Demographics
Intended Major(s)
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
List your HS coursework
Extracurriculars
Club gymnastics
Lot of work experience relevant to major
Essays/LORs/Other
Good essays; good recs
Appreciate any feedback!
Based on your screen name, I’m assuming you’re the parent. Has your child already applied to these schools? If so, to which major? I think Penn State is likely, if the complete application has already been submitted. As you most likely know, for early action, Penn State must receive all materials by Nov. 1. Applications after that date face a more competitive process, as the more popular majors often fill up in the early round. I don’t know as much about the other schools, but in general they are more competitive than Penn State, so should probably be considered targets.
Any budget concerns? PSU is high 50s for tuition, room and board - not including books, other things - so I hope you had budget in mind.
I think Penn State is safe assuming their minimum course standards are met. The other two I need more.
Can you know what English you’ll take (highest level), the highest math you’ll take (12th grade), social studies and foreign language ?
Does you school offer many APs or just a few. In other words, did you take the most rigorous schedule offered ?
Finally can you weight your unweighted gpa by this - take out PE
4 for an A, 4.5 for an Honors A, 5 for an AP A
3 for a B, etc et with .5 for Honors and +1 for AP
Why ? To chance you for UF. That’s how they calculate which may be different (lower)than your 4.4 .
Thx
University of Maryland…must apply in the early admission round because that’s when they accept the majority of their incoming class…like almost the whole class.
tOSU should be an acceptance for this instate student.
@HelicopterParent1 the student can take the required courses for medical school applicants at just about every four year college in this country, arts conservatories excluded.
Medical school will likely cost over $100,000 a year by the time this student goes (if they get accepted…if they actually apply). Federally funded loans for professional school students have now been limited to $200,000 and that includes any undergrad federally funded loans they take too. SO….a budget really needs to consider this.
My guess is that the student is in at Penn State. UF and Maryland are questionable.
I don’t see any advantage to attending one of these schools over your state school, especially given the cost of medical school.
Thank you all for your responses. I know my write-up was a little vague. Deliberately so because he is exceptionally private and would be mortified if he was doxxed. Also, quite honestly, I don’t know all the specific details of his HS classes. 
I think I have enough to go on. PSU is a likely, others less so. And, yes, OSU is a given if the finances demand it but Florida is very reasonable…even for out-of-staters.
I don’t think there’s anyway to be doxxed.
I wouldn’t say PSU is safe - a branch could happen. But I think it happens.
UMD would be tough to get merit. I’m asking about rigor because if you don’t have it, that could lead to no - so let’s say 60 / 40. Honors classes are fine - but if he chose Honors instead of APs, as an example, that could be held against.
UF - the SAT is fine but the GPA - their 25/75 range is 4.5 to 4.7 using what I described (.5 for Honors and + 1 for AP). I’m guessing you’re short so let’s call that a reach.
If you have concern for med school costs, your smarter alternative to UF - because it’s basically the same thing, just not admission stats wise - is Alabama.
It’s why you see so many from the NE flocking there - far more than other Southern Schools. 574 from Ohio alone.
Your son would get $28K automerit and so would be about $22K.
Additionally, they have a special Pre-Med Program - the McCullough Pre Medical Scholars.
I see similarity to Penn State and UF and UF and Bama. I don’t really see it to UMD - campus/environment wise.
Disclaimer - my kid went to Bama and I go to Gainesville for work and know several who have gone - it was always between UGA/UF/ Bama and all three won depending on the kid. My son, for example, chose Bama because he got his own dorm room - something that wasn’t gonna happen at UF (which he got into, but gave no consideration).
The other thing - will he excel in big campus classes? Might a smaller school or LAC be better for him? You can likely find them in the $35-50K range.
You do need to watch costs if you plan to borrow for med school - in the old days, people took 3, 400K in loans. With the Big Beautiful Bill, you’re no longer allowed - so you need a way to save. In essence, Bama would save you a year’s worth of med school tuition over UF and even more over UMD.
Not trying to steer - just providing examples because this is an 8 year cost journey, not a four year. Obviously, Ohio State, Ohio U, Miami are all great. The where undergrad for med school won’t matter. The MCAT, GPA, and other opportunities (shadowing, etc.) will
Best of luck.
Definitely budget for a full eight years for any student who starts off thinking “premed”. You do not want budget to be the thing that messes up the dream.
I by the way am a bit biased, having had a daughter get her DVM this past May. Out of the slightly more than 100 other students who also got a DVM and got called “doctor” for the first time the same day, the ones who got to do it with little or no debt were fortunate and are most likely having an easier time right now. Of course minimizing or avoiding debt would be valuable for an MD or DO student as well.
And the Ohio State University is quite good in general, and for a premed student, and for multiple alternatives if a student changes their goal.
I think 3/3.
Assuming not a highly competitive major like CS (OP said “pre-med track” but that’s not a major) - I agree with you. But likely no merit at UMD, in case that matters to OP.
Hopefully, a science in liberal arts to lock it in.
UF doesn’t admit by major.
UF will be an issue based on rigor - if that GPA comes in low.
But OP needs to plan 8 years regardless. If they have the $, then great. If not, they should go cheaper at a like school.
The new $200K Parent Plus limit is going to make it so aspiring physicians can’t pursue the dream.
It is my understanding that major can effect admissions. Where have you heard differently? Do you mean U Miami?
Might be an example of stating one thing and doing another.
Only for engineering. Though they don’t even say that but have the Santa Fe option. From UF myths #10:
10. “If I choose a certain major on my application, I’ll have a better chance for admission.”
Nope! UF does not consider the major a student chooses when making admissions decisions. In fact, students are not required to choose a major until their sophomore year. So put whatever you think you want to study on your application or leave it undecided if you’re not sure.
I am aware but there are only so many spots for those kids who want finance as well. I only knew the claim because my son applied… but I challenge it.
I mean, I have no reason to doubt them. They’ve got it figured out i’m sure.
Even the engineering - it may be open but perhaps for those who fall short is what they offer the Santa Fe option to.
It doesn’t look like they have secondary admissions either.
Nonetheless, the student is a bio major but it sounds like without a lot of rigor - so I’d say if the UF GPA is a 4.5, they’d be ok. Otherwise, unlikely. I’m guessing, based on how OP described, that it won’t be. But they can apply and see.
Seconded. OSU is an excellent school.