<p>I would like to major in biomedical engineering and possibly minor in economics. Here is my college list:</p>
<p>Stanford
WUSTL
Texas A&M
Rice
Tulane
University of Alabama
Vanderbilt
University of Chicago
Duke University
University of Pittsburgh
Carnegie Mellon
Princeton
Johns Hopkins
Columbia
Harvard </p>
<p>How realistic is my list? Do I need to cut down on the more selective universities and add more safeties? University of Alabama would give me a full ride, so I don’t know if I need to seek out more safeties. Which of these universities are the most generous with need based financial aid? My parents say that they are willing to pay a maximum of 15k/yr, not counting my contribution. Tulane and Rice offer good merit scholarships, as well as Washington University. </p>
<p>I live in Alabama, have an SAT score of 2280 (first time taking it, will retest in oct aiming for 2350+). My GPA is 4.65 and I am in the top 4% of my class. I have taken 5 APs, and I have received 5’s on all but one (I got a four on macroeconomics). I am taking an additional 5 AP’s my senior year. </p>
<p>Have you run the net price calculators on each school’s web site? Your parents may be willing to pay $15K but schools focused on need based aid may expect a much higher number. If you’re happy to attend Bama then that’s great. No other safety is needed. The vast majority of the other schools listed are all reaches.</p>
<p>@"Erin’s Dad" I have run the net calculators, but for almost every college I have searched, the EFC is high and very similar. For our net income of less than 90k/year, our EFC is around the 28-30k. I have asked my friends whose parents have a higher salary than mine, and their EFCs are lower. I’m at a loss as to why our figure is so much more. </p>
<p>If the EFC estimate is true, then what type of universities should I apply for? State universities and smaller private universities where the average GPA and SAT scores are lower, where they can offer me better merit scholarships? </p>
<p>Yes. It seems from your list you are not looking at LACs. What is your flagship U? That would be a natural option for merit. Tulane is a good option for merit. Rice and WashU are extremely competitive. Go to the financial aid forum and look at the pinned threads there.</p>
<p>The liberal arts colleges I have looked at don’t offer good biomedical engineering program, if they offer one at all. I’m not exactly sure if this is the case for all of them, but I don’t think LAC’s offer the major I am looking for. I may absolutely be wrong on this though. </p>
<p>This list is fine as long as you’re happy going to Pitt, Tulane, or Alabama (I don’t know about A&M; all fine schools, btw). The rest of the schools are anybody’s guess whether or not you get in. So if you’re happy with no matches and these safeties, then this is a good list.</p>
<p>@jkeil911 Would my matches be LAC’s like the Claremonts? I’m afraid matches wouldn’t give me good financial aid, while safeties and the Ivy Leagues (if i can even get in) can offer me more. </p>
<p>My state’s flagship is University of Alabama. </p>
<p>OP, you raise a good point. on the other hand, harvey mudd, for instance, in 2010 gets zero kids from AL, AK, MS, LA, and OK. you might have some advantage there. </p>
<p>@sallymeno11 I’m just wondering if a liberal arts college is a good fit for me. What exactly is a liberal arts college? I know most LAC’s have smaller classes which is good. I see that Harvey Mudd’s engineering programs are one of its top majors @jkeil911 . My subject test scores are iffy. Math II- 770 & Biology E- 780. I’m considering retaking math II in november after the october sat. </p>
<p>LOL. Those are not 'Iffy" SAT II scores. I doubt very much that adcoms make much distinction between a 770 and a 780 and an 800. Can’t see any reason to retake. </p>
<p>What do you plan to do after graduation, as of now? Keep in mind to become an actual practicing biological/biomedical engineer, a master’s is necessary. Many biomedical engineers do an undergrad in mechanical or possibly electrical and then do their master’s in such a field.</p>
<p>I don’t know of any liberal arts colleges that offer biomedical engineering. Lafayette College has great engineering programs and you may be able to get some merit there. Bucknell University also comes to mind. Lehigh is also worth looking into. </p>
<p>Liberal arts colleges have smaller close-knit environments. While upper-level engineering classes are going to be small at almost every university, generally since not many people major in engineering at LACs you’ll have that close attention all throughout, and the research opportunities aren’t as competitive.</p>
<p>What do you plan to do with a biomedE undergrad degree?</p>
<p>Are you a NMSF?</p>
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<p>What will their “expected family contribution” likely be? keep in mind that any merit you might get will get applied to NEED first. It won’t reduce what schools expect your parents to pay unless if covers more than need. </p>
<p>Is your family’s income upper-middle ( such as $100k-140k)? More? Less?</p>
<p>While your SAT II scores aren’t “iffy,” I think what the OP means is that SAT II scores are not like SAT I scores. Since usually only those who are strong in those subjects that those particular exams, percentiles can quickly drop. For instance, a 770 on the SAT II Math II is 84th percentile…but a 770 on the math section of the SAT is a 99th percentile. </p>