"Its not about the money money money"..But it really is!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello CCers
This is my first thread and at the moment, I am pretty desperate. HELP ME FIND A COLLEGE!
I would like to pursue the pre-medical path and specifically major in Bio-Chemistry. I have some family problems and as a result, my parents will not be helping me pay for college. At the moment I don't know where I want to go, but I do know that I will need some help paying for it. I am fine with full rides, partial scholarships, and work study programs. Anything is fine, I just need help finding colleges and scholarships for them. </p>

<p>What I am looking for in an college:
I'm looking for a university that has decent(somewhat prestigious) resources for the pre-medical students but also a campus a party almost everyday. I want to be able to study hard on the week days but then party hard on the weekends. I would like it if there is a decent city near by, however that is not necessary. I am also looking for a college that will give me decent aid - specifically merit. I, myself, can pay up to 20K per year. The weather of the surrounding area I am not too concerned with. Just academics and partying(things to do on campus). Oh, and also girls. I want co-ed. </p>

<p>So a little about myself! </p>

<p>Stats:
UW GPA: 3.961
WGPA: 4.294
Rank: 9th out of 569
IB Student
Graduating in 2012</p>

<p>Scores:
ACT: 34
SAT: 2180
APs:
-Chem = 5
-Stats = 4
-Macro = 4
-Micro = 4
-AP Human Geo - 4</p>

<p>IBs:
IB SL Math SL = 7</p>

<p>SATII's:
Workin on them...!</p>

<p>ECs.
*Indicates I have a leadership position </p>

<p>Hospital Volunteering
Hospice
Medical Exploration Academy
Advisory Group for Medical exploration Academy*
National Honor German Society*
Chemistry Club
Math Club
Debate
National Honor Society
Research on Chronic Heart Failure(Job/Internship)
Peer Tutoring
My own Photography Business</p>

<p>Awards:
5000K scholarship to study in Germany for the summer
2nd place runner up at the State Economic Challenge</p>

2

<p>You mention medical school following your Undergrad, are you going to enter a M.D. program or a D.O. program? And also what is your geographic preference?</p>

3

<p>I am looking to enter MD/PhD program after my undergrad. This is not set in stone, however, it is a possibility. As for my geographical preference, I do not mind. I prefer the coasts and/or cities as I am situated in a decent sized town in the midwest right now.</p>

4

<p>UMich
Duke
WUSTL
Vanderbilt
UGA</p>

5

<p>Given you stats and your financial needs, your state flagship honors college is probably one of your best options.</p>

6

<p>UPitt/w merit
Clark/ w merit
Tulane/w merit
your state flagship/honors (best bet maybe unless you get a full ride somewhere)</p>

<p>slightly lesser-known LACs would give you big merit–not sure which ones are best for sciences but that might be another angle</p>

7

<p>Your state flagship, or a directional state university, is probably your best option for under $20K/year if your parents can afford to contribute more but are unwilling to do so.</p>

<p>Some public universities offer full tuition or full ride merit scholarships to OOS National Merit finalists. In general, though, aid at public universities is scarce for OOS students.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>The most selective private schools generally do not offer merit scholarships, or only very few. Less selective private schools often do offer merit money to entice top students, but the amounts typically are not enough to get the out-of-pocket costs into your price range.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/696637-merit-aid-percentage-common-data-set-6.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/696637-merit-aid-percentage-common-data-set-6.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://www.kiplinger.com/tools/privatecolleges/[/url]”>Kiplinger | Personal Finance News, Investing Advice, Business Forecasts;
<a href=“http://www.kiplinger.com/tools/colleges/[/url]”>Best College Values, 2019 | Kiplinger;

8

<p>With a 34 ACT and top 2% class rank, there are many good schools where the OP would qualify for full or near-full tuition. </p>

<p>Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using CC App</p>

9

<p>Take a look at Emory.</p>

10

<p>^ Full COA at Emory is about $56K, so the OP would need about $36K in merit money to make up for the $20K he thinks he can bring to the table. According to the Emory CDS, for 2010-11, 139 out of 1871 first year students received merit aid. That’s less than 10%. The average amount was $15,756. His qualifications are very good, but probably not in the top 10% for a school like Emory. So he can try, but I don’t think his chances are too good for receiving more than double the average merit aid package.</p>

11

<p>Harvard has the BEST (if not top 3) medical school in America. Although I do not know about pre-med, I can assume its pretty similar, or close.</p>

12

<p>tk, good information on Emory. I don’t have personal experience there, but I mentioned it because I know three kids who received substantial merit. I guess they were exceptional.</p>

13

<p>OP, how can you pay for $20K/year without your parents’ help?</p>