Furman~Rhodes~Tulane~Baylor~W&L~URichmond~Colorado College~Trinity SA TX~Woffard~GWU

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Comments?? THis is the short list (ha ha!) of smaller u's and LACs my son is considering. No particular order above, btw. Pre med route. 33 ACT. 3.6 unweighted gpa/ 4.1 weighted, top 15% of top HS. ten AP's. Biology major. </p>

<p>Texas boy, interested in smaller school. NOT interested in Austin College, the local workhorse for pre-meds. Wants the experience of living in a new and perhaps, interesting place. Other 'no's' are Southwestern, UTD, Hendrix....</p>

<p>Will apply to state schools (UT, A&M, Tech, UVa) as things may change, but for now, really leans to this smaller u or LAC environment. No need to barely squeeze into a school...(Wash U, Pomona)...I think...he disagrees...but the advise of going to a school where you are, GOING IN, in the top 25% is the best shot to walk out with the A's needed for med school....another discussion for another time...</p>

<p>Geographically open, haven't explored midwest much. Not needing more schools to add to the list unless I am overlooking a real treasure, not just more of the same....I (not him!) would like to keep travel costs in reason, and I think being too far away, or too 'different' could hit the GPA in a negative fashion.</p>

<p>But, I would welcome comments re: advising, biology facilities and resources at the schools, environment academically, opportunity for work type experience in medical field. Merit aid is a big perk! </p>

<p>Thanks. Y'all have terrific insight and I have learned so much. Hope to return the favor!</p>

2

<p>He would get a decent amount of merit aid from Trinity, they are building a brand new science/engineering building which I believe should be finished soon.</p>

3

<p>I’m a northeasterner, so take this “advice” with that in mind. I have heard of the schools you listed, but I think of these more favorably: Baylor, Rice, and Rhodes. Tulane is still trying to catch up to pre-Katrina (at least from my vantage). URichmond, GWU, and a few others are considered more party schools, again from here. W&L is very conservative. You mentioned Trinity SA, but how about Trinity in CT? My nephew went there and is currently a med student at a highly desirable school.</p>

<p>My only real advice is to start being a serious student early on. It’s much harder when you have to play catch-up. And, with that in mind, start looking for research projects and shadowing opportunities no later than sophomore year.</p>

4

<p>My son just completed his first year at Trinity, and loved it. The professors are outstanding. My son enjoyed all of his first year classes, and found all of his professor’s to be motivated and interesting. He did have some friends who ran into a bad professor, but they are very few. The dorms are the best we visited (by far), but you are expected to live in the dorms for three years. We really like the campus and the new science building is going to be amazing. My son’s only complaint has been with some of the students. He says there are a number of students who want/expect Trinity to be like a big state school with huge parties and big football weekends. With 2400 students it is just not going to be like UT or A&M. If you are looking for a great liberal arts based education with small classes in an urban location with a lot to offer then Trinity is a great choice. To highlight the incredible opportunities that Trinity offers - my son received a Mellon grant and spent a month in Turkey helping his Nautical Archaeology professor with her research (he just completed his first year in computer science). [2013</a> Mellon SURFs | Trinity University- Mellon Initiative](<a href=“Private Site”>Private Site) . His roommate (also a computer science first year) spent his summer on campus helping with some biology research. Trinity provides far greater opportunities for undergrads due to be being a small school that specializes in undergrad interdisciplinary education. Trinity may not yet be well known to the general population, but it has a great reputation with grad schools and the business community. You may want to consider SMU. It is not small but it is not huge either. They have really poured money into their STEM departments, and we were very impressed. A number of my son’s friends have really good things to say about Baylor as well. Good luck with your decision!</p>

5

<p>Wash U is a phenomenal school with one of the best premed curriculums in the country. Full disclosure- my son will be attending WUSTL this fall.</p>

6

<p>CC has good but not exceptional bio facilities. One of only a few colleges (nationally <15%) that still uses a human cadaver lab to teach A&P. One of only a literal handful of SLACs that do. Advising seemed Ok from what I gleaned during the parent tour, but I don’t know any pre meds who graduated from there for details. Pre med advisor has been with the school for years and the school has a good track record.</p>

<p>Summer research opporunities are limited, but available. Good track record for getting students into REUs.</p>

<p>One thing to consider–CC has a unique one class at a time schedule. Each lecture/discussion class is 9am-noon 5 days/week. Labs are 1-6pm 5 days/week. A class last 4 weeks followed by a 3 day break, then a new class. It’s an intense schedule, and not something everyone thrives under.</p>

<p>And for the record–BEST food of any college D2 visited. All the students rave about how good the food is.</p>

7

<p>Case Western is a gem you may want to take a look at…with The Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals as part of University Cirlce and many grad students on campus there are research and volunteer opportunities and internships galore. It is a fast rising small to medium univ that is generous with aid and well worth a look- also no application fee so why not?</p>

8

<p>That’s a really diverse list, and GWU, URichmond, Baylor, and Tulane are not small schools. I’d recommend focusing on LACs that best fit your son.</p>

9

<p>bark123, yes, i am aware of the science bldg. they have alot of money, i hear, both for science and merit aid. thanks!</p>

<p>lima, good to hear this info from another part of the county. and good to hear Rhodes and Baylor have a good name up there. RIce is impossible to get in, from his HS. But a great school as well. I am not too familiar with Trinity, Conn. but have heard it once or twice mentioned. I will check into that. And yes, don’t dig a hole your freshman year. So many do that and it is so hard to correct.</p>

