<p>With the early decision deadline for a lot of colleges approaching, I've recently been having stress over the colleges I'm applying to (and, mainly, if I'm missing out on a dream school I don't know about). I just don't want to realize in April that there's a perfect school out there for me, but it's too late to apply.</p>
<p>Over the last week, I've been comprising a list of what I actually want in a college. If anyone could give me any suggestions on schools you think I'd be interested in, I'd be really appreciative. </p>
<p>-Location: Southeast (plus Texas) preferably, but I'm willing to go to the Northeast as well.
-Setting: Within an hour of a big city (but preferably not directly in one)
-Good Science Program (I'm interested in Pre Med/Dental)
-Strong Sports Program/School Spirit (they don't have to be the national champions, but I definitely want the students to bleed the colors of the university)
-Size: 7,000-16,000
-A Work Hard/Play Hard attitude
-Not too liberal, not too conservative</p>
<p>Sorry, I know I'm not being very specific. To give you a feel for who I am, some of the colleges I've really liked have been Vanderbilt, SMU, Clemson, and UGa.</p>
<p>Stats:
From Florida
Unweighted GPA: 3.3 (due to bad middle school grades that transferred over)
Weighted GPA: 3.8
ACT: 29
SAT: 1230/1890
Rigor of Schedule: Total of 13 APs, the rest being honors or graduation requirements
Strong ECs (the main ones being Captain of Cross Country, Captain of Track, President (12) and Vice President (11) of Latin Club)</p>
<p>Clemson sounds like a good one for you although on the larger side. UGA has tons of school spirit but it is huge. At this point, if you can afford it, apply to schools that meet your criteria but you really need to visit. USC is in city but you have better chance for money there than some of others if that’s important. Based only on what you’ve provided, I’d say Vanderbilt may be a reach. Without know financial situation, it’s hard to add, but maybe Appalachian State?</p>
<p>Clemson sounds like a really good choice.
Wake Forest is a little on the small side but I have heard it feels a little like Vandy
College of Charleston is supposed to have really good biology(plus MUSC is right there for research opportunities) but Charleston is a big city.
maybe William and Mary or Tulane</p>
<p>As for the financial situation, I think the most I could afford to pay is $30,000 total (including tuition, room and board, all other fees). That’s why even if by some miracle I did get into Vandy, I doubt I would even go there because the tuition is so high.</p>
<p>Do you know what FA you qualify for? Vandy may be expensive but so are all the others, none of them will come in at $30K. You may need to factor in not only where you can get in but also what schools are the most generous with FA.</p>
<p>How much more expensive are private colleges like Vanderbilt than state universities? I’ve seen the sticker prices, but I’ve heard state universities will add on extra charges once you’re there, whereas private schools typically won’t.</p>
<p>Each college and university has a Net Price Calculator on its website. Use the search function to find it. Run it for every single place on your list. If your family can afford 30k each year for four years, then your home-state public U will almost certainly be affordable. However, you are going to need a boat-load of need or merit-based aid at the privates. They run in the 50k and up range. </p>
<p>Please remember that when you get to med school, you are going to be paying for that almost entirely with loans. If you can get through your undergrad degree without one cent of debt, you will be way ahead of the game. Pop over to the Financial Aid Forum, and read through the threads on guaranteed merit-based aid. You may be able to find a couple of places that are “good enough” even if they aren’t “dream schools”.</p>
<p>Vandy and other privates will cost you 55k+ a year without any financial aid. If you’re not going to be receiving much financial aid, you should be looking at schools that give out merit aid so you can get your costs to below 30, or schools (usually state or less selective privates) that have total costs much less than 50k.</p>
<p>Yea, I had thought of Wake Forest but it’s arouond $56 and not known for great aid. OOS colleges like Clemson, USC and maybe UGA might come in under the $30,000 target or close. For OOS, the state supported schools are more likely to fit financially at least in SC. I thought College of Charleston to, but very melded into Charleston so almost doesn’t feel like campus. USC has more of a campus feel for being in city. Although CofC doesn’t scream sports fan spirit…</p>
<p>-Location: Southeast (plus Texas) preferably, but I’m willing to go to the Northeast as well.</p>
<p>Check! In the Southeast</p>
<p>-Setting: Within an hour of a big city (but preferably not directly in one)</p>
<p>Eh not exactly, but within 2 hours of Charlotte and Atlanta</p>
<p>-Good Science Program (I’m interested in Pre Med/Dental)</p>
<p>excellent science programs!</p>
<p>-Strong Sports Program/School Spirit (they don’t have to be the national champions, but I definitely want the students to bleed the colors of the university)</p>
<p>We have amazing school spirit. Every Friday is “Solid Orange Friday” where everyone wears Friday. Everyone loves Clemson especially football (our team is getting a lot better and we won the ACC last year). According to the Princeton Review, we have the #4 happiest students and #15 for students who pack the stadium</p>
<p>-Size: 7,000-16,000</p>
<p>About 14,000 undergraduates last time I checked</p>
<p>-A Work Hard/Play Hard attitude </p>
<p>I’d say that</p>
<p>-Not too liberal, not too conservative</p>
<p>Well being South Carolina, Clemson definitely leans far towards the conservative side of things.</p>
<p>Let me know if you have any questions about Clemson!!</p>
<p>pierre0913, I agree and actually I consider Greenville a large town close by. Maybe not a Charlotte or Atlanta but has cool vibe and brings good music in. I think based on criteria Clemson merits a visit (however as USC fan, I’ll say better FA at USC)</p>
<p>If so, check out the University of Tulsa. It’s smaller but very good school spirit. They just hired Danny Manning as their bball coach. Footaball team managed to beat Notre Dame two years ago. Tulsa is a city but not a big one. Has good music scene. Very good science programs. Also good with merit aid.</p>
<p>I’ve considered Emory, I think it would be a bit of a reach for me, but if they have good FA I’d consider it. I really love Atlanta.</p>
<p>I’ve also realized that I don’t want a Work Hard/Play Environment, mostly in the sense that I really don’t like to party. I really, really don’t like people getting drunk. It just repulses me. I don’t criticize those who do it, but I just don’t want to be stuck at a school where I’m constantly surrounded by drunks. I’m not against alcohol, I’m just against people abusing it, if that makes any sense. </p>
<p>About the school in the city thing—I’ve been thinking it over, and I think maybe I would like that, so any suggestions concerning that would be very helpful. </p>
<p>@pierre0913 I’ve driven around Clemson before and I thought it was really pretty. Didn’t have time to stop for a campus tour, but we go up to that area a lot so I could easily get one in! Thanks for all the info, it was really helpful! Referring to what I said before, is not drinking frowned upon there? I only say this because at my high school, people are very judgmental towards those who won’t drink, and I’m really just ready to get away from that…</p>
<p>I think Clemson is a typical public school, its not known as a party school and its not BYU or a Christian college either - I don’t really drink and maybe go to one party every year and nobody really cares too much, you can find friends with people who don’t drink all the time</p>