What would you do?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So. Here's my story. Basically, I'm going to be a senior and I have no idea where I want to go. No idea. Wanna hear my story? I'm sure you do.</p>

<p>So I was dating this kid. For a while. He's gonna be a freshman in college this year at Ohio State University. We made a decision to try to stick it out this coming year while we were apart, and then I would join him at OSU in '08.</p>

<p>Ha, then came the hard part.</p>

<p>He decided he just didn't like me anymore. I wasn't good enough for him. So, he dumped me. Now I'm still like him madly, but our relationship is no more, and probably will be no more.</p>

<p>So now, OSU is looking grimmer and grimmer. Yeah, I still like some things about it. Like the in state tuition, possibility of scholarships, and closeness to home. But I really hate the fact that I'll have to see him and the 50% of my school that goes to OSU each year. Not very fun.</p>

<p>So. Now this is going to become a basic, "where should I consider?" type thread.</p>

<p>I know some basics of what I want. I've visited 5 schools. In order of how I liked without considering finances: Johns Hopkins, OSU and Georgetown (tied), Miami University (OH), and Case Western.</p>

<p>I have a few schools I'm for sure applying to: Johns Hopkins, OSU, WUStL, Case, UMich. However, I really don't know where to go from there. You want my basic criteria and my stats? Alright.</p>

<p>Gender: Female
Location: Ohio
ACT: 36
GPA: 4.0 UW (about 1-3/500)
AP Exams: 5's on all 4 I have taken.
Pretty good ECs. Not SPECTACULAR. But good.</p>

<p>Intended Major: Depends on the college. Definitely Pre-med track. Maybe double major in Economics and something like Biochemistry or ChemE.</p>

<p>Criteria for college: I don't really care about location, although it'd be nice to be able to take a decently cheap plane home. Oh and I'm not a huge fan of hot weather. I don't like it more than 75 degrees. That doesn't mean I can't stand it though.</p>

<p>Oh and I really like enclosed campuses. I hate Case (and GW when I walked through it) because they basically have main roads cutting through the middle of campus. I want it to feel like a campus, not like just another part of city.</p>

<p>I haven't really considered LACs at all, but maybe I should. </p>

<p>I don't think I'd like a female only school (I'm not a tomboy, but the majority of my friends are guys). </p>

<p>I'm not very religious in any way, but I'm moral (never drank, never smoked, don't curse very often).</p>

<p>Size doesn't matter to me (ha). Well, I want a school with enough people that I won't get bored. But that just means maybe no less than 2000?</p>

<p>I'm into music. I play a lot of instruments. Maybe I'll want to play in college. Maybe not. It's not going to be a huge deciding factor for me. </p>

<p>Obviously, some place that is good in pre-med would definitely be a plus.</p>

<p>Also, with my good test scores and GPA and everything, I'd like a pretty selective school. </p>

<p>But my parents make about 100k a year. I won't get financial aid. They do not see the point in paying 50k a year to send me to a prestigious school when I can get a full ride to a decent school. In other words** I NEED SCHOOLS THAT GIVE OUT MERIT MONEY.**</p>

<p>Other schools I'm sorta considering:</p>

<p>University of Washington - Seattle
Duke University
NEOUCOM
Penn State
University of Pittsburgh
University of Chicago</p>

<p>That's basically it. Feel free to give me more ideas or ask any questions you want. Thanks =)</p>

<p>Oh yeah, and I kind of almost want to apply to HY or P just to see if I'll get in =P</p>

2

<p>My cousin from Ohio chose Notre Dame over OSU and she loves ND, even if it is "a bit" more expensive and she likes that she can drive home if need be. It doesn't beat you over the head with religion, but it's got a moral focus in many of its programs (it is one of those "colleges with a conscience"). It has a lot of trees and hardly any roads. About 52/48 male/female and with 8000 undergrads not too big, not too small. Its medschool acceptance rate is published at 75%.</p>

<p>If you want to be farther from home and have better whether I would suggest anything in SoCal, unbeatable whether.</p>

3

<p>Ohio State is huge, one of the biggest universities in the country. Unless you are both in the same, relatively small major or club, you will not see your ex in the course of class and ec activities. You will probably also develop independent social circles.</p>

<p>Plus, by fall 2008, your feelings about him will be much diminished.</p>

<p>So don't let this situation determine whether you apply to OSU.</p>

4

<p>You should definitely apply to Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Stanford and Yale for the hell of it. </p>

<p>Otherwise, your list of schools is pretty good. Don't apply to Case if you "hate it". Michigan and WUSTL should both give you sizeable merit scholarships. If you go to Michigan, you can call your ex at 3:00 AM and laugh everytime they beat OSU! hehe!!! </p>

