p>Also, thank you for all the links and information. I’ll definitely look into QuestBridge; I’ve never really considered it because I always thought it was more geared toward <30,000 income households. Hmm.</p>

17

<p>Plme has a 4% acceptance rate. So no guarantee. I think you should questbridge and see if northwestern matches 100% need. If they do, then ED. It sounds like you have your heart set on that school</p>

<p>Also even with your fantastic scores, you still have the asian anti-hook and unimpressive ecs. So I don’t know how many of the colleges you will get into. That’s why I say ED!!</p>

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<p>^ Yes, the woes of being Asian. Ehh, I’ve accepted it, no point in complaining about something I can’t change. Even with my “anti-hook,” I’m still going to apply to all my top schools. I mean, if Asians are making up 20% of most top colleges, then some Asians are doing something right, right?</p>

<p>You know, I’ve never understood what exactly top notch extracurriculars are. I’ve always wondered how people become so “passionate” about things. I’ve yet to find something that I’m extremely, wholeheartedly passionate about. I’ve done things that I genuinely enjoy and that my schedule has allowed, but compared to every other applicant, I’m only sub-par. Hmmm.</p>

19

<p>I know that UMiami has a BS/MD program. However, if I’m not mistaken, you have to apply to it once you’re at school, so it’s not guaranteed. Here is its website:
[Medical</a> Scholars Program 2010 | University of Miami](<a href=“http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/0,1770,66825-1;66094-3,00.htm]Medical”>http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/0,1770,66825-1;66094-3,00.htm)
UMiami has good academics, definitely a good social life, great athletics, and is close to (but not directly in) Miami, so it has a lot of the criteria that you like about Northwestern. </p>

<p>I know you said you needed matches, and UMiami would probably be a safety for you. However, I know that people have gotten very generous merit awards from them with stats lower than yours, so it’s definitely something to consider.</p>

20

<p>^I was actually talking to a person who has enrolled there for fall 2011. She was actually admitted to Northwestern and several other great schools, but eventually chose UMiami because of the aid package. I think she said she was offered >60000 a year with a Study Abroad stipend…</p>