I am not asking about Med School and programs like CUNY-because we have great college counsellors and we know about all direct to Med School programs like CUNY and 6 and 7 year programs. He is applying to Creighton as a safety. I only asked about MIT and Stanford-because they are very hard to get into. The school is helping us too and we have a list of schools that are good for pre med.
Yes, he is applying to UNC Chapen Hill EA. UVA is a CSS profile school. Since getting a CSS profile waver is very hard, we are only looking at top 20 CSS profile schools and the rest of the schools will be FAFSA only schools. UVA is fantastic, but getting a waver there is hard and we wont have the CSS profile from the dad. UNC does not require dad’s CSS profile, so he is applying.
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It’s too bad that the UK is not feasible for your son because UK university admission is much more straightforward and predictable based on academic record alone.
I agree with other posters who said that admission to MIT and Stanford is incredibly difficult to predict for most applicants (with the possible exception of Olympiad (STEM) gold medalists, Olympic (sports) gold medallists, RSI participants, etc).
My D22 had a perfect academic record at a highly academic/feeder HS and perfect test scores (PSAT and SAT (single sitting)), attended a world-class conservatory, participated in a respected STEM research program (not RSI but on MIT’s list of “selective summer programs“), spoke multiple languages, co-led student government, etc. So, I thought that she stood a decent chance of getting into one of the HYPSM (she applied to 4 of them). She was rejected by all of them (not even one waitlist).
Beyond the opacity of the holistic admission process, what I failed to appreciate is how many students have similarly “excellent” profiles and, as a result, HYPSM admission remains a long shot for this pool of students. Based on what you have shared, your son appears to be similarly situated.
Having said that, he should still take his shot and apply to MIT and Stanford. Good luck!
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I think this is accurate - but - I also think this student’s profile is interesting enough to catch someone’s eye beyond the stats and refined essays of the “average excellent” applicant. Can’t be many US citizens who’ve graduated high school in Russia and lived in Turkey (including the specific forms of volunteering done there). It’s still a long shot, but maybe with a slight edge.
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Just be aware. The net price calculators are not always accurate for divorced parents. You need to see IF the NPC asks about your marital status. If it doesn’t, then it’s very likely the results you get should be used as estimates only.
You also want to check college policies in non-custodial parent profile waivers. At some colleges, you will need to apply for that waiver every year. At others, that might not be necessary.
Your student is very strong…but so are the vast majority of applicants to these colleges. They can’t be viewed as sure things for all students.
Really…you need to find a sure thing for admission that you know will be affordable, that your student would be happy to attend. My suggestion…find that first…after that, continue your search for those reach schools.
Oh…another thing. I believe some top 50 schools are need aware for admissions. For those colleges, your level of financial need can be considered when the application for admission is reviewed.
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Most of these tippy top schools use the Profile to determine the awarding of institutional need based aid.
Agree!
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I’m going to be blunt - and you’ll think i”m off but that’s ok.
You make $70K in Hawaii. You’re hoping for a full ride or a legal conclusion. You are assuming if there’s a legal conclusion that you will actually see the $$. Talk to the many divorced spouses who have won legal judgements how much they ever saw, yes even if there are garnishments meant to be put in place.
So you need a full ride. I don’t know if you are a resident of Hawaii and what type of low income program they have.
You said your student would be a National Merit - and I said Alabama (5 years tuition, 4 years housing and $4K a year), UTD or more.
Frankly, a school like Tulsa is free tuition but on $70K a year - how would you afford housing?
I said before - take your shots at your top 20 and meets need. I never said not to do that - but I said Bama is a safety valve you know you can afford.
And you came back with two things:
- He’s never been to the mainland - so that’s a concern. Well then why isn’t it a concern for Stanford and MIT and others.
- They don’t send enough to med school - but you are missing the selection bias. Med schools don’t care where you go. They care about your MCAT, GPA, and more. But kids who go to some schools have a higher preponderance of wanting to go to med school - and they go to more selective schools on usual - but that’s not why they get into med school. Alabama, by the way, has the McCullough Pre Medical Scholars.
For you, it’s a safety valve. Some of the Florida schools also have National Merit - but there’s more involved to get it.
Florida State says this - but you likely can’t afford it:
Florida State University’s Out-of-State National Merit Award scholarship package has a total value of approximately $75,776 distributed across four years. It includes a 100 percent out-of-state tuition waiver, a $16,000*, Vires scholarship, and a $2000 NMSC stipend (if college sponsored). All National Merit Finalists who apply to the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) during the first year, which connects high-achieving students with distinguished research mentors to work as research assistants, will be guaranteed admission to UROP.
