Need help with a college list

College Search & Selection
1

Hi,
Incoming senior who is trying to narrow down my list.

I go to a very competitive HS in the Bay Area. Unweighted gpa is 3.77.

Honors Biology
Honors English
AP French score:3
AP Music Theory score: 4
AP Psychology (self study) score: 4
AP Environmental Science (self study) score: 4
Community College: Chemistry 101 (currently enrolled)

Senior year
AP Biology
AP statistics

I’m interested in biology and would like to pursue this field, but am also open to other related fields. Over the last couple of years have done biology research outside of school.

Extracurriculars are decent. Aside from research, have leadership role in environmental club, was very active during Covid making donations, teach kids science and art online.

I’ll definitely be applying to UCs, but would like suggestions for out of State. My parents can pay for private tuition, but prefer not to unless the school is stellar.

Open to schools in urban areas and smaller schools that will have a better teacher to student ratio.

What related majors are recommended? I can see myself pursuing research or something more applied.

Thank you!

2

Large or small school? Specifically private or an OOS public? Geographic location? SAT/ACT scores? Greek life? Sports? Budget?

Arizona State and consider Barrett’s Honors college or University of Arizona, University of Washington, University of Utah?

You can look at the WUE for some affordable options: Save On College Tuition | Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

For possible other majors: Biostats/Biometrics, Biochemistry, Public Health, Environmental Science, Cognitive Science

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3

Seconding all of the above majors over Biology! (Poor job prospects + oversupply of premeds who didn’t get into med school). Biostats grads are especially in demand, as are BioInformatics grads.

Colleges: look at Macalester, Denison, Bates, Lafayette, Connecticut College, Northeastern?

4

UC/CSU GPA would help.

if your UCGPA is below 4.0, most of the UCs are going to be a reach. UCR and UCM will be your best shot - but, the rest are pretty unlikely.

SDSU, CSULB, CPP as well as Chico and Sonoma in N Cal are all worth an ap/tour. Wue schools like UNR, OR State, UofUtah and Co State are all worth investigating.

Apply broadly and Good luck

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