trying to expand my college search...

<p>Hey there. I've got a pretty good list of colleges so far, but I could use 2 more safeties or so and a couple more matches as well. Here's what I'm looking for, if anyone could be gracious enough to help:</p>

<p>btw, here are my stats:
GPA: 4.3 W; rank 1/215
SAT: 2210
ECs: team captain for swimming; did some neat internships at a neuroscience research lab..
Anyway, here's what I'm looking for:</p>

<p>~Small college (15000-3000; can be a large school if there's an honors college or something) with small class sizes, or at least easy to forge relationships w/ professors. </p>

<p>~I don't plan on drinking. I'd like to go someplace where drinking isn't the center of college life (I don't care if other people do it, as long as I can have fun w/ out partaking. And yes I know that drinking occurs at all colleges :) )</p>

<p>~Ideally, has a neuroscience or cognitive science major. But it doesn't HAVE to have these...I know very few schools do.</p>

<p>~Isn't too isolated. I'm planning on being pre-med, so it'd be nice if there were hospitals and towns and such nearby where I could volunteer.</p>

<p>Anyway, if anyone could help me out I'd appreciate that.</p>

<p>WashU and Emory would be 2 ideal "matches/reaches" and Case Western Reserve would be a safety (you would get merit$ there, good school, not much drinking).</p>

<p>How about Haverford College as a match? Is small but lots of non-drinkers.</p>

<p>Amherst, Johns Hopkins.</p>

<p>University of Rochester, maybe? It's a little bigger than what you listed, almost 5,000, but that's still most definitely smaller than your typical state university or city university. It's known for its science bent, and there's both neuroscience and congnitive science majors. From what I hear, amazing undergrad research opportunities (more than most schools that offer such), and a great university hospital. Rochester's not the best city, but you should check it out. I have a problem with heavy drinking schools and even asked straight up front to my interviewer (she was '06) about it. You have to seek it if you want it, although it is there.</p>

<p>Check out Holy Cross-2800 students with very good pre-med program. Holy Cross is located in a mid-size city, 1 hour from Boston. HC is also SAT optional.</p>

<p>thanks for the posts everyone. And I'll look into Holy Cross. </p>

<p>gellino: I really like Johns Hopkins, however what is keeping me from applying is the fact that I plan on being pre-med and I've heard pre-med there is cut-throat, competitive, and at the very least has very little grade inflation.</p>

<p>I'd appreciate any other colleges y'all would care to list.</p>

<p>While atmosphere is important, I wouldn't base too much of decisions on perceived grade inflation or lack of it. Grad schools know what the respected schools are and what averages are. I wouldn't use this as a reason to not even apply. In addition, a 'B' at JHU has a high likelihood to be as respected as a 'B+' or 'A-' from lesser schools.</p>