What makes you think this? There are so many high stats students who can’t afford to go to more selective schools, and yet aren’t eligible for FA. My kids ended up in honors colleges at OOS public’s with 3.95 uwgpa, 33/34 ACT, 9 AP classes, 8th and 10th in their graduating classes of 300+. One is now at BU getting her doctorate, the other is a rising college senior with a 4.0 and the number one in her class’s business school (Clemson). There are bright focused students everywhere, not just those who can afford $50,000+ a year tuition.
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I think you are underestimating the students who are taking premed prerequisite courses.
And if you aim for an honors college also, you will find plenty of kids with a lot of ambition. This isn’t unique to elite schools.
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Yes, of course there are ambitious students everywhere. BUT you can’t deny that if you took random 50 students at Harvard and compare them to a random sample of 50 students at CC, it’s highly likely that those at Harvard will be more ambitious. Of course, SOME CC students will be more ambitious than SOME Harvard students, but probably not most. Also, people who attend top schools often come from rich families and will be rich themselves in the future, therefore have great connections.
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In my opinion, you want to get to your future career on your own merits, not just because of family connections. But that’s my opinion.
Being humble is a life skill.
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My kids referenced above are at schools ranked 76 and 86, after merit they pay around $40,000 a year. With their chosen careers (DPT and actuary), they should do well after graduation. You need to get costs down to $20,000.
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Again - there are schools in the top 50 - UGA, Texas A&M, Rutgers
What makes you think they’re any different, in most cases, from other flagships - whether a Kansas, Oregon, Tennessee, Arizona, etc.
Kids go to school in the state they live.
You really are putting way too much into something that was created to sell, to make revenue.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A TOP 50 SCHOOL.
Will kids from Harvard or Penn, etc. be more “ambitious” than those from even other what you call top 50s - like Texas A&M and Georgia.
Yes, in part as many want to be consultants or in investment banking, at an Ivy.
But it doesn’t matter - you have $20,000 - and you need to live within that means.
If you can get into Harvard, good luck, and you have $83,000 a year (plus annual inflation) - then best of luck to you in your future.
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Well, you did say state schools in your post and there’s a significant difference between a state school and a CC.
Note that far more students study at state schools as compared to the highly rejective private schools, the numbers are quite a bit larger. I also wouldn’t say ‘ambition’ is limited to relatively high stat students.
These issues are several of the factors that help explain why there are many successful people who did not attend highly rejective undergrad schools. For example, many, maybe most physicians did not go to highly rejective undergrad schools.
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Both of my kids attended state schools.
My older D went to a school that most have never heard of and ended up at an Ivy for grad school.
My other one graduated from a state school (admittedly a highly ranked one) premed with a 4.0. Changed her mind about med school after graduating.
Be careful about what you say- right now you do not understand the caliber student at these schools. There are very strong students everywhere- not everybody can afford to attend the private schools you have in mind.
And right now you don’t know what you don’t know (not intending to be disrespectful).
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As others have mentioned this is dependent on each family’s financial comfort, including future plans such as retirement.
As a very general statement about the pre-health/law/grad families I know in person and read about on CC, it is not uncommon to find a student targeting lower cost options for undergrad so their family can contribute toward post-grad expenses and reduce loans.
What are lower cost options? Once again that depends on an individual family’s financial circumstances. Based on the limited information shared (unless you update us after running NPCs as has been suggested) it seems you will not qualify for much if any need aid, even at schools offering that to international students. So like many families looking for a lower cost undergrad, compromises will need to be made. However, you can minimize the personal impact of those compromises by applying to honors colleges and other elite cohorts to “find your people”.
So I’ll reiterate what others have said.
- Look at your instate options.
- Look at schools, like Alabama, that offer auto-merit.
- Look at lower tier privates that offer tuition discounts to high stat students. Without need, I expect most of these will end up in the $30-40k range on merit alone. Adding to previous suggestions with Rhodes, Furman, Gettysburg.
- Lastly, consider uber competitive full tuition/ride scholarships which require a lot of extra work and early application deadlines. Duke, WashU, UMD, UNC, UVA, Vandy, Wake, SMU, Davidson, Wash & Lee, Furman …
This is off the top of my mind. You will need to verify if merit is available to internationals. Let us know your thoughts. And please move on from the prestige mindset. It’s simply not relevant to US med schools. However, if you anticipate a different career or returning to your home country my advice would be different.
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I don’t know what to make of this.
My kids…and others…made their own connections…and so will you.
Find an affordable school, stay humble, and work hard.
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I can’t fault the OP for this as that is a common mindset in some countries, along with certain prestigious universities being the only path to prestigious careers. It is not true in the US. But it is very possible that is the message they have received from family and friends with their cultural and national background.
Hopefully they will consider the message you and other posters are trying to get across.
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Agree- thank you for the reminder.
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Earlham is another to add to this list.
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I guess you’re right. Thanks
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Thank you, I’ll consider those!
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I hope so, thank you once again
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True, BUT let’s say someone offers you a great opportunity that you wouldn’t get on your own merit. Do you take it? I would.
I don’t think schools like Allegheny, Earlham, Kalamazoo, and others can get to $20K…maybe 30s…but not $20K.
Short of going to a school that is $20K - Bama, maybe something in state, - others mentioned the two SIU campuses, and there’s probably some in the Dakotas, one isn’t going to get that low.
OP asked if they could get a full ride at a 100-150 - unlikely - unless they have auto merit but to get that low, is likely requiring stats above yours.
There’s always the full rides noted above by @DramaMama2021
What about if I retook my SAT and got like 1570 or sth? I could also take more APs to boost my GPA next year (thinking of adding AP Lang and AP Statistics). I can write and publish another research paper. Would that be enough? Not necessarily full ride, but to get the costs down to that 20k?
No - there may be schools - look at Troy maybe. W Carolina maybe.
Alabama definitely. Your in-state if you qualify - definitely.
Will that get you a full ride?
I don’t know - my daughter is at College of Charleston. it’s a less competitive school but has endowed scholarships - and she earned one through an invite weekend. There’s like 20 or 30 of her amongst 10K kids - and I’m not sure if all get free tuition. She actually has 3 or 4 scholarships together that add up to free tuition (plus).
You can’t just “get” a 1570 - but you seem to be missing the point - so I’ll let you go do your thing.
You want something that might be “possible” if you apply to the right places - but it’s highly unlikely - especially with your international status.
But you can try.
Good luck.
PS - you asked a question and everyone gave you an answer.
But you don’t want to hear the answer so why did you ask the question?
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