<p>Seriousy, you may want to add Chicago, Duke, Northwestern and Vanderbilt to your list of schools.</p>

5

<p>^The OP should be careful with those schools. She's only taken the SAT, and I'm pretty sure some of those require both if you have no subject tests. Yale and Stanford are exceptions.</p>

<p>Michigan never beats OSU, so that would never happen.</p>

<p>You might need to get your major decided first. Usually it's difficult to double major with one engineering. Even Biochemistry might be difficult to double major with. Biomedical engineering is in high demand right now though, so that might be a good option for you. Just so you know, Ohio State is going gaga over engineers right now. I can't count the number of letters they've sent me for participating in their science and engineering fairs. I'm pretty sure they have some good scholarships for women in engineering too. Ohio State would likely be virtually free for you.</p>

<p>You're "for certain" list looks pretty good. You might want to consider a few LACs. If you're unsure, try schools like Brown or Tufts that are in between a large university and an LAC.</p>

<p>About SoCal, I don't really think that's what the OP is going for. USC might be the only school that fits the OP's criteria.</p>

6

<p>"Michigan never beats OSU, so that would never happen."</p>

<p>JB, you obviously forgot the 1990s! I think Michigan went 7-2-1 vs OSU in the 90s. This decade so far, OSU is 5-2 vs Michigan. I stil think Michigan will finish 0.500 vs OSU this decade! hehe!!!</p>

<p>And the OP said she definitely wants merit scholarship (which automatically disqualifies all the Ivies) and cool weather (buh bye SoCal).</p>

7

<p>Duke comes to mind...</p>

8

<p>
[quote]
Ohio State is huge, one of the biggest universities in the country. Unless you are both in the same, relatively small major or club, you will not see your ex in the course of class and ec activities. You will probably also develop independent social circles.</p>

<p>Plus, by fall 2008, your feelings about him will be much diminished.</p>

<p>So don't let this situation determine whether you apply to OSU.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes, OSU is huge. But we will see each other often. Reasons: Honors, same dorm due to my major and his choice, currently we are still decent friends and will probably continue to be. But, no, I'm not discounting OSU at all. If I get into the program I want and I get money, it will probably be one of my first choices.</p>

<p>
[quote]
You should definitely apply to Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Stanford and Yale for the hell of it.</p>

<p>Otherwise, your list of schools is pretty good. Don't apply to Case if you "hate it". Michigan and WUSTL should both give you sizeable merit scholarships. If you go to Michigan, you can call your ex at 3:00 AM and laugh everytime they beat OSU! hehe!!!</p>

<p>Seriousy, you may want to add Chicago, Duke, Northwestern and Vanderbilt to your list of schools.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You want to pay my application fees to all those schools =P? I really think I should only apply to 1 or MAYBE 2 of those schools, due to their costs. I'm applying to case because my mom works there, my parents want me to, and it's free to apply. Ha. Even if I go to Michigan, I'd probably secretly be cheering for OSU.</p>

<p>I'm considering Duke and UChicago. I forgot to put Vandy on my considering list, sorry. And I don't think Northwestern gives out merit scholarships.</p>

<p>
[quote]
The OP should be careful with those schools. She's only taken the SAT, and I'm pretty sure some of those require both if you have no subject tests. Yale and Stanford are exceptions.</p>

<p>Michigan never beats OSU, so that would never happen.</p>

<p>You might need to get your major decided first. Usually it's difficult to double major with one engineering. Even Biochemistry might be difficult to double major with. Biomedical engineering is in high demand right now though, so that might be a good option for you. Just so you know, Ohio State is going gaga over engineers right now. I can't count the number of letters they've sent me for participating in their science and engineering fairs. I'm pretty sure they have some good scholarships for women in engineering too. Ohio State would likely be virtually free for you.</p>

<p>You're "for certain" list looks pretty good. You might want to consider a few LACs. If you're unsure, try schools like Brown or Tufts that are in between a large university and an LAC.</p>

<p>About SoCal, I don't really think that's what the OP is going for. USC might be the only school that fits the OP's criteria.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Well, I pretty much have my majors decided, but it really depends on the schools. At OSU, I'd probably do their new Biomedical Sciences major and economics. At most other places I still have to decide between Engineering and Biochemistry. But I basically have an idea. I really know nothing about LACs (well, I know what they are, but not if they would be good for me). Brown, being ivy league, would not be good for merit money. As for socal, I don't think I'd like it =P. </p>

<p>Oh, and I really don't want to have to take the SATIIs. I took the SAT (2210) but I think I'm just gonna send my ACT. Cause, well, yeah =P.</p>

<p>
[quote]

And the OP said she definitely wants merit scholarship (which automatically disqualifies all the Ivies) and cool weather (buh bye SoCal).

