<p>
I would say, then, that if you feel you can write a compelling statement about what it all says about you and how it will make you a better student and citizen at their school, then by all means use it. You can probably use both topics you mentioned along the way. Top schools usually want more than one essay, I think. Just depends on what they ask for. Just remember that the goal is to show them something about yourself that says this is the kind of person we want at our school. It’s always about how your past will contribute towards their future.</p>
<p>As far as the med school thing admissions, I know that is true for schools that are not in the highest level. I am not sure how true it is for a top med school like Hopkins. A lot of med schools have lists of the incoming classes and where they went undergrad. I couldn’t find that in a quick search on the JHU med school site, but I did see that of 116 entering students there were 63 different schools represented. You have to figure that schools like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Stanford, etc. had a few students each, not to mention more than one, possibly, from the top LAC’s and women’s colleges. So I don’t know, I guess doing undergrad at Hopkins might give a small edge. Very hard to say without seeing that list. Maybe you could call and ask them if there is such a list. Like I said, I have seen it for both med schools and law schools fairly often, so it wouldn’t be an odd request.</p>
<p>FYI, it is better if you tag with the @ symbol, like @Stevo68 so that I or anyone else you are talking to get a message that you posted something to us.</p>
<p>@fallenchemist - Thanks for your input. Do you think I should scrap JHU for a different university?</p>
<p>Not for me to say, @Stevo68. But I would say that if you feel Johns Hopkins is the right fit for you as an undergrad then by all means keep it on your list. Do you have a limit as to how many schools you can apply to? If yes, and you are sure you are fine if it turns out that UM and/or MSU are the choices you end up with, then keep JHU on the list if you think it is the atmosphere you want. Otherwise, if you think that a smaller school than UM or MSU is more to your liking, and you want to save money for med school, then I suggest looking into strong undergrad programs that are generous with merit scholarships.</p>
<p>Which brings to my attention that finances were never brought up as an issue, which is strange because I usually ask about that right away. But the whole conversation started off-track because of the ridiculously negative comment by one person. So before even considering your question further, what is your financial outlook? Have you run any of the financial calculators at the schools you have mentioned? Most critical, are you looking at loans if you attend a school like JHU, or UChicago?</p>
<p>@fallenchemist The reason that MSU and U of M are on the list is because they are some of the best schools Michigan has to offer. Regarding finances… I know for the Ivy Leagues I mentioned that they will give me financial aid as my current family income is under 60k. I was under the impression that UChicago was the same way. Also, my parents have already covered most of my undergrad tuition. </p>
<p>@Stevo68 - Yes, I totally get UM and MSU being on your list. UM especially is well known for its academic reputation. I just still would like to know if think you will be comfortable in schools that large. For many students it is just fine, for others they really want to avoid being in a school that big if at all possible.</p>
<p>I am no expert in the FA for these schools, but I think when they say “We guarantee no loans if your income is <$X” has some loopholes, if you will. For example, if you or your parents have savings of $100,000 schools will take that into consideration and could drain some or all of that before giving you the no-loan aid. They do ask for “asset information”. That would leave with with the prospect of paying for med school totally with loans. Wouldn’t it be better if you could save all or most of those savings for med school and reduce your debt later? Now of course I made up those numbers, but you say your parents have “already covered most of my undergrad tuition”. So it depends on exactly what that means. Run the financial aid calculators (often called the “net price calculator”) at several of these schools and see what they say. Here is Brown: <a href=“http://www.brown.edu/about/administration/financial-aid/browns-financial-aid-calculator”>http://www.brown.edu/about/administration/financial-aid/browns-financial-aid-calculator</a></p>
<p>Dartmouth: <a href=“http://www.dartmouth.edu/~finaid/fao/need/parent.html”>Home | Financial Aid;
<p>Cornell: <a href=“Financial Aid Calculator | Financial Aid”>http://www.finaid.cornell.edu/cost-attend/financial-aid-estimator</a></p>
<p>U Chicago: <a href=“Net Price Calculator”>Net Price Calculator;
<p>and of course JHU: <a href=“Net Price Calculator”>Net Price Calculator;
<p>Remember these are only estimates, but should give you the general idea. It is very important that your parents share everything with you about the finances.</p>
<p>Depending on these results, you might want to look at schools that have strong merit scholarships. But this question of finances needs to be settled absolutely before intelligent decisions can be made. Especially given your medical school ambitions.</p>
<p>Chicago, Brown, and Dartmouth are the hardest and are reaches. You have so-so chances at Cornell and JHU. </p>
<p>@bradybest What do you think the odds are that I will get into one of them? Also what do you think about my chances at UPenn (forgot to put in OP)?</p>
<p>@Steveo68 </p>
<p>Look up the acceptance rates for all your schools. </p>
<p>@bradybest So you’re saying I have the same chance as anyone else? I am well aware of the ~10% acceptance rates.</p>