Help me Pick Schools to Apply to?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello. I am going to be a senior this fall and I am having an incredibly hard time picking schools to apply to. I'll probably apply to about 5-7 schools, so I would like a safety or two and I feel like I should avoid reaches as much as possible but they're not out of the question. I am looking to major in biopsychology/neuroscience and fulfill my pre-med requirements to apply to medical school. Price and financial aid are very important factors for me in picking a school, schools that are generally cheap but still excellent schools, or schools that give good financial aid are schools that I'm mostly looking for. Currently, I have decided to apply to two schools for certain, and those are NYU and UCSB. NYU has been a dream school of mine for almost two years now, so even though it's unlikely they would give me a good financial aid offer, I feel I should still apply in case they do. I'm considering NYU-Poly, but I'm not certain I will apply there. As for school preferences, I do not want a rural area at all. I want to be in or near an urban environment. I prefer to stay in California or NYC, but I will consider ALL options (sans rural areas). I'm iffy about going to a liberal arts college because I am not entirely sure how they work and I'm not sure they would be good fits for me either. I prefer a medium to large-sized school, but I guess I'll look into some smaller schools. Here are my stats for school:</p>

<p>State: CA
UW GPA: 3.78
W(UC) GPA: 4.15
ACT: Composite: (29) E: 33 M: 30 R: 25 S: 28 [Retaking in Sept.]
AP: Physics B: (3) Statistics: (4) Psychology [Self-studied]: (4)
ELC: Yes</p>

<p>Senior Year Course Load:
AP Chemistry
AP Calculus BC
AP Government
Expository Reading/Writing</p>

<p>EC:
Marching Band: 9, 10, 11 (This took up more time than you think)
Wind Ensemble: 9, 10
Psychology Club: 11
Self Studied AP Psychology: 11
ASB: 12</p>

<p>Recommendations on some safety schools and match schools would be greatly appreciated! I am having a very hard time and I'm sort of running out of time. Thank you for reading!</p>

2

<p>while I think vanderbilt and rice would be great fits for you(minus the geographic desire you have)…not as safeties.</p>

<p>maybe u of pittsburg as a match/safety (amazing school,medical research etc)
u of miami match/safety ?
butler university and drake university as safeties
sorry for not following your rules on geography. but , I really would not set a strict rule about location…you should be more concerned about the education and the overall hapiness you will have being at a college!</p>