College Search Help

College Search & Lists
1

Hi guys, serial lurker here. I’m a junior, and as of right now I feel ridiculously underprepared for the upcoming college application crapshoot or whatever it is. I think I have a pretty well-rounded profile (high, but not that high), but I’m having trouble deciding which schools would be a great fit (mainly academically). I don’t care too much about size or location; I just want a solid foundation I can leverage into med school (hopefully). I’m seriously considering various BS/MD programs, but it seems like the tough ones are too tough, and the less-selective ones may not be a great fit for me. Honestly, I’d say I’m a decent person to be around; I just don’t have very many preferences. Here are the stats:

3.85-ish unweighted GPA
Near-perfect PSAT score, so NMSF is guaranteed (woot woot will take ACT in February)
Ranked top quarter in a class of 500 at a well-known public school (state-wise at least)
Did very well (but far from USAMO-level) at math competitions freshman year (moved and did not continue)
Random leadership things, mentoring other high school leaders (phasing this out due to work)
Working at math tutoring chain (have done food service and soccer officiating; somehow held all three for a few weeks)
Tutored Burmese refugees (reading, actually)
Small amount of medical job shadowing, but I’ll be EMT certified in a few months (hopefully I can get a job, but volunteering always works)
Founder and President (lol) of a school club
Chinese Association volunteering (yeah, I know, you know)

AP Classes taken or taking:

TAKEN
AP Calc AB BC (5, 5)
AP Chem (3)
AP Euro (3)
AP Human Geo (4)

TAKING
AP US History
AP Lang
AP Physics

I feel that I have a decent profile (aside from low-ish AP scores, especially Chem), and I’m thinking (guessing) that anything outside the top 30s (I’m using USN as a generally indicator; I’m not a prestige-sucker) is fair game. I’m not economically disadvantaged in any way (probably the opposite), and I’m an ORM, but I would consider attending a lower-ranked school if it was much, much cheaper (that’s why Oklahoma’s combined program is very attractive to me), but I’m torn between value and enjoyment. My state’s schools are also very nice, so that’s always an option.

Anyways, I’d very much appreciate any advice, criticism, and anecdotes that can help me get a sense of perspective, as well as tips on applying to schools (where are places I can get non-NMSF scholarships from?) I’d also love some insight into lesser-known gems,

Sorry if I accidentally offended anyone in any way, I’m completely confused. But I do understand (and hope you do too) that no matter how this goes, I’m going to turn out fine.

And THANK YOU, your help is appreciated!

2

It’d be easier to help you out here with an actual SAT or ACT score, but you could be competitive at Notre Dame, Johns Hopkins, Lehigh, and Tufts, all of which offer strong pre-med programs. Don’t discount those state schools either.

3

I’m back! Sorry to necro my own dead thread, but ACTs are back, and so is my compulsive behavior! I got:

36R
36M
34E
32S

Honestly, expected a little more from science and a little less overall, but I’ll happily take it.

How do my prospects for some combined programs look now? (Also, it’d be nice if this got moved to the BS/MD thread.

4

In case you haven’t looked seriously into LACs as of yet, consider schools such as Pomona, Amherst, Hamilton, Carleton, Grinnell and Williams, which can be excellent choices for medical school aspirants:

http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/lists/list/the-experts-choice-colleges-with-great-pre-med-programs/199/

Nice ACT score . . .

5

What is your actual budget per year for school? Have you looked at your EFC?

6

The above said (#3), your top-quarter HS status could be a factor for you, so you may want to consider as well colleges that accept a fair amount (>25%) from outside the top decile of their classes.

7

@carachel2 Oh yeah I’m not getting any FAFSA aid in this life… Honestly parents are down for any cost, but I think breaking away from the dependent-on-parents-until-26 would be valuable for growth.

@merc81 I have, I have, but larger schools are more of my thing, at least for now.

Thanks!

8

Don’t just “think” they will be “down for any cost.” March is heartbreak city for kids whose parents told them that or for kids who assumed it.

Sit down with them and find out exactly how much they can spend. $25k? $40k? $60k??

9

Yes, discuss the budget with them. Also, if you end up in med school, it is expensive. If you pick a lower cost in state school, maybe your parents would help some with med school costs or other grad school costs. Ask them.

10

Start expressing interest at Rhodes or St Olaf, both very good for science and likely interested in your test scores. Merit scholarships should be good there but they consider interest in awarding them (no point in awarding $20,000 to a kid who has no intention of attending.) Those would be safeties to low matches for you and good for what you want.
Do discuss budget. Don’t assume. Ask for a range (60-65? 35-40?..) Just a few years ago the most expensive colleges, a handful of them, were breaking 40k and everyone was stunned. Imagine now. Increases have been insane at both public and private universities. And think that when your parents and I went to college, instate universities were a few hundreds dollars a semester and Harvard’s tuition was 15k. So they may not have any idea how much college costs these days. They may have saved but maybe not. They may be willing to part with one third of their monthly income but maybe not. So, Run the NPC on a few colleges and ask what’s within budget and what’s not.

11

They’ve actually said “anything is fine”. The budget part is completely on my end.

@merc81 They remove rank, so maybe I lucked out?

12

I don’t know where i stand, that’s the problem

13

I think you could try for a few reaches higher than top #30 on USN, especially if you develop enough passion about a particular school to be willing to commit to one ED. Northwestern, WUSTL, and Rice come to mind. If you do decide on this path, be sure to run the NPC for the chosen school with your parents before signing an ED agreement. Also, make sure to have some safety schools on your list such as your state flagship (Lincoln?), Oklahoma, and Alabama. The few NMFs that I’ve known from NE all ended up at Lincoln.

14

Thanks, all! Quick question- Is my class rank and inconsistent AP testing dragging my chances down? I don’t know if you guys can help, but would it harm the prospects of landing an interview at a BS/MD program? I’m set on medicine, and the more time I have before I start a family is more time I can do overseas work, etc.

P.S. How hard is it actually to make it through UG and into Med School through residency? I haven’t found it easy to compare myself to some of the posters, however informative they may be… I just have a feeling insecurity about MD programs, considering how difficult it is to make it in to any.

Thanks for your help, I will look into the previously mentioned colleges!

15

Well, there is no class rank anymore, but worst-case they can provide it… (I wouldn’t be surprised if it ranged around 9-12% by graduation tho)

16

@neconfusedguy not sure if you have already taken the SAT but if your PSAT score will qualify you for National Merit then you will need to submit scores from the SAT as a part of your NM application.