<p>It's only july, and i'm already freaking out. I don't know where i can realistically get into college because i'm in the awkward position of being too low for the ivies, and being "too high" for my state school. And by that I mean... I just really don't want to go and see the same people forever. Can anyone suggest colleges in new england/mid atlantic area, doesn't matter the size, with strong science programs? I plan on majoring in the biological sciences, not exactly sure what, and plan to go to med school. i'm applying to uconn EA probably, since i'll most likely just end up going there, but i don't want to just apply to one spot and then regret it later. btw, what is your opinion on uconn and its science program/quality of the medical school?</p>
<p>Stats:
Rank: 23/280, but probably higher now
GPA: 4.123 weighted, higher now and i don't know the unweighted
SATs: best combined is cr:680 math:590 wr:650 retaking in october and the ACT</p>
<p>EC's: 450ish hours of volunteering at a thrift store (420) and the hospital (30), plan on continuing to reach at least 100 hours by the time app's go out
summer internship at a college studying molecule interaction with dna
monthly research (4-10 hours/month) on the subject, final project to be presented in front of a panel in june 09
summer@brown course on medicine and society
national honors society
rhode island honors society, potentially for senior year
some other not important things (lacrosse 1 year, student council, writing club...)</p>
<p>any input is helpful:)</p>
<p>Just a quick comment on UConn med...I just graduated college and 5 of my roommates were Bio/Pre-Med. Out of all of them, only one got into Med school right away...at UConn. He was in the top 10 STUDENTS (not top 10 percent) in our graduating class, scored in the 90+ percentile on the MCAT and is really excited about UConn Med...I don't know all that much about medical school, but if it's good enough for him it must be a pretty good school.</p>
<p>Up your SAT score and you have a very good chance at BC, Tufts, Brandeis
UCONN is a DECENT school. Its by no means an elite institution but still provide a very good education. You should think about the honors college.</p>
<p>You should look into smaller research universities that are good in sciences. Brandeis is probably the best in New England. Also Rochester, Tufts, Drexel, Johns Hopkins. Larger schools could include Pitt; smaller ones could inlcude Williams or Amherst. For a reach, try Cornell or Penn.</p>
<p>Just take the SAT again. I wish I had your EC and class rank! Look into Cornell, Penn, Johns Hopkins, and Rochester. Rochester should give you the least trouble at getting in and Ivy is a reach for everyone.</p>
<p>thanks for all the input! i'm getting tutored a bit for the SAT/ACT and hope to potentially hit 1350/1600. i need to since i'm applying to the combined degree program at uconn and i hear its really hard to get in from out of state. but even if i don't get in, i hope i'm accepted to the honors college. its not elite or anything i know, but it seems nice, and i can get reduced tuition with the major i'm choosing. but how high should i aim to raise it to have chances at brandeis, tufts etc? my math score kills me</p>
<p>other than that, i'll definitely look into these colleges:)</p>
<p>I wanna say around mid-1400s for verbal and math combined then you will have a legitimate shot at those schools. GOOD LUCK :D</p>
<p>thanks sushi cutter, i'm doing my best to raise my score, but its only at 1270, so i have a distance to go...</p>
<p>i've also been considering temple and SUNY stony brook, but i don't really know much about either. stony brook seems to fit my sat score, and i'd be in the mid 50%, which i was really looking for. i've also heard they have a strong science program, and a bunch of options like WISE and scholars for medicine. and a medical school. </p>
<p>anyone know about temple, or have any comments on stony brook? actually, thoughts on anything, because i'm very confused.</p>
<p>Glad to hear Stony Brook's an option for you. We compare pretty favorably with UConn; a lot of our applicants overlap there. Science is certainly something we do well; we're the flagship research university for the system, and Bio is our largest and most diverse (academically, anyway) program. Have you visited campus at all? Come down and see us -- let me know when you're coming and I'll hook you up with someone from the Bio program.</p>
<p>Chris</p>
<p>Amond SUNY's, Stony Brook is known for its sciences and they even have a medical school.</p>
<p>I don't know much about science at temple, but it has a really good honors program and you could def. get in. You might even get a full ride (if your gpa is over 3.5 and your sat is over 1140? your in the running).</p>
<p>Heres some...</p>
<p>Johns Hopkins
Swarthmore
Tufts
Rutgers
Skidmore
Ursinus</p>
<p>well, at least people think i seem to have options. i was doubting i'd have more than 3 places to apply. my guidance counselor wasn't very supportive during my college meeting, and basically told me i probably wouldn't get into my state school and needed safeties. thing is, any safety would basically be a community college, if it's under the university of rhode island. so i was kind of bummed.</p>
<p>so far my definite list is uri, uconn, suny stony brook, cornell (for my super major reach) and maybe umass amherst. </p>
<p>thanks everyone for the input. isn't john hopkins really hard to get into? and tufts?</p>
<p>UMD, NYU, Penn State, BU, BC, Fordham, Villanova, Skidmore, Haverford, Colgate, Hamilton, Syracuse..</p>
<p>anything else?</p>
<p>Sami, looks like you are a strong student. If you are set on going to medical school, I would suggest of the smaller schools that are very supportive of their pre meds. It can be a tough go at some of these bigger schools for premeds, and it 's nice to go through the med school app process with support not as a gauntlet. I say this as a graduate from a school with a fine rep for premed, but is a rough training ground that gatekeeps many a promising premed from med school. Many of the schools in Loren Pope's "Colleges that Change Lives" fit the description of schools that help kids into med school. A small school can make a big difference. Sienna College in New York is another that comes to mind as well as Hobert William Smith. </p>
<p>What are your financial constraints? Do you need financial aid and do you know if your family will qualify?</p>
<p>Yea, i'll definitely need financial aid... a lot, unless I want mountains of debt. I used an EFC calculator, and the predicted contribution was like $4000 for my parents and myself. That's why i'm sticking to public universities, or schools that are known for generous aid. I figure, it may be hard to succeed at a large university, but if I am accepted into the honors college, or some special program offered, I can get a bit more help.</p>
<p>Sami, my recommendation to you would be to apply to some smaller schools that meet full aid or close to it. You and your folks should sit down and fill out PROFILE to see what you can expect from such schools. Most state universities do NOT meet anywhere close to full need, especially for out of state kids. What awards they have tend to go to their own and to high stat kids. Look up a number of schools on the premier ($15 USN&WR site) or invest in the Ultimate Guide (or borrow one from library or bookstore), and you can see what % of need is met and how. You want a school that will meet full need or close, and with good grants, not heavy on loans. You should look for schools where your test scores are in the upper quarter or more, as that helps with the composition of the aid package. OOS publics are not a good bet for you with your financial need.</p>
<p>OK, thanks. I'm only considering publics in new england, because of the reduced tuition program that's available. So applying to UConn is comparable to my instate university. SUNY is a good deal that is already comparable to URI too. </p>
<p>I forgot to mention that I'm applying to northeastern too, but probably won't go unless i get a substantial fin aid package. 46k is a lot.</p>
<p>Could you tell me where I could get some of this information online--- or suggest a college for me to start with? I know I'd have a better chance getting merit if i'm at the top of the class, but I haven't seen anywhere with stat's like mine.</p>
<p>Washington College in MD is a school that has some good merit aid and does well with pre meds. Look at the Colleges THat Change Lives and some of the smaller catholic schools with specific pre med programs. You are doing well in looking at low sticker price schools. James Madison in Va is another possibility in terms of low cost.</p>