@Dolemite I did very well on the PSAT (1500 out of 1520 with a selection index of 225). The National Merit Scholarship information has not been released yet, though, so it’s still up in the air. I’m definitely looking at the schools you mentioned, but money is a question there as well.
@mathprof63 I have been looking at those combined programs for years with my family- the ones I thought were within reach for me were mostly at schools I didn’t feel fit me. (TCNJ, VCU). I really liked the ones at Northwestern, Boston University, GWU, and Brown, but those are terribly difficult to get into. Further, I do not feel entirely comfortable committing to one university (or two universities in a similar area) for so long because I want to have the most diverse possible experiences. I am definitely applying to Rutgers and probably to TCNJ, though. My parents will likely push me towards those programs if I am admitted (and they are willing to pay the full price). Recently, I have been looking at MD/MPH programs and am worried that a BS/MD program would make it impossible for me to receive a second graduate degree in a similar time frame. I am not totally dismissing them, but want to apply also to normal undergraduate programs.
The admissions counselor at Drexel said offhandedly that she used to work in admissions at a med school, and that it was that school’s policy to throw out applications from people already guaranteed seats elsewhere in order to increase the amount of accepted students that matriculate. I have been researching but did not find any claims to refute or support what she said.
@Creekland I am planning on visiting Pitt in the near future
I will most likely apply, as it seems to have a good history of giving merit aid to people from my school with similar stats!