Help me find Matches!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi, I am an international junior from Canada and I plan on applying to some US schools: biochem/microbio major for pre-med. My stats are for this year:</p>

<p>AP Bio: 100% in class, taking exam May 12
French: 98%
Canadian History: 99%
Physics grade 11(only physics offered): 98%
Pre-AP/Honor Chem grade 11: 98%
Pre-Calculus grade 12 (pre-AP): 98% not completed yet
Pre-Ap English grade 12: 98% class not completed yet
Pre-Ap Psych grade 12: 98% not completed yet</p>

<p>Grade 9 avg: roughly 96% changed schools after 9th (from rural to urban)
Grade 10 avg: 98%</p>

<p>SAT:1940
Cr 660, M 660, Wr 600 Re-taking in fall</p>

<p>SATII: Taking Bio this June, chem or math in fall</p>

<p>EC's
Student council grade rep: all years
Philanthropy: all years
Indoor/Outdoor track: all years
Badminton: all years
Chess: started this year, never had opportunity in small school before. placed second in grade for province.
Math Contest: Top 25% in Canada, top score in School for grade 11
** Did curling, volleyball, basketball, before in 9th didn't continue after school change (should I leave these out or include for common app?)
Will Tutor, volunteer at hospital this summer</p>

<p>Looking for some top schools with really good aid for International, as it would be much cheaper to stay in Canada, 5K a year here. I'm open to Ivies and non-Ivies as long as it has great science program, good ranking, and is affordable. I know I haven't taken much testing to offer more info but this is all the info I have right now. Thanks.</p>

2

<p>It will be real difficult to get into any Ivies with your SAT. I think its better if you study in Canada and go med school in USA or Canada. You must do very well in college for Med schools anyway, besides, US med schools do not accept too many internationals. Its too early to say you are qualified at this stage.</p>

3

<p>@artloversplus I would still be going to med school In Canada, just thinking about getting a better undergrad degree/connections from a better school first. Also, SAT is low b/c I didn’t really study for it. I feel confident in getting a 2100+ by the fall. </p>

4

<p>It’s going to be tough for you to match the cost savings of Cdn undergrad, and if you plan to go to med school, there are additional major costs you have to consider. </p>

<p>The only U.S. schools that are going to approximate the cost of a Cdn school for you, for need-based aid, would be relatively rich, highly ranked schools. A 1940 SAT puts you in the ballpark of a private school like U Rochester, where you’re somewhere around the 40th percentile. Even if you improve to a 2100 SAT, you’d be at ~65th percentile. So you’d have a reasonable chance at a school at that level, but a U of Rochester type wealth is likely not enough to match the net cost of a Cdn school. </p>

<p>As far as merit-based aid, it’s hard to count on it unless you’re sitting above the 95th percentile. At a school around Drexel’s selectivity/ranking level, you’re currently around the 70th percentile. If you improve to a 2100 SAT, then you might be at the 95th and in line for merit aid.</p>

<p>So when you factor in your current or projected SAT, the chances of you finding an acceptable school to match the net cost of a Cdn school are slim. Schools of Rochester’s wealth won’t do it for need-based aid. On the merit side, do you really believe a school like Drexel is a significantly better option than some of the better Cdn schools? I don’t. You might be able to find a relatively wealthy, lower ranked liberal arts college that fits the bill, but then you get into the issue of whether the academic philosophy and quality of a school like that will prepare you as well as a Cdn research uni, for Cdn med school.</p>

<p>So if you have to save money for med school, Cdn schools will likely be your best bet. If you’re worried about the large classes at U of T or UBC and the relatively poor reputation of U of M, why don’t you look at a school like Queen’s? Medium sized, solid reputation. Or have a look at Waterloo’s Biomed or Chem Engineering. Or if you’re extremely worried about large classes and you want to venture out to Sackville NB, Mount Allison is an excellent school with less than 3,000 students. It’s shocking how few Canadians have even heard of it. </p>

<p>Quebec schools are costlier for a Quebec non-resident, unless your legal status qualifies you for Que tuition rates. McGill is something like $4,000-4,500 more for a non-Que resident, per year. Keep that in mind. Overall, they might cost you a few thousand more over four years than elsewhere, which could be important for you, but check that.</p>

<p>Anyway, something to think about.</p>