The college that immediately comes to mind for your DC is the Univ of Richmond. Excellent biology program with research opportunities. Close to DC. Another to consider that is further away is Rhodes College. Another excellent bio program with on and off-campus research opportunities (St. Judes Children’s Hospital). Someone mentioned Juniata, and I second this college as a fine choice for bio majors with med school aspirations.
Run the net price calculators to get an idea of cost of attendance.
Another vote for Mt. Holyoke (no idea why you won’t say you kid’s gender…). Even if she (or one of the parents) is not sure about women’s colleges, go visit MHC. Amazing campus, strong academics, LAC that seems to very much fit what you are looking for. We often see posters who aren’t sure about women’s colleges visit, and come away with kids who love it. Both my Ds applied and were accepted, although for various reasons ended up picking other schools. But both really liked it.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland also has an LAC-like feel, and could fit your cost expectations well. It has a sort of summer-camp feeling to it, too.
For pre-med/bio, we attended tour last August and were very impressed with UMBC- said to have second highest number of admitted students to Harvard Med School. Honors dorms and scholarships, lots of research opportunities and new facilities.
Look at American if they want to stay close
I’ve never heard of American being strong in Bio. In the area, I think Univ of Md, College Park has a stronger Bio program but I assume the student is applying to the instate option.
Another option for this student is an international school. Look at some of the Canadian universities or St Andrews and see if they’re affordable. I haven’t looked recently but their full freight cost was less than most schools in the U.S.
I second 2collegewego’s suggestions of Case Western and U of Rochester.
I wrote a response earlier today (afternoon) and cannot find it here - so in case it shows up please excuse me for repeating.
There is no specific reason for me not to mention the gender - I did not feel gender plays any role. However, I see it does. We cannot use the women only colleges. DC is a son. I do not know if there is men only colleges. Anyway, coed would be our choice.
Yes, UMBC has been referred to us. Is UMBC Biosciences programs as good as UMCP? How does St. Mary compares to other LAC in terms of academic strength? Will it be rigorous enough? DS has been in magnet program all throughout and expects in depth and accelerated pace. Hopefully most college classes would be like that. Just wanted to see How to compare UMCP/UMBC and St. Mary.
I though GWU has a better Bio program - do not know anything about American.
Hmm… Now I can’t find my responses yours.
Unless your student is in MacCauley honors program at UMBC, UMd would probably be a stronger choice. Both would be better choices than St Mary’s which is the most expensive of the three, the most remote and better known for its history than a Bio.
I think GW would be stronger than American for sciences but, for science, your son might be better off at a place like Case, Rochester.
Case Western.
If DC likes LACs, St Mary’s can be a low match or safety. It’s not all that common, but he can apply to UMBC, UMCP and St Mary’s. Look also at New College of Florida of he’s willing to travel.Rhodes, and Rochester both sound good to me for biology.
What does his guidance counselor and recent graduates of his program have to say about the MD publics?
Happykid graduated from a “Newsweek Top 100” high school in Montgomery County, and friends who had been enrolled in the extra-special AP-heavy program there ended up at many places, including UMCP, UMBC, St Mary’s, and Salisbury. All of them felt challenged by their coursework.
What about Stony Brook? Comes out to around $30-35k out of state. Has an Honors College (seminars all four years, students housed together for the first year I believe). Has a medical school nearby with excellent NIH funding and the undergrad is generally strong in the sciences.
Have you run the NPC at some colleges to see if you might get need-based aid?
OK, I will chime in with some additional suggestions.
U Richmond was already mentioned, and seems excellent fit.
Also agree on Case Western since she would/should get merit aid.
Lafayette good, too, and should receive merit.
I would add Rhodes in Memphis. Strong merit aid, very strong biology/premed program, affiliated with largest Children’s Hospital in the US (the world?). Lovely campus, but smaller than some of the other schools mentioned.
Denison U in Ohio. Again, very strong biology/premed, gorgeous campus, and very strong merit aid.
Finally, this is further afield, but Creighton U in Omaha. Creighton has a superb premed/biology program, and also has their own Medical School right on campus. Basically all the very top kids that go to Creighton are premed. They have an Honors program that is wonderful–limited to 50 kids per year, and they get placed in the nicest dorm and have registration priority over the entire campus and special academic programming. Finally, merit aid would fit your budget.
Good luck!
I am so thankful for all the helpful suggestion here.
I have run the EFC calculator and have learned that there is no-scope of need-based aid for DS. Will look into Univ of Richmon and Lafayette. CWRU is in the list now. I will as DS to check Rhodes, Dnison and Creigton to see if that would interest him.
Since this is our first child going though the college app process, we are very nervous that he might not get into academically challenging college which fits his personality or if he gets into it, he might have to incur heavy financial burden as student loan.
Just in case you aren’t aware, you should use each college’s Net Price Calculator to estimate the financial aid package (merit and/or need-based aid).
I have heard of the NPC for the school, but have not used it. Is that going to be any different for need-based aid than that is in CollegeBoard EFC calculator? I used the federal method and institution method of EFC calculation and both looked awful!
Each school can calculate your EFC differently. The federal method is for federal aid and is not necessarily what each college uses. So use each college’s NPC.
Howard in DC will have a big merit scholarship for your kid if he applies early. Further away, Louisiana Tech should be a full ride.
I will check the NPC for each school this weekend.
I have heard Howard Univ is not too multicultural. I looked up their website and most pictures confirm that perception. This is one of DS’s criteria that the school should have a little bit of cultural diversity.
UMD College Park seems like it would be a good fit for your son. I have a couple friends who go there and are in the Gemstone Honors Program. I’ve talked to them about their research projects and overall experience and was very impressed by what they said. CP has a lot of extracurricular opportunities and a lively campus, and CP is well regarded. Many top MD high school students go to College Park, so you get a high caliber of student.
Your son’s GPA is on the lower end for the honors program, but the test scores are strong, and the admissions committee will be familiar with the rigor of a Maryland magnet school. The Scholars program should be well within reach given those test scores. Living in MD, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find a current student in the program to show your son around.