not a christmas list...

College Search & Selection
1

<p>sigh.. ive researched several schools all over the country, but, i cant seem to find some to fit all of my criteria, and its driving me insane... </p>

<p>please help... </p>

<p>heres what i need in a college
-definite merit scholarship (i will not qualify for anything need-based)
-if possible, some sort of pre-med advising, or a school where i wont be the only person wanting to go to medical school.
-a decent finance program as a second major, or a minor. the goal after i graduate finally is to have an MBA/MD.
-once again, very generous with merit aid, ill give my stats below, my parents want to save money for my graduate schooling so they want me to attend a fairly inexpensive undergraduate school.
-if possible, northeast area, maybe within a three hour radius from Boston, i have family there, but i don't need to be too close.
-aside from focusing on the Northeast, i am still looking all around the country, my stats plus what i want in a college might be able to help.</p>

<p>The Current List and problems i see with it.
-Boston Univ - grade deflation = low gpa = no med school
-Northeastern Univ - not that bad actually, i like it. Not that prestigious or well known, but thats not too important.
-UConn - It's okay - but too rural for me
-Rutgers New Brunswick - 4 hrs 20 minutes away, kind of a last resort by distance.
-Theres this Union College in Poughkeepsie?. I don't know anything about it.
-Rensselaer Polytechnic - i heard troy is very unattractive
-Colgate - merit aid????? website is not specific enough
-College of New Jersey - too many instate students
-UCLA or UC Berkeley- which one will lead me best into medicine?
-What about Vanderbilt?
-University of Rochester - i think its a good school?
-Tulane University - instate school for me</p>

<p>the Statistics
-location - new orleans
-essay - cutting open a chick embryo. (work at Tulane U. Center for Gene Therapy)
-2nd essay - work at Camp Challenge as a counselor(camp for kids with cancer)
-leadership - pres, vice pres, treasurer, few clubs for several years, Indian Association of New Orleans (community stuff), tennis for 4 years(but i suck).
-rank - school doesn't rank, GPA = 3.9uw/4.2w
-SAT - 740 CR, 750 Math, 740 Writing = 1490/1600, 2230/2400
-AP courses- AP physics c mechanics, AP statistics, AP English IV, AP Spanish IV, AP calculus BC, AP European history, AP govt.</p>

<p>So, Any good schools for me that would offer me substantial merit aid? If possible, well known schools? My parents went to college in India and then again in America, but they know very little about the application process. I'm trying to figure this stuff out on my own, any help would be greatly appreciated. </p>

<p>Thanks, this really means a lot to me.</p>

<p>-Keshav</p>

2

<p>i think boston university gives half tuition if you are a national merit finalist. are you?</p>

3

<p>no, i am not</p>

4

<p>You probably won't get any money from UCLA or Berkeley. The UC system doesn't like OOS students. Same goes for Vanderbilt - it's near ivy caliber, and probably doesn't give much merit aid (seeing as everyone is super-qualified).</p>

<p>The rest of your list looks okay though. Rochester could be a really good fit. </p>

<p>Also try Syracuse and Miami OH. (Miami OH has one of the best success rates in the nation for pre-med, and you could probably get serious merit money).</p>

5

<p>Wells College in upstate NY would fit the Northeast, inexpensive, merit aid (<a href="http://www.wells.edu/admiss/scholarships.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.wells.edu/admiss/scholarships.htm&lt;/a&gt;) requirements. It's not very well known, and I don't know anything about its finance program, or even if it has one, but it might be worth a look.</p>

6

<p>Tulane is private, but gives great merit aid, so you should apply. I went to RPI for a master's. Troy is not glamorous or exciting, but it isn't terrible either, and the surrounding areas are nice. Worcester Polytechnic give aid and is in Massachusetts. Olin has free tuition, but is hard to get into. Union College is a good school, but may not give huge amounts of aid. Most places with merit aid only give 10 to 15K per person. George Washington U has finance and premed, and does give a few large merit grants. Case Western Reserve and Ohio Wesleyan are also worth looking at. To be honest, it will be hard to get big merit aid at a school good for premed with a finance minor. I would be ready to sacrifice one of the three goals, but not the good premed.</p>

7

<p>You shoud look in USC. I know its not in the northeast, but they are known to be very generous with merit aid. I have multiple friends get full rides, but you have to apply to before december 10. They have a pre-professional focus, a pre-med concentrations with great advising, and are known for their bussiness/fiance/econ program.
Plus you get to be in california</p>

8

<p>well, I know this doesn't qualify as well-known, but please check out Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. We just got back from visiting our freshman daughter for Parent's Weekend, and because when we were initially looking at the school, we were focused on the theatre and dance department, I didn't pay much attention to the rest of the academics. </p>

<p>They have a huge pre-med contingency, and I think you would qualify for merit aid. My daughter and her friend were joking about why Muhlenberg has such a high rate of medical school acceptance - it's because if they don't think you're medical school material as defined by your academic work, they won't recommend you for application. I thought this was kind of harsh, and said it seemed weird to let someone attend their school for three years, then all of a sudden say, "We won't recommend you for med school." However, they said the professors almost constantly monitor the pre-med students grades, accomplishments, etc. so that it is never a surprise if you make it to your third year and they recommend a different career path. Basically, within each academic class, they make it clear what's expected of pre-med students and offer lots of support to those who are struggling to reach that expectation. My D has $18,000 in merit aid, but a small portion of that is a talent scholarship, so it's quite substantial. We, too, do not qualify for need-based aid. Please PM me if you want more information.</p>

9

<p>Not Northeast, but take a look at SMU. I think you'll find a good amount of what you want here (other than location)</p>

10

<p>You wrote, "ive researched several schools all over the country, but, i cant seem to find some to fit all of my criteria, and its driving me insane"</p>

<p>Perhaps there is something wrong with your approach?</p>

<p>I'm always disappointed when I see a student distinguish his colleges by their flaws. Every place, person, and experience has its negatives. To dwell on them is to miss the big picture. Every one of your schools has its share of happy, successful students. Why are you not doing more to find out if you could one of them?</p>

<p>Go back to your list and research your choices. You need a list of positives and negatives for each school, as they relate to you. No one here can do that for you.</p>

<p>Also, needing substantial merit money is not an equivalent factor to the others. It is the number one factor, especially if you are considered an international student, and even more so since you are looking towards graduate school. Get the financial facts from your parents (the maximum amount they can or will pay) before you fall in love with a school you can't afford.</p>