I grew up in Baltimore which is where Loyola is located and I do not believe that there are opportunities that you’re truly looking for there, but you may want to go to the school’s website to see . I also believe that Loyola’s cost of attendance is quite costly at close to 60,000 a year.
BatesParent2019 - yes, I realize UMich is not in the NE. My intention was to point out the commonality of big football party weekends in areas other than the South - which would extend to many State Us in the Midwest and West as well. Syracuse and ZooMass still have pretty big party reputations last time I checked. Syracuse was named #1 party school in Huffpost and Princeton Review. Only Southern school named in Huffpost top 10 is Florida at #10. But I’m sure that Syracuse has its share of dedicated students too.
I know plenty of students attending school in the NE. Things haven’t changed that much.
Funny, I always heard that students migrate South for the weather!
You have excellent stats that could possibly get you considerable merit aid at some great LACs, such as Denison in Ohio, or Rollins in Florida. At least consider visiting some LAC bio departments. You might be surprised by the excellent research opportunities available to LAC students, and there is less competition for the best research slots. Their grads end up in top notch graduate programs, and in teaching, industry, etc.
Denison, Elon, Rhodes, Furman (Greenville, SC, lovely small city), Rollins and Trinity U (San Antonio) all would be matches with merit aid forthcoming. Definitely use the ACT score.
Good luck!
If you are leaning towards bio - these LAC’s are great opportunities. It is worthwhile to visit both- the LAC’s and the state universities to get a feel for the difference. It also helps to know if you like a large or smaller, more personal, setting. The LAC’s suggested have good research opportunities and students can do very well there.
However, if you are leaning towards a degree in animal science, then the larger universities will have those programs. If you are considering pre-vet, it isn’t mandatory to major in animal science- but for some students, it is their major of choice. You can complete the prerequisites at any university. Some programs require a class like animal nutrition, but I think that can be done in the summer or possibly online.
I know of students who prefer being in an LAC with classes taught by professors, not TA’s. and other students who like the environment and opportunities at a larger university. It’s a matter of preference, as well as finances. Competitive merit aid is not easy to predict, so yes, it is worth applying to a college that interests you and seeing how that turns out. Then, when you have choices, you can compare pros and cons, and costs.
I would recommend that you sit down with your parents and find out exactly what they are able or willing to contribute per year and then run the net cost calculators for any school you may be interested in. Although it is true that many LACs can and may be willing to provide more merit based aid than a state university, the cost may still be prohibitive. I know Furman tuition alone without room and board is over 45,000 annually and their cost of attendance is over 60,000 annually.
Any large flagship university (like NCSU) in the south will have a strong bio department focused mainly on graduate student education with hit or miss opportunities for undergraduate research. Best to do some research on how many undergrads get into the lab at these universities.
I don’t think University of Richmond has been mentioned to the OP yet. It’s very strong in bio with excellent facilities and a variety of research. I will also second Wake Forest.
Finally, I recommend running the net price calculators for all colleges under consideration. You might find some to be much more expensive (Elon) than others. Of course, YMMV.
University of Richmond is actually her first choice listed in the original post as her dream school.
I don’t know if @rebecca4141 (Original Poster) is still around, but I read this thread and was thrown off by a few things including the previous post that U Richmond is her dream school. I scanned so I may have missed mention of UR as did the poster who suggested it.
From scanning her multiple threads I got that at least at one point Boston University is/was her dream school, and she likely needs Need Based Aid - so a school that meets full need OR - if her noncustodial parent’s income must be divulged, she won’t qualify for need based and she is in need of large merit aid.
With a 3.5 GPA and 33 ACT, the OP qualifies for automatic full tuition scholarship and likely the Honors Program at the University of Alabama. It may not have all her boxes checked, but the finances box may need to be more heavily weighted than others. Maybe this school was mentioned, but I missed it.
I have no students at UA but have found the UA CC community very positive and supportive. And the % of OOS high stat students there is growing and impressive as is the Honors College.
Look at Sewanee: The University of the South as well.