Chance me for MIT or Columbia and other colleges (Junior) [3.9 UW, 1540 SAT, Biology/pre-med, TX student]

Yes, you are picking majors because they sound great - outcome/salary wise - but you know little about what is out there - and that’s FANTASTIC.

But this is where an open curriculum - from Brown, to Hamilton to Vassar to Wesleyan to Grinnell to Rochester and as a merit school and safety - Kalamazoo - can help you.

You can study around and experience different things.

There is no reason to be locked up at 17 - especially when you don’t really understand what different careers require in the day to day.

You have to run the NPCs to see if they will meet $30K or less for you - some may, or may not - so then you need to focus on schools that will achieve your cost - your in state schools - including UH, UTD, Texas Tech, whatever. OU/OSU, LSU, Arkansas/UNM/NM State likely will - i think all have border state deals.

Alabama ($22K or so), UAH, Ole Miss, Miss State, UT Chatt, Tennessee Tech, Memphis definitely will hit $30K and actually many of these less.

Florida State is a maybe - if you get an OOS waiver - it’s a target.

So run your NPCs - but to me, if none meet $30K, take a flyer on Kalamazoo - it has big merit and an open curriculum - a well regarded LAC. But if the schools like Columbia want $40K, and you can’t afford it, then you shouldn’t apply.

But your budget drives EVERYTHING. You said you probably could afford $20-30K - but you need to talk to your parents to find out a real #.

Texas A&M is over $30K, btw, per their COA. UT is right there. Other Texas schools will have merit aid.

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