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Did you look at Kalamazoo College? It's obviously closer to home for you, easier to get into than the LACs you mention, and they have a very high acceptance rate into med school along with the ability to do internships at NIH and other places. I don't have time to go see where you are statistically with them, but you would certainly be in the running I would guess.
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<p>[url=<a href="http://www.kzoo.edu/ir/fastfacts.php%5DKalamazoo%5B/url">http://www.kzoo.edu/ir/fastfacts.php]Kalamazoo[/url</a>] looks like a very good option. It's ACT middle 50% is 26-31, so the OP's scores would fit right in. My best friend, who also wants to go to med school, will be at K this fall. It's an excellent school and it is not nearly as difficult to transfer into as the OP's original list. It also offers merit scholarships (3k-13k per year), in addition to need based aid. I would definitely look into it.</p>
<p>If you like MSU for other reasons, what about finding ways to cut down on the loans after your first year. For example, if you could become an RA after freshman year you could save on your room and board expenses and thus not need loans for those amounts; alternatively, after freshman year you could perhaps move into a less expensive living alternative, perhaps an apartment where you could cook with friends? Be creative to see if you can find a way to make it work if you really want to attend MSU.</p>
<p>just chiming in to say that with no EFC contribution from your parents it only adds 8400 to your loan tab, which would probably be outweighed by a better FA package. I think NSM is giving you great advice.</p>
<p>I believe Juniata and Ursinus are similar small LACs with good premed programs.</p>
<p>I think you're guaranteed at least 14k annually at hope with your stats, I think. Calvin gives good aid too. I think Calvins a great school. So is K. You could definitely try Calvin though.</p>
<p>I think you've gotten great advice. I just want to point out that schools like Amherst do NOT give merit scholarships and use the PROFILE form which usually results in a much higher EFC for the children of divorced parents than the FAFSA which most state schools use. ( I don't know whether MSU only uses FAFSA, but I expect it does.) So, before you even think of transferring to a school like Amherst, get a ball park estimate of the EFC.</p>
<p>I think Alma might be a really good bet for you. My friend is an alum & her son will be a freshman there this fall. They cared about all their students back in the dark ages when my friend attended, and she found that they still care very much about each kid. Check it out!</p>
<p>Public schools in MI do not meet need, although there are alternatives like community college that are affordable, as well as less expensive 4 years. U of MI does a good job of giving scholarships to low income students, but they have to have done well in high school. Even then, though, they often leave a big gap. Private schools that try to meet need are definitely your best bet at this point. In addition, you will have a lot of personal support at a smaller school. That may be helpful to you. Good luck.</p>
<p>My concern is that if sometime down the line you decide NOT to become a doctor, you'll be stuck with $40K in loans and not have the doctor bucks to pay back that loan.</p>
<p>One of my D's friends is involved with ROTC, which really helps with $$. By the time you get out of med school, we'll just be getting out of Iraq so being in the military may not be as dangerous an alternative as it is now.</p>
<p>I would also like the stress MSU's focus on undergrad. Northstar mentioned that the profs wouldn't notice if you're flunking or skipping. That's true if you aren't apart of MSU's pre-med residential college, Lyman Briggs. If you are, it's quite a personal experience. I highly suggest it if you decide to attend.</p>
<p>" By the time you get out of med school, we'll just be getting out of Iraq so being in the military may not be as dangerous an alternative as it is now."</p>
<p>I'd never try to predict the future. That war could still be occurring or we could be involed in another war.
If one goes into the military, one has to be prepared to go to war.</p>