<p>I am trying to narrow down what schools I should apply to. I have already applied to the University of Alabama and at this point that is my top choice. I intend on majoring in both pre-med(which is typically not an actual major) and neuroscience/cognitive sciences (depending on which the schools offer). All these schools have a solid pre-med program but I am against applying to a bunch of schools. I want the schools that I have the best chance at and have the most to offer me. Ideally I want to narrow it down to three.
About me:
APs taken: biology, physics, calc AB, gov, lit, stats, psych, environmental science</p>
<p>SATs: 1850/1250
ACTs: 33
GPA: 3.7 </p>
<p>EC:
Track and field
Certificated EMT
Volunteer EMT ( I can't have a real job because I'm under 18)
Volunteer with doctor to do rounds (started off filing for the doctor)
Volunteer in urban school
Teach religious education and volunteer with church fundraisers
Miscellaneous volunteer work (Alzheimer's foundation, autism, SMA)
Peer tutor
Employed as life guard for two years</p>
<p>SCHOOLS:
Georgetown
University of Richmond
College of William and Mary
UPenn
Old Dominion University
(I'm open to any others)</p>
<p>You should have 2 safeties (schools you’re sure you can get into, can afford, and like), plus 2-3 matches (you like them and are reasonably sure you can get in). Then you can add as many reaches as you wish or can afford.
Right now your list is very reach-heavy.
Old Dominion would be your safety, so you need another one to have a choice, unless you’re dead certain that if you can’t get into/afford the others that’s the school you really want to attend.
UPenn is a very high reach even though your EC’s help. W&M and Georgetown are both reaches, and URichmond is a high match/low reach.
Check out Mary Washington (public so in-state for VA and good premed program, and a low match) or Christopher Newport (safety).
Other reaches to look into: Haverford (and you could take a couple classes at UPenn), Davidson, Skidmore, Bates; Matches to look into: Dickinson, Muhlenberg, Eckerd. If you’re a girl, Agnes Scott.</p>
<p>The reason I have so many reaches is because I had personal issues that I think influenced my grades negatively but also have given me a lot of insight and I am hoping that at least some of them will take a chance.</p>
<p>in the long run I will be the one paying for it so I am trying to get as much money as I can without compromising too much. I really like Alabama because I have awesome scholarship opportunities and their program stands strong too.</p>
<p>room&board = housing and food
So you’d only have to pay for your books and miscelaneous (daily life: pizza, toothpaste…)
So you’re fine at Alabama for costs and admissions. Congratulations!
Everything else will be to give your more choices :)</p>
<p>If Alabama is really your top choice, then what is the point of applying to much more selective schools (Georgetown, College of William and Mary, UPenn)? If you’re accepted to those schools, you’d very likely be accepted to Alabama as well. In that case, would you choose to attend Alabama?</p>
<p>Did U Alabama add neuro/cognitive as a major? They didn’t have it a couple of years ago when my son used them as a safety… things can change, so it’s worth checking.</p>
<p>Other schools he ended up liking (his top 2 above UA - mainly due to having neuro) were Pittsburgh (very urban) and U Rochester (‘campus’ urban and his final choice). All three ended up being roughly the same cost (within a couple thousand) after both merit aid and need-based aid were calculated in for us. FWIW, UA was the most expensive of the three (but again, within 2K so not a huge difference). If need based aid might be part of your package, don’t necessarily eliminate other schools.</p>
<p>Well if I get into Upenn or Georgetown am I better off going there where I will be middle of the pack or am I better off excelling at odu or bama?</p>
<p>For med school prospects? Always better to be at the front of the pack. Better GPA, better LORs from profs, etc. </p>
<p>The premed forum has posts from students who attended their “reach schools” where they were “middle of the pack” and now their GPAs aren’t med school worthy. </p>
<p>Of course going to a school where your stats are high isn’t guarantee that you’ll have top grades. You still have to do the work, learn the material, etc. Premed courses are weeder classes everywhere and are tough.</p>
<p>I’d recommend applying to Mary Washington because they’re good for premed (if you’re in state), plus Haverford, Davidson, and/or Dickinson or Muhlenberg. With Christopher Newport or Old Dominion as safeties along with Alabama. Then, compare the financial aid packages and go to the best school for the lowest cost.
You have plenty of time to decide. If UAlabama is your clear first choice, then you don’t need to apply anywhere else, and if you’re just applying to Penn or Georgetown ‘to see’ well why not (although it’s unlikely, if your mother is okay with spending the money…)
If applying to other schools stresses you out, just fill out the CommonApplication, see which supplemental essay topics inspire you the most, and just go with that.
For med school, it’s better to have a high GPA and a high MCAT so any university on this list would be good for the MCAT but Penn or Georgetown may actually be bad choices since it’d be harder to get a high GPA.</p>
<p>If the student is from a NE State then why apply to Old Dominion?
(My assumption that OP was from VA derives from that fact since it’s not the most famous VA school. I’d make the same if they were applying to Radford or Longwood.)
If the student is from Connecticut then it changes the recommendations obviously. :s</p>
<p>You’re better off going to a school where your stats put you in the top 25% of students, but then you need to do the work to excel. It’s not likely to just “happen” as stats only tell you so much. They never allude to work ethic.</p>
<p>Also… pick a school and major you like - where you feel you fit in. Happier students do better.</p>
<p>It’s not the name of the school nor the ranking. It’s going to be 100% you once you end up somewhere.</p>