UT Dallas - a sleepier school with a strong neuro program says this:
National Merit Scholarship Program & Package – Fall 2026
Based on availability, National Merit Scholars at UT Dallas receive:
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Complete coverage of UT Dallas tuition for up to eight semesters. (Four academic years following initial enrollment.) If scholarship is unused after completing undergraduate degree, it can be used toward graduate education at UTD.
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University Commons room (first-year dorms) or 4×2 University Village apartment in on-campus housing (you can upgrade at your own expense).
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COMET 14 meal plan or equivalent (for scholars living on campus).
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Stipend for books and supplies.
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A generous study abroad stipend to support international education.
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One-time summer research stipend.
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Admission into Collegium V Honors program.
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Access to honors lounge and free printing.
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Dedicated social events for National Merit Scholars.
The bottom line - and your private, feeder school can chance you - but I never said not to take your shots - but you can give yourself just in case coverage - for free. If you looked at some of top hospitals and where the residents went. I was a patient at Vandy, one of hte top hospitals.
Where did they go - and you can look at Duke, JHU - no different. Sure some top schools but also:
Alabama, Auburn, East Carolina, Florida State, UGA, Kansas State, UMass, U Michigan Dearborn, Ole Miss (U or Mississippi), Rhodes, Sewanee, Stetson, Texas A&M, U of West Florida, Wisconsin
So going to a top undergrad is not required.
But you need free and then how will you pay for medical school? You can say top 20 or Moscow. I don’t know how it works with coming back here.
But when you have NM Status, it’s silly to not consider when you need free and a few (not many) are willing to pay for you.
You don’t think they have top 20 kids on those campuses? You’d be very wrong.
I disagree with your elimination strategy but it’s your right - but I do think that if you want your child well educated in the United States and are looking for free, it’s a huge mistake to eliminate safety valves.
Best of luck in the journey - however it goes.
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He can major in ANYTHING in undergrad school as long as he also takes the courses required for medical school applicants. There is no “best major” for students wishing to apply to medical school.
And attending a top 20 undergrad will not guarantee him admission to one of the highly competitive medical schools with free tuition.
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One of the Vandy students I looked at majored in Classics at UF. Now a resident at one of the top hospitals in the country.
As you say - literally anything - if you take the pre med classes.
Of course, majoring in something that works for you should med school not work out is likely a smart option.
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MIT is not all work work work:
“MIT has a robust Greek life, with approximately 34–39% of undergraduates affiliated with Fraternities, Sororities, and Independent Living Groups (FSILGs). The community includes over 25 fraternities, six sororities, and several multicultural and independent organizations. Many fraternities and sororities have houses located on or near campus in Cambridge and Boston.”
Also Greek life at Stanford (and Duke, Hopkins, Michigan, Cal) and big time sports (although soccer is usually one of the sports). Most US colleges have sports, and many have Greek life. Some schools also have race car teams, philosophy clubs, financial investing clubs, etc. even if they aren’t T-20
You (he) seem to know what you want, T-20 or go to Europe. That’s fine, apply to the 20 schools you find acceptable and see if he can get it. None of us can tell you the chances of getting into MIT or Harvard or Hopkins. He’s got a better chance than most applicants because of his scores and grades, and his life experiences, but that’s still a tough admit for a 16 year old.
If he’d be unhappy at one of the free (NMF, high merit for his stats, big financial aid for your income) schools, don’t apply. It’s just wasting everyone’s time to apply to schools he will not attend, even for free, if he will just turn it down for a Russian or EU school. If he later changes his mind and would rather go to Alabama than Moscow State, he’ll only be 16 and can apply for the next year.
Personally, I’d apply for a few safeties as you have no idea what world politics will be like in 2 years and it might be nice to have an Alabama or U of Hawaii in your pocket just in case. I would not send a 16 year old to college in Russia with a Ukrainian passport, but you know more about that situation than I do. I did send a 17 year old to college and it was very scary for me to do that; she was immature, IMO, but thought she knew everything about everything - bad combo! I liked that she was part of a sorority and a sports team and had adults in both organizations keeping a local eye on her. Academics were still her priority even with ‘college’ going on around her and she was able to choose the activities she liked and let the others go on without her.
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Thank you so much for your comment.
