<p>Trying to find the right fit:</p>
<p>Stats
Class of 2007
Rural Michigan High School
3.97 UW GPA
"Tested Out" as much as possible and taken all AP's (2) and Honors (5) classes
SAT -one sitting - CR730, M800, WR770 - Total 2300
PSAT- 228 so will be NMSF</p>
<p>EC's - MUSIC - jazz pianist (own band that plays paid gigs - booked for 30 gigs this summer), marching band drum major, concert band, high school jazz band (since 6th grade), downhill skiing (team state champions in fresh. & soph. year), junior class president, student council, many schools plays/musicals (Int'l Thespian Society), volunteering with band by playing many benefit gigs, involved in church, etc.</p>
<p>Work - Summer camp junior counselor</p>
<p>Academic Interest
Pre-Med, Philosophy, Religion</p>
<p>Currently Looking At
Michigan (nice that it's our state school), U Chicago, Carleton</p>
<p>It's a pretty narrow list that we could like to broaden. Also, while Michigan is a safety for us in-state, I'm not sure about Chicago or Carleton. Can you help???</p>
<p>Chicago sounds like a good option (my biased opinion). I live on the campus and love the intellectual vibrance of the school and the hard-core academics. I will be attending there in the fall.</p>
<p>Since your son is a jazz pianist, I thought I would mention that Chicago has a group called Jazz X-tet (X for the number of players, as it varies from year to year), which is comprised of students who rehearse under the direction of a faculty member. I have heard them at the U. of C.'s Fulton Recital Hall, and they always have a full audience. Of course, Chicago knows it does not excel in music performance (it is quite good at the more theoretical aspects of music, as one would guess), though it seems that it does a decent (if not good) job with what it has. I play (classical) piano and clarinet myself, and I intend to continue to play at Chicago in one of their miriad musical groups. </p>
<p>Also, Chicago does not have a pre-med program per se, though it does have an excellent biological sciences department with research opportunities, lab jobs, and biology lectures abounding. It would be possible for your son to fulfill his med school requirements and major in another major if he so chooses. I am considering doing that, actually. </p>
<p>It might be helpful for you to visit the UChicago thread here on CC. There are some very knowledgeable parents and current students there whom I am sure would be happy to answer any questions you might have.</p>
<p>Berklee College in Boston and then pick up the few sciences needed for MCAT.</p>
<p>Princeton, Brown, Penn and Yale sound like solid reaches.</p>
<p>Princeton has the best philosophy department in the nation and is top 5 in religion.</p>
<p>Chicago is also a great fit.</p>
<p>In terms of matches, look at USC, UVA, Notre Dame. Pittsburgh also has the #2 philosophy department.</p>
<p>Might also want to look into UC Berkeley, I could see your son fitting in very well and could be a possible match. However U-Mich is also a very good university and is a good price.</p>
<p>To be honest, the only schools that are worth the extra money compared to Michigan would be the Ivies (Cornell is debateable) and Chicago.</p>
<p>If he qualifies for need based aid, many top colleges may be no more expensive.</p>