DePaul and Loyola Chicago? Chance me por favor? :)

<p>So I really want to go to college in Chicago and I just can't decide where. I'm thinking of majoring in pre-dentistry/something medical. I want a college thats big but not to the point where I have 100+ people in my class. I would much rather have a 15-30 student teacher ratio. I also want a urban campus and it doesn't neccesarily need to be a traditional dorm campus setup. I have a 3.455 gpa and a 25 act score. Am retaking the ACT in October but was going to send in my application earlier than send in my hopefully improved score later... Top 20% of my class. Lots and lots of really good extra curriculars-class pres,nhs...etc.. and have taken all honors and ap classes. I know I'm not a particularly good student compared to others but I was also wondering which colleges would give me the most financial aid. I come from a low income family. I would also like to know these things about the colleges:
1.Safety on campus and general surrounding area
2.Student Life
3.Dorm Life(I know alot of chicago colleges have alot of commuters so dorm life isn't exactly traditional) but I would be living in a dorm so I was just wondering what that would be like..
4.Overall College Experiences
Would my stats be good enough to get into these colleges and/or should I wait to apply after 1st semester has ended and my gpa is higher and should be a 3.5?
Feel free to correct me or add anything else..Thank You for taking the time to read this and respond! :)</p>

<p>You are in the possible range for both schools. DePaul’s middle 50% ACT range in 2009 was 22-27, and 51% of freshmen had HS GPAs under 3.5. At Loyola, it’s a little more selective; the ACT range was 24-29 and 30% were under 3.5. </p>

<p>But here is the IMPORTANT disclaimer: The only ones who can give you a realistic assessment of your chances are the members of the admissions committees at those schools, and then only when they have your complete application package in front of them.</p>

<p>This message is MIT-specific, but the principle applies to all selective colleges:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/10581800-post1.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/10581800-post1.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Make sure your college list includes some safeties - schools where your stats are well above the norm, that you can pay for under most pessimistic FA assumptions, and where you’d be happy.</p>

<p>Both schools are Catholic- do you have particular ties to the Church? Loyola is Jesuit, and much more conservative (in their med school, for example, students are not taught how to perform abortions) DP is more liberal (they have an ex-Jesuit priest who some consider a “heretic”. And “por favor”- es Chicano/a? Big deal for those schools. DP is a big commuter school. Dorm life probably not as great as Loyala.</p>

<p>I am Catholic and have been my whole life. Haha and I only used por favor as a sort of attention getter and no I could not commute I would stay in a dorm.</p>