Chance my son: Low GPA, okay SAT, improved chronic illness management [PA resident, 3.3 UW, 1420 SAT, Bioinformatics]

What about Temple? And I agree with those who have said, what would he do during a gap year that would justify delaying continuing his education? There are good STEM programs at in-state publics, and if warranted, he can go to a prestigious school for grad school. With his health issues, you want him close to home and at a school which may have some flexibility for him, in allowing him to take perhaps a 3/4 or even 1/2 academic load.

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Not sure if Richmond is too far and if the cost is within budget, but VCU rates 4.5 of 5 on Campus Pride and has 4500 AA students. And is 22% AA.

In state Temple has this program linked below. They get a 4 of 5 in Campus Pride and is 17% AA - so that might be a low cost option. Check out the link - it didn’t show up (Temple) on a Bioinformatics list - but surprise, surprise.

Edit - I see @parentologist mentioned as I was researching/typing.

Data Science BS with Genomics and Bioinformatics Concentration < Temple University

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If Rutgers-New Brunswick is within budget, then has he thought about Howard? Its costs run about the same as Rutgers out-of-state (less in tuition, more in room & board). It’s a top HBCU, and I think they’ve devoted a lot of attention to their STEM programs. UPenn actually has a program where Howard undergrads who particpate in some summer research programs at Penn are then guaranteed admission to its med school. @ChangeTheGame had two kids attend and might be able to speak more to the experience there, if your son is interested.

Another D.C. option to consider would be George Washington, but it costs more like $80k+/year (rather than $50k of Rutgers/Howard), so your family would likely need to qualify for need-based aid, as I doubt that your son would receive much in the way of merit aid from them.

Staying in that region, U. of Maryland - Baltimore County might be another interesting option to consider. It’s classified as a residential campus, and I believe its LSAMP program has been nationally recognized for how well it has prepared underrepresented students for success in STEM graduate programs (and the school is recognized for its STEM programs generally). Its sticker price would be less than either Rutgers or Howard, and 24% of its undergrads identify as black, per College Navigator.

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After what OP said about budget and we don’t have the $$ figure, I wonder if some of the schools were picked without budget in mind.

I don’t think Rutgers gives big merit - and it’s $53K out of state direct cost. Is that affordable?

So I think OP needs to really figure a true budget - and may have to revisit - because some of the apps (I’m guessing Bucknell) might have been a waste.

Bucknell was a 3 on the Campus Pride Index but it’s been withdrawn. And it’s 8% AA - not sure if enough.

The big thing I’d say is - rather than - I just had my student apply to here or here - is to ensure it’s the right place to apply.

And yes, that starts with budget.

Hopefully OP can share with us.

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UMBC was my thought too. Sounds perfect for what OP wants and lots of hospitals nearby.

Howard is a great idea.
Also in DC AU would likely offer merit to an AA boy with a 1420 SAT and is quite gay-friendly. (These 2 characteristics can appear in personal essays and ECs. Colleges are not allowed to factor either as a group but can factor it for the individual in relation to personal experiences.)
Both better than Bucknell if he’s not into the rich bro party scene (I know Bucknell has a lot to offer but socially it’s not as diverse as those listed here and upthread - reaching out to the AA and LGBTQ student groups would be a must, especially “would you choose to attend again, why/why not?”)
Dickinson, which isn’t too far away, would be a bit better in that respect.

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Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! :heart: I am having him apply to UMBC. It seems like a really good fit for him! It is only two hours away and he can easily get a train home if he needs to.

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B4 you do, is it affordable ?

You noted budget issues and you still have loans.

You need that budget first.

UMBC is about $47k for tuition room and board. Then you have books, nights out and more.

Can you afford that with no loans ?

Not sure aboit merit there - they offer it but will he get it ?

You really need to settle on budget.

Then choose schools.

I just used the net price calculator you referred to. I checked the price my son would need to pay at 6 different schools that he applied to:

Rutgers, Lehigh and Drexel were all around $50,000

Pitt was $37,000
UMBC was $34,000 (but the estimate was from
2021-2022 instead of more
Recent)
West Chester University was $27,000

UMBC looks even more attractive after using the net price calculator. I don’t think $50,000 is going to be worth it. Again, thank you for all of your advice! This has been the most helpful free advice I have received in a very long time :blush:.

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Hopefully you can visit. You want to ensure it’s the right school, not just one he gets into.

Good luck.

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AU looks like a good fit financially too and the stem programs look to support underrepresented populations. I don’t know how you know so much about all of these schools, but you really should be getting paid for your expertise! You could make a living being a college advisor!

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thank you.

They used have a program for mostly AA students that they discontinued and folded into the general scholarships plus they like 1400+ scores and many apply there for SIS, Languages+X, etc, rather than STEM, so your son would definitely be interesting to them as a stem applicant with high scores aka be highly likely to get preferential packaging (=FA).
One day a week is set aside for sophomores and on to have an internship in DC, which is quite valuable.

He would need to show “interest” (it means interacting with Admissions, asking questions the answers to which aren’t obvious on their webpage.) They rightly worry applicants just apply to any school in DC and aren’t actually interested in them specifically so any indication he’s really interested also helps.

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