Hi, just helping my child look at schools. I’m foreign, so this is all overwhelming for me. My son is thinking pre-med. We live in NYC and just thought geographically we’d start with the public schools in our state. I know Stony Brook and Hunter will be on that list, though I don’t know which one is better and most of the information I’m pulling up isn’t really current. If we are considering private I guess NYU and Cornell would be on that list. Does anyone have any experience they can share? I’m sure there are other schools too that I’m leaving off, so please enlighten me.
SUNY-Binghamton, Cornell, Hamilton, Colgate, Columbia, the University of Rochester and NYU would be schools to consider based upon your expressed academic and geographical interests at this time:
http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/lists/list/the-experts-choice-colleges-with-great-pre-med-programs/199/
Have you looked into Geneseo? It is like the SUNY version of a small liberal arts college and it is very, very good. Med schools increasingly want students who fulfill the pre-med requirements but also have a little ‘something else,’ like a major in the humanities, that might set them apart. Geneseo is a great school for that because they have solid programs across the board and a significantly smaller student population than many of the other SUNY schools ensuring that resources are readily available to those that seek them out. And Geneseo doesn’t seem to ‘weed out’ the less competitive candidates:
"What percentage of Geneseo students are accepted into medical school?
Colleges will report this number differently so be sure you are comparing relevant figures. Some colleges will exclude students they do not “support” in the application process, thus inflating that particular statistic. At Geneseo, looking at ALL students who apply to medical school and including acceptances ONLY to U.S. medical schools, our acceptance rate over the last ten years is around 65%; it is substantially higher, over 90%, if we consider only those students who have earned at least an overall grade point average of 3.5 (in both science and non-science classes) and scored at least a 30 on the MCATs (note that starting in 2015 the scoring on the test will be different). Should you succeed in your studies at Geneseo, you will do very well in gaining admission to medical schools."
https://www.geneseo.edu/premed/faqs
Cornell would also be a superb option if he can get in, as would any of the ivies. They all send students to med school in droves and prepare them quite well for every aspect of the application process. If you’re looking at Cornell it makes sense to check out Columbia, Penn, and Princeton since they’re all actually closer geographically to NYC. And all three guarantee to meet 100% of a students demonstrated need so cost shouldn’t be a barrier-- though their calculations can be imperfect and students do end up taking out a few loans. But each will work with students to make it affordable and all three would provide credentials that are valuable in and of themselves.
Just some things to consider! Good luck with the process 
You can google for a list of SUNYs and CUNYs. There are many people who attend these schools and do premed. Hunter has a post-bac program and so they might be better equipped for advising premed students than other school. You may want to check that out.
Here’s the list of CUNY “senior” colleges http://www2.cuny.edu/about/colleges-schools/
Because it’s such a big, complicated system, here is the A-Z list of programs and which campuses offer which-- http://www2.cuny.edu/admissions/undergraduate/explore/programs/#1441290656098-cc700de1-96cc
You should also be aware of the CUNY Macaulay honors program. It competes for kids with Ivy-level stats and provides a free ride. Be aware that the deadline for applicaiton is early. http://www.macaulay.cuny.edu/
For SUNY, there are several different schools. You prob should figure out if he wants a huge university or a small liberal arts setting. He could prob do premed in either setting. Geneseo and Oswego I believe are the LACs that most people consider, although as you look at the map you can see the several different campuses and types. Binghamton is the flagship I’m pretty sure.
Here is the list of SUNY schools – https://www.suny.edu/attend/visit-us/complete-campus-list/
I find the map somewhat helpful–https://www.suny.edu/attend/visit-us/campus-map/
If you’re interested in private programs, you may want to also check out Hobart and William Smith. They have a scholarship that might interest him and I believe a chance at a reserved spot in (I think it is) Upstate medical program. Also often overlooked but great school is St. Lawrence U. Union is closer. If you’re more arty also consider Skidmore and Vassar, Ithaca. There are several other choices, like Alfred (there’s a public and private separate schools, I believe)
List of colleges in NY State–https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colleges_and_universities_in_New_York
Best of luck.
