If your parents have never been married and never have lived together…this sheds a different light…@kelsmom
For some schools, you need to apply for a major, for most, no. In any event, premed is not a major - it’s about eight semesters of lab sciences, plus some English, psych, math, maybe sociology. Most schools have too many premeds to begin with, so if you’re not sure of this, might be best to not emphasize it in your application.
Here is a graphic that may be helpful: https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/is-my-parent-a-contributor.jpg. If your mom is the contributor and if she is now married to someone, that person’s income and asset information is also required. To determine which parent is the contributor, it’s not who you live with, but who provides the most financial support.
CSS Profile usually wants information from both parents, even if your mom & dad never married.
Well…this poster said she lived with one parent and possibly was going to be living with the other…so…it seems the student has good contact with both parents.
I just saw that & was editing while you posted.
For a student who wants to go to med school, it is a really great idea to avoid debt for undergrad, as you will need around $200k in loans for med school. I would suggest earning a scholarship to either UNR or UNLV, and get as close to a 4.0 as possible. This applies to other med school candidates out there. Unless you have really rich parents, go to your state flagship, and kick butt.
Most of the schools on your list will require you to apply test optional. If you can only get a 1290 on the SAT now, do you really think you will be able to do well on the MCAT in a few years? Most med school students were > 33/1470 in high school. There is no test optional for medical school.
Many medical schools NOW are $100,000 a year. Anyone entering undergrad now or in 2025 or after can assume medical school could cost up to $400,000 for four years. There is precious little financial aid for medical school. It’s funded with loans, loans and more loans, or help from the bank of mom and dad.
$200,000 for four years of medical school is a low estimate…remember, you have to include living expenses as well as tuition…and medical school students really can’t work to make those ends meet.
UNR medical school in-state will be $73-79k per year, or about $300k over four years.
And you don’t think that will increase in the next four or five years? I do.
There are some public medical schools that are more favorably priced for instate students. The trick is…getting accepted, and that can’t be counted on.
But we are getting off topic here.
Most of the colleges listed in the OP are reach schools. Chapman could be the exception.
And I do agree with others…keep loans to a bare minimum for undergrad…and have a plan B in case medical school doesn’t happen.
I’ll be frank That’s a train wreck waiting to happen. Worse than getting a rejection is a stack of acceptances to schools you can’t afford. Regarding gap years…just don’t. They never turn out as expected. Usually kids will end-up working at Subway and playing Xbox. You’re better off going to community college for a year than taking a gap year.
Also, if you’re thinking about premed, that’s fine, just keep in mind that out of all the “premed” kids coming out of high school, very few actually go to medical school. As you mature, you discover your real passions. I would recommend going into college with an open mind.
If you do decide medical school, you need to keep the debt low. Try going to UNR or UNLV. You can get a full ride scholarship in an honors program. Either way, you can’t lose. That’s a tangible accomplishment you can put on a medical school application, and you’re graduating debt free. Medical school is absurdly expensive. Your best shot at medical school is in your home state.
I’m from Texas…they don’t
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. If you’d like to reply, please flag the thread for moderator attention.