UK does not give any financial aid to foreign students, and their medical programs are expensive, and UK overall is expensive, and my son would be living alone off campus, in a country that is not particularly safe for a 16 year old to be alone in. I cant move to the UK with him.
I hope your daughter got into a good university and is happy!
Thank you for your comments. He will be applying to the safeties that our school recommends-U of Utah, U of Arizona, Creighton (most likely safety option). U of Hawaii is actually not cheap-most kids from our school choose U of Utah as a safetie, it’s in WUE and ends up being cheaper than UH Manoa. Also, UH Manoa is not diverse at all-it’s almost entirely Asian. It’s not easy to fit in if you are not local. U of Utah also lacks diversity, but my son loves the cold, snow and skiing, so U of Utah would fit him better than BAMA.
As for living in Russia with a Ukranian passport-there are millions of Ukranians in Russia, the entire family of my ex-husband lives in Crimea, with Ukranian passports. Russia is the option, because he would not be alone there-he would be living with close family. But I agree with the political uncertainty-but right now it’s as uncertain here and we do not know where we are heading.
My son sounds exactly like your daughter, but he is not interested in partying or social life, outside of soccer-he is very interested in soccer.
International places in UK medical degrees are also capped by the government, making it quite difficult to get in in the first place.
Less so for medicine - to the extent that UCAS requires at least one of the 5 applications to be a non-medicine degree, to ensure that applicants are not completely shut out of any acceptances in a cycle.
We did not even look into UK in depth, because for the majors he is interested in it’s unaffordable and I am not ok with him living in the UK on his own at 16, and going into debt for it. Plus UK is not exactly famous for it’s medical system. No offence to the Brits, love them and their country. Maybe if my son does not get into Med School, he can go to the UK for his Masters or PHd-there is more aid at that level.
We did not even look into UK in depth, because for the majors he is interested in it’s unaffordable and I am not ok with him living in the UK on his own at 16, and going into debt for it. Plus UK is not exactly famous for it’s medical system. No offence to the Brits, love them and their country. Maybe if my son does not get into Med School, he can go to the UK for his Masters or PHd-there is more aid at that level.
My son is a big soccer fan, loves going to the games. If he is in the UK at 16, he will be in pubs and at soccer games-he DOES enjoy social life over there, meaning the pub culture and soccer fans/games. I dont have to tell you about British soccer fans…not a place for a 16 year old to be alone.
This is the mistake and perhaps you’re not familiar with the American system. There are hundreds of good universities.
I have an MBA from a top 30 school and work for a Bachelor degree from U of W Georgia. I had never heard of it. We had a Harvard Law working for a Fairleigh Dickinson (locals, NJ private).
I’ve had a Stanford admin (secretary) - and U of Phoenix bosses.
There are many great schools - and the world doesn’t work that - top 20 trumps others in the real world. ON average, they likely do better, etc. but the world isn’t set up by a magazine rank.
There are Ivy level kids at probably every flagship in America - whether Arkansas or UCLA, etc.
It’s hard for some to understand that - but it’s the truth.
In the end, it’s nice to have a safety net. Counting on a judge and garnishment is taking a huge leap of faith.
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So you are not applying for free - but you are applying for WUE Utah which is $35K with limited merit?
U of Arizona which is now $63K with a possibility of $20K merit based on gpa. National Merit isn’t assured but is another $3K - so that puts you at $40K. A few years ago - one could have gone to U of Arizona for $22K-ish or so but given the school was under budget big time, the Chancellor and CFO were removed - and tuition was raised hugely and the top merit was lowered from $35K to $20K. I wonder if they missed that?
Creighton is fine - but is Jesuit (religious) and doesn’t assure to meet need. If you need free it’s unlikely.
Personally, I’m glad you are talking to your private school counselors but I don’t see them giving advice toward affordability. Perhaps they see what I don’t.
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UCLA does not give any financial aid to OOS students, neither does UT Austin, U of Maryland, University of Illinois, U of Washington, U of Ohio, UVA. We are aware that there are amazing state universities, and he would be very interested in them, but there is zero possibility of financial aid. He does have a shot at need-based aid at the Ivies, if CSS profile waver is granted. And some of the T20 do not require a CSS profile from a non-custodial parent (Vanderbilt, U of Chicago). UCLA is a top choice for my son, but it’s not an option. I am not mentioning the colleges where the possibility of getting financial aid is zero.
We are not counting on the judge, we are counting mostly on the CSS profile waver for a non custodial parent and already contacting universities. Court is absolutely the last resort.