I have a few questions:
What can you afford? I would fill out the net price calculators to get a rough estimate on your cost. Meeting full need may not equal affordability. At a school that meets full need you still need to pay your EFC- this is determined by the school and not the family. NYU is very expensive and is not known for good aid.
What is your son’s GPA and test scores ( if taken)?
I would add Buffalo, Geneseo and Binghamton to your list. U Rochester is another good option. My personal opinion would be to stay away from an Ivy ( if accepted) if you want pre-med, but that is just me and others may not agree.
Keep in mind that many start out as pre-med and change their mind or get weeded out.
Good luck!
Thank you for your response 
I have not considered Geneseo as it is considered a LAC, my son’s strengths are really biological sciences always averaging 99s with minimal effort and he does well in maths. However, your info will have me looking at it more closely. I really do not know how GPAs and all that is calculated…so that’s another to learn on my list.
Your comment: “…med school in droves and prepare them quite well for every aspect of the application process” what does this mean exactly.
Yes, I can pull up lists…but some personal experience or opinions will be a lot more informative. Thank you
“My personal opinion would be to stay away from an Ivy ( if accepted) if you want pre-med, but that is just me and others may not agree”…Would love to hear why you have that opinion?
@mom2abc I do not know what your son’s personality, GPA, rank ( if the school ranks) and test scores are ( if taken) but I will speak from my own experience. My own child is at a very strong non Ivy school ( public) and I feel she has positioned herself well for medical school if that is the path she chooses. She currently has a 4.0, has a research position, internship opportunities, and has professors who know her very well - as in she goes out to lunch with them, has been to their homes etc. I am not convinced that she would have a 4.0 if she attended an Ivy ( IF she even got in…FYI I do not think a 4.0 is necessary for medical school) and I also believe her stress level would be through the roof which may have prompted her to change her path. That is why I asked about your son’s personality. My kid is a type A and she needs balance to succeed. I am not implying that an Ivy would not lead to medical school- it would- but one has weigh the pros and cons. Keep in mind that many get weeded out.
You also have to weigh the cost, if that is a factor. Medical school is expensive.
I think the fact that your daughter is a type A may be the key to her success so far. My son is an extreme type B. Its a long road to become a doctor, I am under no illusions.
However, I am not looking at which schools to go to, as much as I am interested in what’s out there. This is just step one. I could easily look up science schools, but that doesn’t tell me much. I am interested in possible schools I may overlook and what people’s experiences or knowledge of them are. You haven’t mentioned what school your daughter goes to…is she in NY State?
My daughter is not attending school in NYS although we are from NY. She is at an OOS public flagship that is considered to be very very strong. Being Type A is a double edged sword- the drive is there but the stress is not healthy. She is in a great place now- academically and emotionally.
If you want your son to remain in NY I would absolutely keep Buffalo, Binghamton, Geneseo, and Rochester on the list. What is his current GPA and test scores ( if taken)?
What do you mean when you say that your son is an “extreme type B?” If he has the GPA, test scores, course rigor ( not Regents level) activities, leadership etc to get into an Ivy despite being “an extreme type B,” I must tell you that this is impressive!
@mom2abc
Regarding post #5: Liberal arts does not just mean humanities. The sciences are considered liberal arts. In fact, some liberal arts colleges lead the nation in the percentages of students who go on to receive PhD’s in the hard sciences. Look up “Undergraduate origins of doctoral degrees” on Reed’s site. Of the top ten for life sciences, six are small liberal arts colleges (Reed, Carleton, Swarthmore, Grinnell, Haverford, Pomona). Of the top ten for physical sciences, six are (Reed, Carleton, Swarthmore, Haverfod, Wabash, Grinnell).
