<p>Okay, so it's the summer before senior year, and I have finally decided to face the fact that I need to start narrowing down my list of colleges. But the problem is, as soon as I narrow the list down I see or read something that will make the list grow, or diminish altogether.
I'm a 3.99 GPA student, 2100 SAT score, AP classes and tests, President of National Honor Society (Secretary last year), volunteering, Editor in Chief of school newspaper, Middle Eastern, Youth Mentor as my job and volunteering at work before I started working there (if that makes sense). I want to be a pediatrician, so I'm looking for pre-med programs. My problem is that I just don't know how to pick a college. I'm scared to go for Ivy Leagues, I feel like I'll look stupid if I even try. Are they worth a shot? I'd love to go somewhere on the East Coast. I'm banking on the University of Washington, but I would love to have more options. I'm just trying to see with all this under my belt which schools should I at least consider? Thank you guys so much for your help. I'd love to start brainstorming essay prompts and all that jazz, but I need to at least get my list of colleges down as a start :) Thanks!</p>
<p>On the east coast I would say johns Hopkins duke university or north Carolina wake forest university of Pennsylvania university of maryland</p>
<p>I thought Johns Hopkins was cutthroat and a total reach school haha. This is also my problem, I’m a little scared and don’t want to be that obnoxious kid that overestimates themselves.</p>
<p>the only way to guarantee rejection is not to apply! :)</p>
<p>Haha I know everyone keeps telling me that. My parents also don’t seem to understand that I can’t just frolic into Harvard with a bag of candy and get accepted. I’ve been researching, Googling, going from article to article all day and can’t figure out what to do. If I go out of state (I live in Washington, not much of a good college selection here except University of Washington), I want to go somewhere worth the money I’ll pay, so that’s a factor as well.</p>
<p>I’d honestly say you’re kind of a run-of-the-mill applicant, but with a good essay, you might have a shot at some of the lower ivies. make your parents scroll through the chances threads on CC. that’ll make them stop :P</p>
<p>Yep, I mean I’m not absolutely dying to go to an Ivy League school. I believe that if you work hard at any school you can get to where you can be, doesn’t matter if it’s Ivy or public. I’m even doubtful about Ivies because I just don’t think I can fit into that atmosphere really. I just need a great school that fits me, somewhere I can concentrate on studies but still enjoy what I’m doing. But then again, I don’t know what would qualify as reach schools, safety schools, match schools, etc.</p>
<p>The “College Supermatch” tool on this website is very helpful, I would recommend it. </p>
<p>Searching through threads on CC can also help you to find schools with good programs in what you want to pursue. You can then do more research on the suggested schools to see if they interest you.</p>
<p>So far I have University of Washington, Boston University, University of Connecticut, University of Michigan, Columbia (dreaaaaam), NYU (dream lol), Washington University in St. Louis, and Northwestern (maybe).</p>
<p>Medical School is fiendishly expensive, and there are almost no scholarships available. Most Med School students pay for it entirely with student loans. Even if you end up at your cheap-o in-state Med School, you will graduate with $200k-$300k in Med School debt which will take many, many years to pay down. This is why the standard advice for Pre Med students is that you should attend the college or university that will be cheapest for you. You do not want to have any student debt from your undergrad years hanging over your head when you start Med School, and if your undergrad education is sufficiently inexpensive, your parents may be more willing to help pay for Med School.</p>
<p>Your grades and test scores are good enough to get you serious merit-based aid if you choose your undergraduate college carefully. Spend some time in the Financial Aid Forum reading up on that topic. You may find good matches for yourself there.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>
<p>So a search on CC for pre-med threads like: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1371729-med-school.html?highlight=lacs+for+pre+meds[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1371729-med-school.html?highlight=lacs+for+pre+meds</a></p>
<p>Lots of invaluable information. And listen up to happymomof1. Pre-meds need to avoid debt - and medical schools are notoriously focused on GPA and MCAT, rather than the name of the school you attended. Go anywhere that you can 1) afford without debt and 2) get a GPA of at least 3.75. Most reputable schools will provide sufficient academic prep to do well on the MCAT if you are making As in the science classes.</p>
<p>What are you interested in doing in college? Strong social life, greek life? Or competitive academics? Political views? Also keep in mind the location and campus life.
