<p>Also I just wanted to bring up the negativity of this board. Both of my parents did better in college than high school. My dad went on to earn a JD from UMich. I was just lazy (about school) up till junior year were I earned a 3.5 and 3.6 because no one ever stressed how important high school grades were. Also the reason for my low ACT is not lack of knowledge but because I have trouble focusing for that period of time on something (minor ADHD and not on medication).</p>
<p>Now in college plan on focusing a lot more and even taking medication if necessary. I am sick of hearing from everyone you got a high school GPA of 3.25 how do you expect to get into med school.</p>
<p>The upward trajectory of your grades is a strong positive. Some schools disregard freshman grades entirely, and all schools will look upon improving grades positively. Keep on that arc through first semester of your senior year and you’ll improve your chances a lot.</p>
<p>Ohio State may be a reach OOS unless you can raise your ACT scores a couple of points. They have been getting pickier and pickier each year.</p>
<p>On an upnote, OSU likes wrestlers in general so they may give you props for that. Also, have a good hook as to why you just HAVE to go to OSU.</p>
<p>Your internship recommendations look more like someone going for polisci or pre-law or something like that so I am not sure how much they will help you for Bio. Truthfully, I might read them as, oh here was a kid just using his connections.</p>
<p>John: Pay no attention to your detractors; some of them may mean well, but clearly they are not helping you, and let’s be clear: that is the purpose of this thread.</p>
<p>I suggest the creation of a balanced list that includes some schools like MSU (near-matches), some that are real safeties, and others you may believe to be completely out of reach.</p>
<p>Some suggestions off the top of my head:</p>
<p>University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign; Penn State; Wisconsin-Madison; University of Washington; U Maryland-College Park; Ohio State; Rutgers; Indiana University.</p>
<p>Are all of the above “Top 50” institutions? Not according to USNWR, no. However, all of these are terrific schools that have what I believe you seek. You can certainly try for Johns Hopkins, UVa, UNC, Cornell, etc., but be prepared to accept any response you’re given. In fact, I encourage you to apply to at least a few of these schools if you can bear the expense.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, I have friends at several of the aforementioned (my first list) institutions, and I see no reason to say that you would be outright rejected or that you would be unfit to attend. These schools have much diversity in every sense of the word, and I believe you could do well at any of them if you apply yourself.</p>
<p>My only request is that you try to enjoy History. It may not always appear “fun,” but it is essential and can be quite enjoyable given the right environment and subject matter. :)</p>
<p>Why not shoot for something in the top 100?
Think about it: There are about 3000 colleges, so the top 300 are in the top 10%. The top 100 then are in the top 3%. If someone was graduating HS in the top 3% or even in the top 10% of the class they’d be considered a great student. So why just focus on the top 50 or 60?</p>
<p>Because according to people on CC, the top 50 are the only good schools, and everything else is crap (and often times the top 30 schools are the only good schools…)</p>
<p>^ Right, and those people on CC who write these things are full of you-know-what. Michigan State is a good school. To my mind, OP wouldn’t get a significantly better education at Case Western or Syracuse—two schools that barely crack the US News top 50—than at Michigan State, and because he’s in-state for Michigan State he can go there at a fraction of the cost. Will it materially affect his chance of getting into med school? Probably not; that depends on his college GPA and his MCATS. Lots of MSU grads end up going on to med school. </p>
<p>As for biology, Michigan State’s faculty is at least comparable and maybe better that Case Western or Syracuse in just about every area of biology. According to the 1995 NRC rankings (dated, I know, but likely similar to the new ones that will be out in the Fall), here’s how they stack up in the biological sciences (rank nationally, 1=highest): </p>
<p>Biochem/Molecular Biology: MSU 40, Case Western 37, Syracuse 103
Cell Biology: MSU 38, Case Western 40, Syracuse 90
Ecology-Evolution-Behavior: MSU 32, Case Western n/r, Syracuse 51
Genetics: MSU 37, Case Western 41, Syracuse 72
Neuroscience: MSU 61, Case Western 17, Syracuse 68
Pharmacology: MSU 34, Case Western 83, Syracuse n/r
Physiology: MSU 48, Case Western 33, Syracuse n/r</p>
<p>Based on this, I think you could fairly make the case that Michigan State IS a top 50 research university in OP’s chosen field of study, biology. Case Western arguably is as well, but overall no stronger than Michigan State, while Syracuse is clearly not in the top 50 in the biological sciences.</p>