I got rejected from my STATE school_ What am I doing wrong?

[Jamrock411]

@cody27

@MYOS1634 Yes, the other in-state universities that I applied to were UCF and FAU. I didn’t really like the atmosphere at UCF (too crowded, lower chances at obtaining an opportunity), so I definitely won’t be attending there. I applied to FAU, and its Honors college in Jupiter. Although I applied to FAU and visited, I didn’t visit the Honors College yet (so I am not sure how I will feel about it). I got into the Honors College too and I am hoping to visit soon (probably during spring break). I heard that there are two research institutes ( Max Planck and Scripps). One of which has a great program in neuroscience (A friend of mine did an internship there). That definitely made me think about my in-state options. Even when I don’t want to stay in-state. Anyways, if I do decide to stay in-state and pursue in neuroscience, I don’t know how the institution will support my interest in political science. (Which I am really passionate about also).

@cody27, I think you should visit FAU Wilkes Honors College in Jupiter. Excellent research opportunities at Scripps Research Institute-Florida, which is a 5-minute walk from FAU Jupiter campus (it is actually right there on campus). Some of Scripps research is closely aligned with your interest…

Much of the work at Scripps Florida is dedicated to basic biomedical research, a vital segment of medical research that seeks to decipher the most fundamental processes of life. Additionally, researchers at Scripps Florida are developing advanced technologies and applying these tools to the discovery of new therapeutic agents for a variety of devastating human diseases. Among others, these include: HIV/AIDS, cancer, depression, diabetes, hepatitis C, leishmaniasis (a tropical and sub-tropical parasitic disease), obesity, prion disease, **Parkinson’s disease, and diseases of learning and memory including Alzheimer’s disease, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and autism.

Very small class size, with many classes with 10-students or less. The total student population is ~2,500 students and if my memory serves me right, they cover full tuition and you will only have to cover Room & Board. Their dorm (Quad) has their own bedroom.

One of my kids who was rejected at UF, but got accepted to all the other Florida PublicU (UCF, FSU, FIU) and Umich, University of Miami, etc., was seriously considering FAU Wilkes. S/he elected to attend UMiami on a full tuition scholarship, although FAU Wilkes would have been my first choice school, if it was my decision. NCF is also an excellent suggestion, although it doesn’t offer the same research opportunities as FAU Wilkes Honors College.

I would forget about University of Miami, since your SAT score doesn’t make you competitive for much, if any, merit-aid and it is debatable if you would get in with your GPA/SAT scores. I know a number of URM with much better GPA/SAT at Umiami and all they got was half-tuition, which is not much, given their $60K/yr price tag.