Match Me: Senior aspiring to be a physician, good scores [IL resident, 3.97 GPA, 1560 SAT]

Since your preference is now for schools that are 7k+, the majority of the mid-sized schools I recommended earlier would not qualify. Below are some additional schools you may want to consider, in addition to the ones mentioned earlier that still fit the updated size criteria:

Extremely Likely

  • DePaul (IL): About 14k undergrads

  • Drexel (PA ): About 14k undergrads and a school that focuses on co-ops

  • Loyola Chicago (IL): About 12k undergrads

  • Marquette (WI): About 7500 undergrads

  • Miami U. (OH): About 17k undergrads

  • Saint Louis (MO): About 11k undergrads

  • Rochester Institute of Technology (NY): About 14k undergrads

  • Southern Illinois – Carbondale: About 8k undergrads

  • U. at Buffalo (NY): About 21k undergrads

  • U. of Cincinnati (OH): About 30k undergrads and another school that incorporates a lot of co-ops

  • U. of Dayton (OH): About 8400 undergrads

  • U. of Nebraska – Lincoln: About 19k undergrads

  • U. of Texas – Dallas: About 22k undergrads

Likely

  • Binghamton (NY): About 14k undergrads

  • Fordham (NY): About 10k undergrads

  • George Washington (D.C.): About 11k undergrads…likely only if you show some interest

  • Southern Methodist – About 7100 undergrads

  • Syracuse (NY): About 15k undergrads

  • U. of Pittsburgh (PA ): About 24k undergrads

Toss-Up

  • Loyola Marymount (CA): About 7300 undergrads

  • U. of Rochester: About 6800 undergrads

  • Villanova: About 7k undergrads

Lower Probability

Low Probability

  • Emory: About 7100 undergrads

  • Georgia Tech: About 18k undergrads

And if you are willing to consider Alabama, I’d also take a gander at U. of Alabama - Birmingham as it has about 13k undergrads and a great reputation in the biomedical sciences.

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I really appreciate your taking time to share so much detailed information. Added new schools on here to my list. Any insights on best ways to demonstrate interest to schools? I understand CWRU also needs it.

Thank you!

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If you can do a registered visit and tour that is good. Similarly you can sign up for virtual events. Really anything where you give them your name and contact details.

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Open up and read emails the college sends you.

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If school reps come to your school, make sure you attend the presentation. You could also reach out to your regional AO (most of the time this info is published on the school’s web-site) with any questions you have - although, only if the question isn’t something you could easily find on their web-site.

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You have a really strong profile but it is impossible to chance you at the reaches since most wonderful, qualified applicants (like yourself) are rejected. I would add UNC to the reach category as their OOS acceptance rate was around 5% last year. I would keep them on the list, though (if you like the school), since cost-wise they are a relative bargain for OOS students (around $60k) compared to other schools of that caliber. I think Pitt is a great option for a student interested in medicine so make sure you apply early!

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I would also keep both schools on the list, and I would put UNC (OOS) in the reach category. I can answer questions about UNC- premed, etc.

Pitt is a great school btw and if you apply early you should hear back early. I believe you have 2 SUNYs on your list (UB and Bing) and I would keep those as well.

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Others have already provided some great suggestions.

Another option is to email your admissions rep questions that cannot be answered via info that is on the website. Additionally, you can ask to be connected to a student or faculty member with a particular set of interests/background (i.e. put in contact with pre-med advisor or to speak with any students who are trying to combine pre-med and business, or talking to someone in the honors college, or people who can talk about classical dance opportunities, or talking to Jewish students (or whatever background of students you might identify with that would not be part of the majority), etc).

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This is a great suggestion, both because it is a good way to seriously demonstrate interest and also because it could be very useful!

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Have you considered Northwestern University?

I was thinking the EXACT same thing. Congrats on your stellar stats! I have 4 kids and one went on an academic full ride (with housing) to a state school and will be going to med school after graduation. PLEASE consider some well ranked flagship schools. You will most certainly secure full tuition and potentially housing. Have you looked at the University of Georgia or University of South Carolina? Flagship R1 schools will open all the research opportunities you will need and that will be valuable savings for med school! At Alabama you already have the full tuition package I believe…maybe even housing! You can and will shine anywhere you go and the resources will be there at any Flagship school. I say save the money, get a stellar GPA, enjoy free housing and get into the most expensive med school you can with a MCAT no one has ever seen!

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Why would one want to get into the most expensive medical school they can. No matter what medical school you graduate from…you will be ā€œdoctorā€.

My free advice would be to try for medical schools that are more affordable…and if you are a tippy top student…some of the ones that have free tuition like NYU.

But the most expensive medical school you can get into with your MCAT? Why? So you can be in more debt when you are done?

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Hi! I am not the person who posted this thread but I would love to get any insights you have about pre-med at UNC.

You can PM me if you want. I do not want to take over this thread. Thanks!

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I think any medical school acceptance is a huge accomplishment, and I would not want to go to the most expensive one out there.

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Your opinion is yours and mine is mine. Fair enough. I believe that when it comes to spending the pot of money it would be better spent on the acutal medical studies. And medical schools are expensive. PERIOD.

(Edited to add: ALL medical schools in the US are expensive! Lol! The cost is going to be nearly the same $-wise whatever medical school you choose (unless it is your in-state option or the few high-stat free options). I say go to the BEST med school you can get into. Yes, perhaps it is a Bloomburg-funded JH…but the best med school will open more doors. Prestige does still matter when it comes to residencies, not to mention your cohort pool contacts that will go on to more prestigious careers.

Look into the Mark Twain Nonresident scholarships at Mizzou: auto merit of $21,500 per year for students with your stats.

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Most are not able to choose between multiple offers. Perhaps @WayOutWestMom can clarify (or correct me).

Let’s get back on topic. The job @Bgil has right now is to find an affordable undergrad college that they like. And the first on the list should be a couple of colleges where they know they will be accepted, or are very likely to be accepted.

Saving money for a possible medical school or other graduate program seems like a good idea too.

WRT medical school, and costs…most students apply to 20 or more medical schools and are happy to get even one acceptance (60% or so get zero acceptances). Most get only one acceptance, and whatever the cost is, that’s where they go. Medical students can take about a $40,000 a year Direct Loan, and can get the rest via a Grad Plus loan up to the cost of attendance…and support from the bank of mom and dad.

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Expensive doesn’t always mean better.

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