@crankyoldman I want to apply to some combination BS/MD programs like PLIME at Brown but they are so competitive that I would be really happy but surprised if I get in. I felt pretty good about myself academically, before I discovered CC. After seeing other profiles, not so much. Lol
What is your state of residency, and how much can your parents pay without compromising their retirement savings or taking loans?
MD
I think they can pay about $15,000 maybe $20,000 with some loans.
Looks like you need at least full tuition scholarship or financial aid; full ride would be better in leaving you some more money for medical school application costs and a small dent in medical school debt.
What do net price calculators tell you at UMD CP and BC and the “better” schools that your parents and siblings are suggesting that you attend?
I would only consider going to UMCP in the U of MD system. They don’t meet need so it would be merit based. I would get something but it’s competitive so no guarantees. Unless I get a full ride, I expect to work through college. I don’t know about all of the more selective school just ones that meet need. If I get in, we might be able to do it. I would not apply to selective schools that don’t meet need. After all the advice, I think I should apply to a range of schools, not falling in love with any one school, and pick from my choices. If I don’t apply to some selective schools like Vanderbilt, Rice, Duke etc. I will always wonder if I missed out on an opportunity.
Don’t rely on “meet need” claims, since each college has a different definition of “need”. Use each college’s net price calculator to get an estimate.
@supernovacoach I am not sure about professors at selective schools not wanting to teach. My father attended Brown and decades later still raves about his professors. My siblings, mom, and aunt not so much at UMCP. Not a bad school just not undergraduate focused.
@ucbalumnus They don’t honor FAFSA?
With 2 siblings already in college might there not be a decent chance of getting good financial aid at a need blind/meets full need school?
If selective schools honor FAFSA then I would be ok if I work during school and breaks and take federal loans like my siblings. Do schools that meet need honor FAFSA?
Most of them use the Profile. It contains additional information. As, make sure that you understand what happens when one of your brothers finishes school. It can have a large impact on your aid.
They use FAFSA information. They often also use CSS Profile information. And they can calculate “need” any way they want, rather than basing it on FAFSA EFC.
See this older thread: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1675058-meet-full-need-schools-can-vary-significantly-in-their-net-prices.html
Use each college’s net price calculator to get an estimate. Some colleges claiming to “meet need” may end up being more expensive than some colleges that do not make such a claim.
Note also that, as a pre-med, you may not have as much time to work, because you may have to spend time on unpaid pre-med extracurriculars (unless you get a paid job involving clinical experience and serving the underserved/disadvantaged, probably not easy since every other pre-med wants such a job).
@Eeyore123 have another coming a few years after me so I would be ok. What’s the Profile?
@ucbalumnus Thanks, I read the older thread. Meeting need is so complicated. I will have my parents do the net calculators because I don’t know all their finances. Are the net calculators right? Not be able to work? Oh g-d, hopefully the schools could hook me up with paid internships. I can’t afford to work for free.
The net price calculators are generally better estimates than any hearsay you may read on these forums.
That said, the quality of net price calculator results may vary:
- Some colleges have low quality net price calculators that ask few questions and give very rough answers.
- If your parents have self employment, small business, real estate, or other non-W-2 income that has a lot of deductions, some colleges will add them back. If that is applicable, a more pessimal net price calculator run using revenue (without deductions) instead of income may be worth doing to get a worst case number.
- If your parents are divorced or separated, many colleges want both of their finances (check college web sites to be sure). Due to the likelihood of incomplete financial information about the other parent, there is a greater risk of GIGO inaccuracy in this case.
@Tigerkat My son is attending the main campus in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The school is big, which I think this helps socially because I think almost anyone can find “their people” or where they belong. There are a lot of serious students there, but also those that are there for football and parties.
As far as the general culture it is more conservative than where we are, but unlike some places we’ve travelled before, it didn’t seem like anybody made it an issue one way or the other. I found it kind of interesting that when we first visited, we expected to see differences–but my son thought it seemed familar, “like home.” The biggest drawbacks my son saw were lack of mountains (although the area is lush–very pretty) and the heat/humidity.
My parents are together and don’t have any of the conditions you listed. Would the net calculators be more accurate?
@Colorado19and22 Thanks, I have heard
some negative things about Alabama (racist etc.) but sometimes people talk when they don’t know. My family is on the liberal side but I rarely talk politics, it’s not a passion of mine. As long as I could find my people it would be ok.
The one thing that I would add to @Colorado19and22 description is that about 65% of the freshman class comes from out of state.
Check out UMBC for scholarships via Meyerhoff scholars program , up to $22,000 can be awarded , almost a full ride.
https://meyerhoff.umbc.edu/scholar-experience/our-scholars/
@Hippobirdy Thanks for the suggestions. I am familiar with UMBC and it’s a fine up and coming school but not for me. I visited some friends and really didn’t like it.
I also don’t want to be grouped in a cohort by ethnicity to prove to others that minorities are capable. If I must go in state, I will join my siblings at UMCP.