<p>Canuck, great to hear some first hand info on Trinity. Sounds like your son is doing quite well. Congrats. Good information supporting what I keep hearing about Trinity. ANd, no, go to UT if you want to go to UT. I agree. We will go to their information day in the fall. </p>

<p>Psycho, I am thrilled for you!! A great choice. I have some concerns about the GPA there, and competition for research opportunities, but one can’t argue that it is a great place. Not much merit aid, I hear. Comment?</p>

<p>WOWmom, he is quite interested in that block format, and has read up a bit on it. Loves to ski, which I am sure helps!! And good food doesn’t hurt. I have seem many posts from you regarding CC and it is an interesting option. He knew about the human cadaver lab. That is pretty impressive (to some, not me, no thanks!! ) :)</p>

<p>SDgal, I will check in to Case. I do think he needs to throw a few more gems on the list and I have heard great things from here. No app fee…can’t argue with that. </p>

<p>jalfred. yes it is diverse. the schools you mentioned are not small, like the 2,000 student ones also mentioned, but are not large, like the state schools here. College is a time to open up to new places and I do want him to explore a variety. He is pretty adaptable, so I think he could fit in at any of these and find his niche. Four years is short, but also, a long time…in his eyes. thanks.</p>

10

<p>not sure why this was moved, but I am intertested in learning more about these schools from a pre-med/biology major perspective. Thanks so much!</p>

11

<p>Netti-WUSTL has merit based scholarships, but they are very competitive to get. Although my son did it qualify for financial aid, they are pretty generous, although they are not 100% need blind. They do have a very nice program that I signed up for my son- lock in tuition, housing, and fees at 2013 prices- financed at 6%,with payments spread out over 10 years, and no prepayment penalty. I chose this option and plan on making accelerated payments from day 1. I am now able to avoid any future tuition or housing increase for the next 4 years. The school is definitely not cutthroat, though the curriculum is rigorous. There are tons of research opportunities on campus-I don’t think anyone needs to look that far.</p>

<p>As for premed, I am a physician. If you get a chance, look up the WUSTL premed handbook- there are statistics that show that for the last several years, WUSTL students who had around a 3.5 GPA and average MCAT score still do very well with med school acceptance. This is one school that does not prescreen its applicants and tell them to take a gap year if their GPA is not at least 3.5.</p>

12

<p>For 33 ACT, 3.6 UW, top 15%, WUSTL could be a long reach. According to Kiplinger’s, WUSTL grants merit awards averaging $6720 to 20% of students. Presumably, it usually goes to the ~20% of entering students with the best stats.</p>

13

<p>^ agree- I think their merit scholarships are likely super competitive (son did not get one).</p>

14

<p>OP, parent of Trinity U 2011 grad here.</p>

<p>CanuckHorn has spoken about many of the attributes that my D loved about TU, but another area to consider is Study Abroad, if your son might want that. TU individually fits each student to a program, regardless of major, and almost any FA/merit goes along on the SA, often saving thousands in the process.</p>

<p>The pics and feedback from students and faculty alike about the partially opened new building are truly impressive.</p>

<p>Being from the Midwest, I miss not being able to go to San Antonio to visit her.</p>

15

<p>psychodad, thanks for the very thorough info on wash u. it is always ‘out there’ on our radar. I agree, tk21, with his stats, it is a reach, period. much less any aid. I think the locking in of 2013 prices is a good deal you got, psychodad,with no penalty for early payment. That is a pricey education. GREAT, but pricey. How are they with A’S?? Given that he is not in the top 25%, yes, a 3.5 will work, but that is still a lot of A’s. I feel like this is playing a game to even ASK that, but, I don’t want to be pound wise and penny foolish…or whatever that expression is!!</p>

<p>gloworm. that is a nice perk. I guess in a year after the MCAT? We will go to their monthly Trinity day in September or so. An easy drive. Trinity seems, to me, a real strong option.</p>

16

<p>In the end, while fit is important, you have to approach this as a business decision as well. Run the net price calculator for the schools to get an idea what your EFC might be. If you do not feel you will get much FA and if your GPA and test scores are not high enough to get a merit scholarship (I think it’s reasonable to expect those with stats above the 75th %ile for the school to have the best chance, though I’m sure there are always exceptions), then an expensive school may not be a great option. In the end it’s not where you go but what you do with he environment you’re in.</p>

17

<p>My friend who plans to go into premed has trinity U and Wake forest as his top two schools.</p>

<p>Wake Forest is nice because it’s a good mix of a big university and an LAC.</p>

<p>I think Trinity and San Antonio are both great. My families from San Antonio so I’m kind of biased but it’s a great city but it also feels like a small town if you want it to. Trinity is truly a diamond in the rough and it’s a shame more people don’t know about it</p>

18

<p>My son applied to 3 of those schools.</p>

<p>Trinity and Rhodes came in with similar merit offers - both very generous.</p>

<p>Colorado denied him – 34 ACT, NMF, 3.68 UW GPA/4.08 W, great recs and well rounded application. Upper middle class with financial need. CC is sensitive to need.</p>

<p>DS was very interested in Tulane, but never completed an application b/c the other schools had stronger science facilities and lower cost of living.</p>

<p>GWU seems out of place. Very different environment without the strong campus feel of the other schools. DS has 2 friends beginning there this year. Choosing classes has not been smooth.</p>

19

<p>I think Tulane would be another good option</p>

20

<p>We’ve visited several of the schools on your list. With his stats he will barely crack the top 25% at Richmond and W&L. He’d be in the top 25% but not firmly. Certainly not in easy merit money territory. Both schools have excellent acceptance rates for med school.</p>