Case Western in Cleveland is worth looking at - it’s medium-sized, terrific for health-related careers, and gives good merit aid, though I’m not sure how much they give for specific stats, so I’m not sure if merit plus need-based would bring it in range for you. A 34 ACT puts her at the top of the 75% percentile.
They have a strong focus on research, and work options at the Cleveland Clinic.
I don’t believe I ever said that research does not happen at liberal arts colleges and small colleges, but there are tier 1 research institutions for a reason. Nevermind the fact that most LACs are not as loose with merit aid as the listed flagships. Simply put, if you are looking for hard science at college at a bargain price, LACs are not the way to go.
I don’t disagree with your suggestions.
But research universities are called that because they expect their FACULTY to do research, often more than they expect them to teach undergrads, not because the research opportunities for undergrad students are better.
Research can be done anywhere and may be better at a LAC as there is no competition from grad students there.
Pre-meds aren’t generally doing anything ground-breaking research-wise (or much in science beyond the med school reqs which don’t go above 200-level courses…Ochem would be the highest level). They learn to do research, they shadow, they volunteer, etc. Having a hospital nearby can be helpful.
And cost depends on the LAC, the family’s income and the student’s stats. For our family the Tier 1 research Us were more $ than the private LAC, so it’s not universally true that one or the other is a better deal.
Ole Miss will also give full tuition for those stats
Pre-meds aren’t going to do much in science beyond the 200-level? Really? Do you know many people that have gone to medical school? I know several and am married to one. Most students in medical school are science majors, typically in biology or chemistry. As for research, many medical school student do research at the undergraduate level or at least work in the lab. Again, I know from personal experience with those that I am married to and know professionally. LACs and small schools are not set up for certain types of research. For example, research that is based on tracking cohorts over decades.
It is wonderful to hear that a LAC in your state was less expensive than the flagship in your state. Good for you. That however, does not address the issue in this thread. Go look at the scholarship data on the universities I mentioned specifically and the costs constraints of the OP and tell me how they don’t work based upon the information given.
It seems to me that you are looking for an argument or trying to puff up LACs, rather than actually help the OP or address the original question posted.
I’m refuting your statements that research universities are the only place to get hard sciences that are well funded, are the best places for undergrad research and that they are always less expensive. That’s all. And yes, I prefer LACs for a variety of reasons.
…and I did respond the OP who asked:
I didn’t see any refutation of anything I said, just your opinion. You are certainly entitled to it. If you want to discuss what I actually wrote, let me know sometime.
Premed pre-reqs are basic:
2 classes in biology, 2 classes in inorganic chemistry, 2 classes in organic Chem, biochemistry, 2 classes in algebra-based physics, 2 classes in English/composition/communication, 1 class each in Biostatistics (or Statistics) , calculus, psychology, sociology, and a diversity-focused class.
Nothing advanced or fancy. Scoring in the top 10% for all science classes is enough for medical schools to consider you can handle the material they’ll teach you.
Adding more advanced classes in the above or in biopsychology, neuroscience, etc, is good, but equal to adding bioethics, being fluent in a language spoken by an immigrant group, etc. (Obviously having ALL of this is optimal).
Majors with the best rate of success are actually math, philosophy, music. These students have to be tops in their major AND on all the premed pre-reqs. Obviously biology, Chemistry, and biochemistry majors succeed too 
but med schools are very clear they don’t want doctors exclusively from these majors.
Avoiding universities that purposely weedout and choosing a university that’s collaborative makes sense considering the competitive nature of the premed process.
In many cases, a LAC is going to be on level with a flagship university financially, except in those lucky few states where funding cuts haven’t sent the cost of college spiralling to unthinkable heights or for families that make more than 250k and apply to need-only colleges (IE., full pay). In many cases, for families than make less than 80k, the elite, 100% jeed LAC is cheaper than the flagship.
Research universities have topnotch research but priority is given to grad students. Honors students could have a shot too but in terms of research opportunities being at a LAC beats being a non honors student at a flagship.
I’ve been out of town and not really able to get online much, but I really appreciate all the comments. D submitted an application for both Dickinson and Roanoke on 12/1 and plans to apply to Alabama in the next few days, so she can apply for their scholarships before the deadline of 12/15 (it’s a 2 step process). I believe she will also apply to Huntsville. At this point, she’s got so much schoolwork, she’s not thinking as clearly as she could and is favoring schools that don’t require multiple essays to apply. Sad, I know.
I will say that we have tried to focus on the LAC’s with this post (after applying to State schools in NC) for various reasons, one of which is/was my assumption that most state schools don’t offer much in merit to OOS students. I have learned otherwise from this site. But, there are other benefits to a LAC that I think would be very good for her and that she seems to really like. She did not apply to Honors programs at our in-state schools.
I really do appreciate the time you all have taken to talk me off the ledge. I’m feeling a little better about her options now than I was when I posted.
I’m late to the thread, but really want to let you know that you shouldn’t discount large schools. I graduated from Lehigh, which has around 4000 undergrads. When my oldest son started looking at Univ. South Carolina I was really worried about the size. I found that the school makes incredible efforts to “shrink” the size for incoming freshman. He has an advisor in the School of Public Health, and another in the Capstone Program that he participates in. Professors have been very accessible, and the TAs amazing. The deadline for regular admission just passed, but I am sure that there are other large state schools that have similar experiences. It really depends on the school, and you need a visit to find out.
Also, Miami University in Ohio is a “Public Ivy” which offers merit aid which brings the cost down to instate tuition. Regular decision deadline hasn’t passed yet. My freshman applied and was accepted there but received more at USC.
Best of luck to your dau. I’m going through this with my youngest who is a senior this year.
@VAMom23, thanks for your input…I do appreciate it. I’m happy to hear USC has been a good experience for your son. I know of a few others there and believe all have been happy with their experience. And as someone else said, you can’t make a small school feel larger but you can make a large school feel smaller.
My daughter has got two scholarship applications due tomorrow and after that, I think she may be done (literally and figuratively). Since yesterday, she has received three acceptances -.UAB, Roanoke and Appalachian State - so I think she’s feeling less pressure to add to her list. I know we’ll have more campus visits ahead and we’ll use your son’s experience to give us some ideas of what to look for, to make the larger schools feel smaller.