<p>I have a list of high reaches (ie. Ivies), but I need some help with finding match/safety schools. So far my counselor has suggested UMich as a match and I'm interested in Carnegie Mellon (I don't know how I would match up with CMU).</p>
<p>Stat-wise:
GPA: 4.0 unweighed, 4.71 weighted (on a scale of 5)
SAT: 2380 (800-CR, 800-M, 780-W)
SAT II: 760 Bio, 780 Math II
I'll probably be taking Physics and/or French SAT II in the fall
APs: Biology (5), French (5), Calc BC (5), Lang (4)
I'm taking AP Lit, AP Gov, and the school equivalent of AP Physics this year.</p>
<p>I don't think my ECs are great. No major leadership positions (one or two smaller positions). I did get an internship at a neuroscience lab over the summer.</p>
<p>I'm interested in some sort of science (most likely biology or neuroscience), possibly as pre-med or aiming more for scientific research. Engineering is also another option. (Not completely set at this point.)</p>
<p>I'm mostly looking for a school on the East Coast, mainly in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region but I'm willing to look anywhere. My state school, Rutgers, is an obvious safety but I'd like to look elsewhere as well, preferably not in-state. A major factor would probably be the availability of undergraduate research opportunities and proximity to a metropolis area.</p>
<p>For match/safeties, you should look at University of Rochester. It’s supposed to have great undergraduate research opportunities and a doctor I know said the kids coming out of there and into medical school are very well prepared in sciences.</p>
<p>Next one would be SUNY Buffalo (it’s not that cold – really). Solid sciences, lots of hospitals in the Buffalo area where you might get internships.</p>
<p>Then more of a reach but not as reachy as Ivies – Bowdoin. A young woman who was very interested in neuroscience is there now and likes it.</p>
<p>Have you investigated University of the Sciences? Originally Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science but a lot more now.</p>
<p>Research opportunities and honors program. Merit scholarships. In a terrific urban neighborhood (full disclosure: I live there) near Penn and Drexel, with lots of restaurants and arts and bike shops. USci students can use the Penn shuttle at night (6 pm to 3 am) for door-to-door van service in University City.</p>
<p>with your scores…are you nmf? uab (birmingham alabama)
has a neuroscience program (fairly new)…and as an nmf student you would get full tuition (at 15 credits per semester), four years of housing and a stipend. uab is a tier 1 research university…home of a top medical school. very strong honors program (sci’tech honors)… urban campus, 11k undergrads</p>
<p>Academically speaking, your test scores and GPA are more than enough to get you into CMU as a biology or neuroscience major. The only reason why I wouldn’t rate it a straight match is that I don’t know how much financial aid you’d be able to get from CMU and how much you or your family can afford to pay.</p>
<p>Hi, thanks for all the suggestions so far! They’ve been really helpful. </p>
<p>Financially speaking I don’t believe I qualify for much need-based financial aid. My parents are inclined to pay more based on the “name”/prestige of the school but they don’t want me to be hindered by my choice of school for financial reasons.</p>
<p>I’m a NMSF and have yet to complete the process to apply to be a finalist.</p>
<p>Size-wise I’m more interested in mid-sized. But I’m willing to look at small or larger depending on other pluses or opportunities available.</p>