MIT and Princeton like Harvey Mudd might be consider tougher for pre-med in regards to keeping your GPA high.
I’d be willing to take a GPA hit to attend Princeton or MIT. I’m pretty sure Princeton’s grade deflation policy has been removed though.
ND has an acceptance rate of 18%, NW is at 10%. Neither are matches or safeties.
Toronto, McGill, & Queen’s in Canada would be sure things with academics to match just about anything in the U.S.
@Lindagaf I think we already established that the wording “backup” was erroneous. My safety is UT Austin, and I’m looking for some more reach schools that fit the academic profile I’m looking for while not being in the single digit acceptance rate range
As you solidify your list, the back part of USNWR’s publication could be useful. It lists most popular majors and will give you an idea as to the distribution of the student body concentrating in the humanities and fine arts, sciences and math and social sciences.
Your current list has an interesting technical quality. You jump from 20 to 115 on an analysis such as “The 610 Smartest Colleges.” Ordinarily, this might indicate a student is overlooking some potentially excellent choices within a somewhat lesser selectivity range. However, in your case, I think you would get into more than one of your highly competitive options. If you would be happy to attend any of them, I think your list is a good one.
I feel that UT Austin is ranked at only 115 due to the massive amounts of students it must accept. For instance, the private Southern Methodist University is at 77, but I think most Texas residents would say it is easier to gain admittance and not quite as good as UT Austin.
One other school that might fit that range would be USC - they also have a 1/2 tuition NMF scholarship and you’d be in the running for their full ride scholarships. Apps due 12/1 to be considered for schollies and they don’t have ED/EA.
Oh I didn’t know they had NMF scholarships, I hadn’t considered them due to their 70K pricetag.
That’s 1/2 tuition (used to be assured but now I think it’s competitive) which still leaves 1/2 tuition plus room, board, fees.
Yeah…its on the high end, but it’s an option
Be careful about applying to USC- they want top students who REALLY want to go there. You cant just send in an application and expect to be admitted because of your stats.
NMF scholarships are awarded to those who qualify AND are accepted, but many top students apply, thinking that someone with their stats would be someone USC would love to admit , only to find out later that not only did they not get a scholarship, they weren’t even admitted.
They DO want top students who have a GENUINE interest in going to USC.
Visit , do a lot of research on the USC website to see all that is and will be offered[ they are building an incredible new residential housing complex], and let them know how and why you want to go to USC.
As menloparkmom mentions - show interest. My daughter says she already created an YouSC account. Look for things like this in the fall:
http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/firstyear/prospective/discoverusc.html
or visit if possible.
I guess this applies to any school tracking interest (Northwestern, WUSTL?).
Any other notable schools that track interest? I know Rice does, but I have that covered.