Regarding post #4: Huh? You can look up the percentages accepted to medical schools from the Ivies; they are terrific. And Ivy level schools including the top small colleges feed more students into the highest ranked medical schools than do other colleges. There may be other reasons-- like cost-- for picking a public school, but to turn down an Ivy or Ivy-level school out of fear of a lower GPA (or something like that) would be foolhardy. While Ivy level schools are harder to get into, once you are there you are as likely to be successful as you would anywhere else… and smart students continue to perform well on tests like the MCATs.
Regarding New York public colleges: SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Geneseo, and SUNY Stony Brook are the highest ranked per US News and World Report, Forbes, etc., but there are many good state colleges in New York. Unlike some other states, New York does not have a flagship college that gets more resources. The honors programs at the CUNYs also can be a cost effective alternative.
If you are looking at public schools, staying in NY as a NY resident will be the most cost-effective choice due to in-state tuition being lower for residents than the nonresident tuition at out of state public universities. However, if you are looking at private schools, there is no financial advantage to staying in state for a private university or college, and geographically, some parts of Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, etc. may be closer than some parts of New York!
Buy a book like the Princeton Review’s Best 371 Colleges or the Fiske Guide to Colleges, or look in the library for these. Explore colleges that match your child’s performance statistics and interests. Use the net price calculator on the website of each college of interest to see what you would need to pay annually.
I wrote post #4 and what I wrote appears to have been misunderstood. Yes I do know that Ivy League schools send students to medical school all the time. All that I meant was that they are not always affordable and medical school is very expensive. Additionally, I feel that it may be better for some to attend a strong non Ivy school where they have a better chance at getting a higher GPA, not getting weeded out, and where their stress level may be less. Some students, no matter how smart, may not find the Ivy League to be the best fit or the best route to medical school. My daughter attends a top five public with very strong pre med advising. 90% of students who apply, get in.
How many students get weeded out along the way? That’s something OP needs to consider when choosing schools.
@austinmshauri you beat me to that question lol. I do not know the answer but agree that this is important to know.
@austinmshauri you beat me to that question! I do not know but agree it is important to consider.
Some of the SUNYs have the combined BS-MD programs.
If your child is truly set on medical school and is a top top student, s/he should consider CUNY’s Sophie Davis program, which is a 7 year door-to-door college and med school experience. It has a separate application process from CUNY but it is a CUNY, at those prices.
http://web.plattsburgh.edu/academics/prehealthadvising/coursesequence.php
The link that I attached (I don’t know if it will work) is to the 3-4 program at SUNY Plattsburgh. It’s bio department is a little known gem. It has a direct entry nursing program which is top notch. The link is to a program whereby you get an undergraduate degree in bio in 3 years and then go onto to grad/med school. If you complete the 1st year successfully, credits transfer back and you get your UG degree, at least that how I think it works.
In the interest of full disclosure, I must say that 2 of my children have attended SUNY Plattsburgh (though not as bio majors) and I am a big fan of it. It has an honors program and is one of the few SUNY’s that gives money - up to full tuition in the Presidential scholarship. That is the main reason why my kids went there. My D graduated magna cum laude. My son was a NM commended student. They both loved Plattsburgh, the people, the location, the atmosphere.
Good luck in your search.
Some of those SUNY schools are “hidden gems.” One of my kids attended a smaller SUNY and the education she received in her field was outstanding and prepared her well for grad school.
@mom2abc I assume your son is not a senior (?). Creating a realistic college list is based on several things, including your budget, your son’s GPA, course rigor, test scores, activities and awards ( depending), etc. Having a 99 in biology and being a strong math student is excellent ( congrats!) but that does not give us information about his overall GPA or type of classes he is taking ( Regents, Honors, AP, or none of these). You have been given many outstanding suggestions but without further information it is difficult to continue advising you. If your son thinks he wants pre-med that is great, but keep in mind that many who start out as pre-med change their minds. If he is still considering pre-med during his senior year, he would be wise to attend a college where he will have little to no debt ( medical school is very expensive), and where he will shine, have a high GPA, and not get weeded out of the medical school prerequisites.
If you would like to give us a little more information we can continue, but if not ( and that’s ok) there is nothing more to say. Good luck to your son!