Please Help Me Narrow Down for final List!

College Search & Selection
1

Hello all!
I am currently a rising senior and finalizing my college visit/apply list. I was wondering if any of you could offer feedback as to how I can narrow this list down ( unrealistic with stats, not known for Bio/ Life Sciences program, etc). My intended major at this time is Biology, intended minor is Anthropology, but would definitely adapt based on if an individual school has a killer program in something similar ( Agricultural Sciences at Cornell for example). My intention is to go to graduate vet school after undergrad.
Stats/ HS ECs
Selected for Faculty Review Board to interview Principle, Marine Corps Award for Scholastic Excellence, American Legion award for Leadership, Society of the Mayflower Award, Presidents Award, was offered almost full tuition scholarship to Elmira College junior year ( sorry if none of these really matter) , NHS, Science Club VP, Science Club Treasurer, Science Olympiad, Envirothon, Key Club, FBLA VP, FBLA secretary, Class Treasurer 2X, Vice President of Student Council, Varsity Soccer and Tennis, Volunteering at STEM camp, Job at local Zoo, youngest person ever to get Internship with Head Vet at zoo (close to 350 hours logged plus getting letter of Recommendation ), Marching Band, Boys State
Took Honors Chem, Honors English, AP World, AP Lang, AP Physics, AP US, taking AP Bio, AP Gov and AP Euro, GPA 95.8 Unweighted, 7 or 8 out of 151, 30 ACT (SAT was a weak 1900)
Colleges
Safes: Findlay (known for vet school acceptance rate), Geneseo, Ithaca, Oswego, Alleghany
Matches: Bucknell, Gettysburg, Saint Lawrence U,
Reaches: Lehigh, Cornell, Hamilton, Kenyon

If anybody has any suggestions even if its an addition I would be very grateful!! Thank you for your time.

2

Did you run net price calculators for all these schools to see if they would be affordable for your family?

You could take the ACT again to see if you could get it to 32. Did you take the PSAT?

3

UC Davis is really good for your interests! Maybe a match?

4

Unless he is from CA UC Davis will cost $55k OOS.

Spending $200k for undergrad if you want to go to vet school is crazy.

5

Is Biology for a Pre-med program, as that might influence suggestions?

6

For anthropological studies, the stronger programs will often be found at schools at which anthropology and sociology are distinct departments (in contrast to those at which they are combined into one department). This may be one consideration for you in terms of narrowing your choices.

As your list stands currently, you could reasonably expect to get into ~8 of your 12 schools. You might comfortably be able to eliminate two or three colleges that do not appeal to you if some of your choices have been included based upon concern about your admission prospects.

Lehigh may not be a school particularly well suited to your academic interests relative to some of your other choices.

Franklin & Marshall may be worth a look.

For Cornell/CALs and Hamilton your ACT score would be ~2 points below average. However, as reaches, these schools may fulfill your intended purpose.

7

@mommdc Yeah, these are the ones that passed that particular round. My safes are either State schools or offer generous merit aid, and the matches cover me for aid.

8

This list isn’t bad for pre-med/pre-vet: “The Experts’ Choice: Colleges with Great Pre-med Programs.”

9

@merc81 Yeah they’re kind of intended to be school I don’t think I could get into 100 percent, but I do have a shot. Ive heard Cornell CALs also looks for the “fit” of each student, which would probably help me. Come from very agricultural background

10

@mommdc Yes I took it twice. 174 first time, was mid 1200s second ( format changed)

11

@ColdinMinny
I would like to go pre vet. So whichever schools have good vet school accoetence rates are also a deciding factor here

12

@ merc81
Do you have a link to that list? That sounds very helpful

13

Hmmm that list mentioned Muhlenburg and F and M neither which I had really considered. I suppose they’re worth looking into .

14

The list is from CollegeXpress. With keywords, the entire source will appear.

Pre-med/pre-vet are commonly considered together on college website’s “health professions advising websites.”

15

Irrespective of lists, St. Lawrence should continue to be one of your match schools. My favorite of those three.

16

I’d suggest as well that you use sites such as the one referenced as a source for ideas for possible additions to your list, but not as a source for eliminating colleges you otherwise like. Since methodologies may not always be reliable, many excellent choices may not be included within any given source, which is particularly true in this case, since a wide range of schools would be generally suitable for pre-med/pre-vet.

17

I will second Muhlenberg for you to look at. They give generous merit money and have a very high acceptance rate into med/vet schools. Small, private, school in Allentown, PA. Interesting mix of students who all get along pretty well. Worth a look at the very least. Best of luck to you!

18

@beenthereanddone ok! Interesting. I have added it to my short list and may be checking it out with the rest of the PA ones

19

Dickinson, also in PA, might be another match, and gives merit up to about $20k. With demonstrated interest, and an EA application (decision not released until Feb though), could be a good option.

20

Lehigh does not have a strong pre-vet program. I know that Gettysburg does.