I’m having some difficulty in looking for colleges. Right now im at a 4.2/4.0 and rank 15 out of a class of 450. Unless i raise my score anymore within the next two weeks i’m looking to have about a 2000 on my SATs. I compete in mock trial and model united nations and I chair for the local MUNs held for public schools in the county. I volunteer at the hospital. Also i’m a fairly good guitar player and play several other instruments (as a hobby.) Aside from a few clubs, i don’t have many more extracurriculars. Right now, i’ve been looking at schools in Maryland but im not entirely sure where to start. Can someone give me an idea of which schools i’d be able to get into? Scholarships? Financial aid?(although i’m not need based)
I’m interested in being a biology major (premed)
Take a look at chance me threads to see the level of information provided by people seeking help. You need to explain what you are looking for in terms of a college (size, etc), what you plan to study, what the financial reality is for you and your family, etc.
Do you live in Maryland? Hoping so, as in-state tuition will give you a price break compared to if you are from out of state. UMD-CP, of course - but your test scores may be low, Google the Common Data Set to see. UMD-BC is a solid school, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland is a bit of a hidden gem (like summer camp – kind of rural, but solid academics on the St. Mary’s River – it is the public honors college of Maryland). You can look at each college website for information on merit aid. Go ahead and run the net price calculator on each college webpage, too, to get an idea of the cost of attendance.
St. Mary’s is a small school known for its humanities majors, and it is a great school, but it is not the honors college of Maryland. UMBC has that title. UMBC is frequently seen by students as a second choice after College Park, but grad schools and employers know how good their undergrad teaching is. Also, they have the best merit aid of any of the Maryland universities. As long as you are looking for academics and not sports / parties, it’s a great choice. As inparent said, you obviously need to look at College Park as well. Its reputation is SO much better than when I worked at UMUC in the 80s.
If you wouldn’t qualify for need based aid then you need to look at schools where you can get merit aid. Some options are available here: http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
You would likely get merit at Loyola Maryland
Actually, St Mary’s does have that title. Go to the school’s web site at smcu.edu : At the top of the page it says St. Mary’s College of Maryland The Public Honors College. What it actually means is anyone’s guess. But it is an excellent choice if you are looking for a LAC in MD and it’s a great value if you are in-state. Pretty campus right on the Chesapeake.
What is your Math and CR scores on the SAT, UMCP doesn’t look at writing. Also, if you are in-state, what county are you from. Your SAT scores have to be higher to get into College Park if you are from Montgomery or Howard counties.
I agree you should look at UMBC and St. Mary’s. Both schools have a lot to offer and each provides a different feel. A lot of kids at my DSs HS have been drawn to Salisbury recently and seem very happy, it would be a safety for you.
Yes. St. Mary’s is the Public Honors College of Maryland.
Loyola Maryland is an excellent school with a lot of spirit, D1 Patriot League sports, great academics, excellent housing and very high freshman retention and 4 year graduation rates. Merit awards I understand can be very generous.
If you’re looking for spirit, football, a big campus feel, and a good education, I would look into the University of Maryland Honors program. It’s a great school with a lot to offer as well as in-state tuition.
The OP hasn’t said s/he is from MD so in-state tuition may not be correct.