<p>Hi, I need some help choosing which colleges to focus on for my undergrad studies, i'm an incoming senior in the class of 2011. I plan on majoring in molecular biology, so
I would like to go to a school that has an amazing bio department, i would also like to minor in/get a certificate in Neuroscience, because my goal is to go to one of the best med schools, and then train to be a brain surgeon.</p>
<p>Schools I'm already considering (please add more, i need advice!)
University of Florida
Vanderbilt
Stanford
Princeton</p>
<p>My Stats
Florida resident
Caucasian male
Junior
2050 SAT
750 CR
650 M
650 W
Rank #6 in class of approx 300
GPA:
UW= 3.9
W= 4.5
Recently taken AP Bio, will take AP Chem and Physics next year</p>
<p>EC's:
NHS: President
Student Council: President
Varsity Golf Team
Boys State Delegate for my school
Hooks: Had brain cancer, I had a tumor removed a few weeks before my sophomore year began, I had a complete healthy recovery. This is why I strive to become a brain surgeon.</p>
<p>Good that you have an in-state school. That may be the least expensive option. Have you discussed colleges costs and found out what your parents can afford?</p>
<p>Hopkins? University of Rochester for some place a little easier to get into. Maybe look at the LACs that have neuroscience—Amherst, Middlebury, Bowdoin, a bunch of others.</p>
<p>Yeah, i’m gonna end up going wherever i get a really good scholarship, but i’d just like to know of the colleges that are good in those areas.</p>
<p>Washington university in st Louis sounds like a pretty good match :). Bio dept is top notch and they have some awesome neuroscience programs</p>
<p>Nothing sounds like a really good match, because none of us have any idea of who you are, how you work, whether you like traditional or alternative learning, etc.</p>
<p>If you haven’t, I recommend looking into Brown, just because it’s so unique from the other top-tier universities. At this point, no one can give you matches, just schools you may be interested in.</p>
<p>Besides Brown: Duke, Dartmouth</p>
<p>Err…I was referring to match as in matching the requirements he listed…</p>
<p>You definitely need more safeties on your list, but so far I think is good.
Maybe add another safety school like FSU as a safety.
By the way are you going to need financial aid? Do you prefer an urban or a rural environment? Are you willing to consider an LACS?</p>
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<p>You’ll need to get your SATs up.</p>
<p>I agree with glass - those SATs seem too low for Stanford and Princeton</p>
<p>Thanks for the people who have thrown me some colleges to look at</p>
<p>and my SAT score is in the ranges of all of those colleges,</p>
<p>^ Let’s use Stanford as an example: [Stanford</a> University: Common Data Set 2009-2010](<a href=“http://ucomm.stanford.edu/cds/cds_2009.html#admission]Stanford”>http://ucomm.stanford.edu/cds/cds_2009.html#admission) Your Math and Writing are both under the 25% level. If you’re a 350 lb lineman then yes, you might be accepted. If not then it’s a major reach.</p>
<p>Sorry i didn’t realize that 25% of Princeton’s incoming class are 350lb linemen.</p>
<p>I understand its a reach.</p>
<p>Let me be plain. You are not in the ranges of all those schools. Perhaps consider U Miami and Fla State.</p>
<p>To put it more diplomatically, even if your scores are at the school’s 50% level admittance is still iffy. But you should still apply to a few schools where you are at the 25% level as you have planned. Just fill in your list with some that are more certain. Brandeis might be worth a look too. Also maybe someplace with rolling admissions like the University of Michigan (maybe I already said that).</p>
<p>
No need to get snippy simply because someone tells you something you don’t want to hear. They’re correct; your scores are low for Stanford and Princeton.</p>
<p>A considerable chunk of each class is composed of hooked applicants - legacies, developmental admits, and athletes. For Stanford and Princeton, you also have to factor in outstanding applicants - IMO medalists, Rickoids, etc. Add in the applicants admitted to fulfill certain quotas (e.g. an oboe player for the orchestra) and the number of unhooked applicants getting in is pretty darned small (1 in 20 at best). </p>
<p>That said, you should still apply. I think others are merely cautioning you to have a good number of match schools that you like as much as the others, which seems like what you’re asking for.</p>
<p>Case Western would be a reasonably safe match. Possibly USC and Tulane as well. </p>
<p>
Michigan switched from rolling to EA. The difference is mostly worth noting only if the OP plans to apply SCEA to Stanford.</p>
<p>Your GPA leads me to think you can do better on the SAT…should try again.</p>
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<p>No, it’s not, and your ECs won’t be able to make up for that.</p>