If you’re interested in med school, I’d recommend a private school with good financial aid, preferably near a big city. Just my opinion, based on the research that I’ve done.</p>
<p>Thanks you guys! That helped a lot actually, makes sense. In state I have University of Washington (which has a great med school), Seattle University (great financial aid) and Seattle Pacific University. I guess I just feel compelled to apply out of state because everyone else is and I’m scared I won’t get accepted in state! But you’re right. I should be smart and not go into debt for an undergrad.</p>
<p>izb, Take a step back and approach the search more comprehensively. First, clarify your financial situation. Do you qualify for NEED based aid? If you don’t know ask your parents to use an online calculator to determine how much need based aid you may expect to receive. If that works, then you’ll have a fairly open list. If that doesn’t work, then you’ll need MERIT based aid, which means a different list.</p>
<p>Nothing wrong with applying to Ivies or any other super selectives. There’s nothing in your profile that would keep you out. Of course, there’s no guarantee so have a balanced list in selectivity.</p>
<p>It appears from your tentative list that you’re gravitating toward urban and medium to big. Or are you looking for strong medical schools? If yes, don’t. There’s no such major as premed and you can get into a good medical school from just about any starting place as long as your grades and scores are there. For undergraduate, concentrate on fit.</p>
<p>As a person of middle eastern descent (You are a US citizen, right?) you might try going against the grain and applying to schools that seek to increase their diversity percentages. Generally speaking these would be smaller liberal arts colleges in the midwest or south or in rural environments. If you happen to be Muslim, emphasize it in your application as colleges are interested in what you can contribute to the campus community in and out of the classroom.</p>
<p>See, my parents are being entire uncooperative in this entire thing. I’m legitimately all alone in this, and have no idea what to do. They avoid the topic of college, and they’re so vague about me going out of state it’s ridiculous.
I am gravitating towards urban because I live in Seattle so I’m used to it. But then again, Seattle is different from a lot of the country. And yes, I am a U.S citizen and Muslim! You’re right, because if I apply to schools on the East Coast I’m not going to be that unique because there are so many of us there lol.
However, I’m definitely not looking towards the midwest or the South, it’s just not in my comfort zone, like I know they won’t be a good fit. I’m so lost haha.</p>
<p>
Do you know whether they plan to help pay for your education?</p>
<p>UDub is a really top-notch school. WSU and WWU are good too and would offer a fine pre-med education.</p>
<p>I’m just curious…have you ever visited the Midwest or South?</p>
<p>“They avoid the topic of college, and they’re so vague about me going out of state it’s ridiculous.”</p>
<p>Are your parents immigrants who did not go to college here? If so, it is most likely that they are entirely clueless about the whole process. See if you can get them to meet with your guidance counselor or another adult who they respect who understands the college application process and who can help them get a handle on things.</p>
<p>As mentioned above, the most important thing that you need to find out is how much money they are ready, willing, and able to contribute to the costs of your education. The simple fact is that LOTS of parents even though they want to help pay for college aren’t in any shape to do so. Often those parents are appear disinterested in the college application process because they are so embarrassed about the money issue. You have the grades and exam scores to get decent merit-based aid at some colleges and universities. Identify some places that you will be able to afford entirely on your own so that if your parents can’t help you, they won’t need to feel so bad.</p>
<p>Clearing up the money picture is the first step. You cannot begin to make a list until you know where the money will come from. </p>
<p>You need to have a heart to heart with your parents. If they are resistant, ask a mutual friend, perhaps a relative with a child in college, your highschool college counselor or a leader from your parents’ mosque to intervene for you. </p>
<p>You are a likely candidate for either generous need based aid or merit aid, but more often than not, colleges that are generous with need aid do not give merit aid, so you must determine your position.</p>
<p>Don’t eliminate non-urban, non-coastal colleges, yet. You’re in the information gathering stage and you should keep an open mind. Many colleges in the South and Midwest are excellent sources of merit aid. Many rural colleges would jump at the chance of recruiting a high achieving Muslim. You objective is to get into the best academically rigorous college you can, so don’t start closing doors until you’ve explored what’s inside.</p>
<p>Are you male or female? If female, add some of the all womens colleges. </p>
<p>Some ideas for excellent academics, good medical school access that you may not have thought of.</p>
<p>Offer merit aid: Smith (if you are female), Carleton, Grinnell, Rhodes
Offer only need based aid, but would consider you a person of interest: Williams, Wesleyan, Amherst, Hamilton, Bowdoin</p>
<p>Also, get your application into Michigan as soon as you can. They have rolling admissions and will advise you within weeks whether you are accepted. If you are, and the money is reasonably workable, that can be your safety.</p>
<p>Make sure your Muslim heritage features in your essays. Islam is a hot-topic on campus these days, and your status as a Muslim-American would be plus, especially at non-urban, non-coastal schools.</p>
<p>First off, you guys are amazingly helpful (:
My parents are immigrants but my mom went to college here (University of Hartford) and dad in Switzerland. They’re only hesitant because in our culture girls should stay close to home blah blah blah. Double standards, ugh. And my brother stayed in state and went to college but he isn’t much of a help. I’m definitely planning to include that in my essays, especially the fact that I wear a scarf to school so I thought that would be an interesting topic. Anyway, getting sidetracked lol.
My reach schools would be NYU and Columbia. I talked to my mom, and we both like University of Connecticut. I’m still looking though and open. My parents are willing to pay whatever it takes, everytime i ask them they say I shouldn’t worry about it but I’m not stupid haha. I’ve never been to the midwest or South except for Texas. Texas is out of the question though lol too many crazy family members.
Should I look into only out of state schools then that have strong pre med programs and offer a lot of aid? Again, thanks you guys, you’re a voice of reason in my borderline mental breakdown state lol.</p>
<p>Oh, and thank you for the college suggestions! ^^^ Definitely looking into them! My first choice is University of Washington btw, I’m just confused on which out of state schools are worth applying to in my case.</p>