This is my current list of colleges im applying to (30 act, 4.0 gpa, intended major of biology on premed track)
Reach:
Northeastern
Colby
Match:
Boston University
Brandeis
Holy Cross
Safety:
UMass Amherst
UConn
Does anyone have any suggestions for other colleges to look into? I’m looking to minimize undergraduate debt but also go to a school that will provide me with research opportunities and will allow me to stand out as a medical school applicant. (and if no suggestions, is there any alterations or things I should look into for my current list? Thanks)
Statistically the list is OK…but the list is actually financially VERY reach-heavy. Almost all of these schools are private universities. Even after financial aid is calculated, costs are still going to be exorbent. The safety schools are in 2 different states, so at least one of them is going to be triple the tuition.
My recommendation, choose an in-state university you can afford. Doctor is a popular dream for smart kids coming out of high school, but the reality is that almost none of them go to medical school. As you mature you find undiscovered passions in other areas. Don’t EVER choose a school on rankings or “premed prestige.” If you decide against medicine, you might find that you’re miserable at the school you’re at. Second, if you do decide on medicine, your best shot is in your home state, because of residential preference. Third, medical school is ridiculously expensive, and you need to keep debt to a minimum.
Safety schools are shoo-ins; the notion that you wouldn’t gain admission is impossible! I wonder if UConn, though it should be in your sweet spot, is too selective to be automatic.
As for medical school, there is no best route. Earn high grades. Do well on the MCAT. Secure super-strong letters of rec. Do interesting things. I’m biased, so I like schools like Holy Cross or Colby, where you should get more individual attention in key STEM courses. In fact, I like Holy Cross the most on your list. A great academic school that should be tougher admission-wise but is great for students like you, OP. You should be competitive at HC. Can you afford all these schools, though?
Also, I was reading an article recently that said your best bet to get into med school is doing a major where you can get really high grades.
Biology/chem/other science majors tend to have lower GPAs while other science-type majors such as Pysch tend to have high GPAs. (obviously this varies by school) You want to pick a major where you can get the highest GPA possible plus study hard and get a good MCAT score. This is what ultimately will help you stand out.
I would also try to avoid “sciencey” schools because everyone from them will be applying to med school as well (i.e. Cornell and UChicago).
have you looked into any 7 year med programs? SUNY Downstate, UMiami, and Penn State are some options to look into.