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Exactly =P</p>

9

<p>I always really liked Ohio University - Athens. Is it not strong in the sciences? I'm always curious when Ohio natives choose OSU over it. Your list is good but doesn't include any schools (besides OSU) that you would definitely get significant merit money to. You might want to look for more financial safeties. Unfortunately, as I am not too into the sciences, I can't give you many suggestions there. Except:</p>

<p>My school (hehe, bias!), University of Maryland, College Park, has great programs in the sciences, especially engineering (and is ranked in the Top 20 publics overall, so it is a good school otherwise, as well). It is a fun, big sports school, and there are two great nearby cities (Washington and Baltimore). You will get mucho dinero from them as a female OOS science major, from my observations. I think it is a good alternative to JHU if that pans out to be too expensive.</p>

10

<p>
[quote]
I always really liked Ohio University - Athens. Is it not strong in the sciences? I'm always curious when Ohio natives choose OSU over it.</p>

<p>My school (hehe, bias!), University of Maryland, College Park, has great programs in the sciences, especially engineering (and is ranked in the Top 20 publics overall, so it is a good school otherwise, as well). You will get mucho dinero from them.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>OU is good for communications, journalism, and english (and I think they are decent in most humanities). OSU, however, is highly ranked in engineering and hard sciences. Also, OSU has a lot more research opportunities. And, probably not the best reason, but a lot of people choose it for sports. </p>

<p>What is U of M like? Is it an enclosed campus?</p>

11

<p>If you're seriously considering engineering you should eliminate University of Chicago because it has NO engineering.</p>

12

<p>
[quote]
If you're seriously considering engineering you should eliminate University of Chicago because it has NO engineering.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I'm basically 95% sure I want to be a doctor. Engineering is just a way to med school because I like math and science a lot. I plan on majoring in whatever seems to fit me the best at the school that fits me the best. =)</p>

13

<p>
[quote]
What is U of M like? Is it an enclosed campus?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>It's a huge, enclosed campus (most of it is very pretty and classically "collegiate", especially the main academic areas) but a short walk/UM shuttle ride to the College Park Metro Station (it's about a 10 minute metro ride into Washington). So, gorgeous campus, easy ride into the city, and it's also a big sports school - especially for basketball - and has a great honors program.</p>

<p>You might be especially interested in a program called Gemstone. They invite the most qualified honors kids to do four year research projects, most of them science-related. There is a special part of the application ("finding your niche") where you have to indicate that you are interested in - but do not necessarily have experience in - interdiscplinary team research by your answers. I think you are well-qualified and would be invited into this program should you decide to apply to UMD. I have similar stats and was invited, but turned it down because I am a journalism/history-type person and the scienceness of it was a put off! Here is the Gemstone website if you are interested: <a href="http://www.gemstone.umd.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.gemstone.umd.edu/&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p>

<p>To be considered for honors, Gemstone, and scholarships, you must send in pt. 1 of the app by Nov. 1 and pt. 2 by Dec. 1.</p>

<p>Anyway, probably more information than you wanted, but I think it is a very good match for you if you like OSU and are interested in the sciences, engineering and research :].</p>

14

<p>^Thank you, I'm definitely going to look into that =)</p>

15

<p>No problem. I swear I don't usually pimp CP this much. Lol.</p>

<p>And thanks for filling me in about OU; I was gonna apply for journalism, so I guess it makes sense that I liked it!</p>

16

<p>^^^Yep, yep.</p>

17

<p>You really can't compare OU to Ohio State. Other than the journalism school, there's really nothing else of national stature at OU, and it certainly falls far short of having a selective student body.</p>

<p>Also, keep in mind that even though Ohio State is a harder admit than the other state schools, it's easier to get money there since their endowment is larger than the other 12 schools combined.</p>

<p>I think given the OP's credentials, she'd end up with a pretty good package. I'd also suggest that she take a strong look at the University of Washington. It's a school very similar to Ohio State with the added benefit of a campus sitting on the edge of Lake Washington.</p>

18

<p>^^ Yep, it's on my list. Thanks. I now have 13 schools. I don't know how many my parents will let me apply to.</p>

19

<p>I think you'd thrive at the University of Washington. I live in Seattle and though I don't go to the UW, most of my friends attend and many have chosen UW over top schools (Yale, JHU, etc.). It's a huge school, beautiful campus, great people, lots of people so it's pretty easy to find your own niche, FANTASTIC medical programs, and it pretty much fits all of your criteria.</p>

<p>Feel free to PM me if you've got UW specific questions.</p>

20

<p>Two schools with excellent pre-med and science programs, enclosed compuses and merit aid that are not on your list: Rochester and Brandeis (biochemistry, not so much engineering).</p>