Check out the Colleges that Change Lives website or book of same name by Loren Pope (ctcl.org) You would likely qualify for substantial merit aid at many of these.
I also recommend that you check out these options for high stats auto-merit:
How did you do on the PSAT? Are you a possible NMF?
People have mentioned numerous more likely schools but a couple of less likely but more than Duke and still top schools would be Southern Cal and Vanderbilt.
If OP’s family cannot pay full freight (65K+) at the “prestige” institutions, it’s time to start looking at the various excellent suggestions posted so far. At least OP is looking now instead of panicking about $$ after getting accepted at Dream University.
TCNJ has a 7 year program for BS/MD. OP has the stats. Here’s the FAQ:
Not sure why OP is dismissing these types of programs right off the bat. And the admissions counselor at Drexel isn’t paying your tuition anywhere - so please do your own research about these programs.
Again, at Pitt, I suspect you’d be in good standing for substantial merit aid, not need based aid. If you like the school at all when you look at it, they’re worth an application to see what you’re offered. They’re a very worthy pre-med school surrounded by several hospitals one can shadow/volunteer in.
@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!
Basically an SI of 225 even in NJ will get you NMSF - then you just need the grades and SAT score that you have and a recommendation. As long as you don’t have any issues like suspensions/cheating/etc. you have a very, very good chance at NMF. I’d look at schools that give aid for NMF.
Tulane, U of Richmond, and Wash U offer merit to some top applicants. But you can’t “phone it in” with the apps so make sure to really research them before deciding whether or not to apply.
Another option might be U of South Carolina. Their Honors College is highly regarded (note that the app is due pretty early and includes additional essays). With NMF status combined with other merit, you would be paying around $15,000 for tuition, room and board for Year 1 (based on current prices).
There are lots of good suggestions offered already on this thread. You can also look at a school like BU where you might qualify for one of their larger merit scholarships. Case, Pitt, U of R, UDel Honors all good choices. My d is a U of R grad but not in sciences. My direct supervisor at work’s daughter is a sophomore pre-med at Rutgers and doing very well.
To the suggestions above of Tulane,Richmond, and Wash U, you could add Washington and Lee. What about Boston College , in addition to Boston U (already mentioned)?
One observation - some universities tend to cut back on their merit scholarships once their university has reached their goal of being “prestigious” , “selective” or whatever. Just something to keep in mind.
I am a doctor and can tell you that your undergraduate college is not that important. Any state university would suffice. More important are grades, test scores (MCATs), and some type of interesting personal story or pathway leading into medicine. If you go to Duke and end up a B student you will regret the decision and the debt. I see a lot of new physicians coming into practice with massive student loan debts proving that they should have majored in economics rather than chemistry. Debt is one of the major stressors for new physicians. Go to a school your family can afford, give your best effort, get in an honors program, and don’t sweat it.
Just another mention for Wash U. It’s a long shot but check out the Moog scholars. Full-ride fellowship. Even if you don’t get the fellowship, it might give you the feeling of getting into a top-name school for bragging rights even if then you end up going elsewhere for financial reasons.
Don’t waste applications on schools you just want to brag about and can’t afford. Sure, if you think you have a shot at a big scholarship, put them on your list. BUT, treat them like hgh reach schools. And you only want a few of those on your list, you want mostly matches and safeties because you want to have choices in April. It is super easy to find reaches – anyone can do that. It takes elbow grease, research, and time to find matches and safeties that will work for you.
UMass Amherst has a new honors college, is strong in the health sciences and gives some out-of-state merit. Bucking national trends, Massachusetts has been increasing funding in their state schools. (They were underfunded in the past due to the large number of private schools in the state). If you could figure out a way to gain state residency, then UMass Med school is top notch and very inexpensive.
Clark University in Worcester gives large merit (it may give full merit for some early decision applicants) and it is close to UMass Medical for research. It is kind of miss-classified (it is really more of a LAC) so it tends to suffer in the ranking systems. Its location in Worcester (which is improving) makes it less popular than you would expect for the level of academic quality.
Wheaton College in Norton Mass gives good merit and has an amazing record of producing prestigious scholarship winners. You can cross enroll at Brown. Strong in the sciences and I see a good number of students renting housing around Tufts to do summer research in the greater Cambridge area (huge biotech hub). This school is less popular than you would expect for its academic quality because it was really late in switching from an all women’s school to coed.
University of Vermont is a very old (Ivy League vintage), smaller state school that gives some out-of-state merit. This school is less popular than you would expect for its academic quality because Vermont is a very low population state and it has trouble getting enough in-state applicants.
Niagara University in our experience will offer financial aid that’s fairly close to your EFC and is willing to consider matching offers. Particularly if you have good grades/ standardized test scores.
blossom27 first let me congratulate you on your great performance! Second, you are definitely an elite prospect. You can definitely go to a great school, respected by the great med schools.
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!