Purdue and UIUC are both very competitive for oos applicants for engineering. I don’t think either should be listed as likely. Same with UT which takes 90% from in state.
Also for Purdue, BME has one of the hardest secondary admission requirements with no well defined gpa cut off because they cap the number of students. It’s also an extremely hard path for a pre med.
Agree that UIUC, U Wash (assuming UW=U Washington), Purdue are reaches. Look at BME secondary admission requirements at all schools where that’s a thing. JHU probably unattainable.
Does she have any AP test scores to report?
If she would be happy at Oregon State that’s great, and the rest of the list can be reachy but don’t underestimate how difficult it may be for her to experience denials.
Also agree that BME is a difficult med school route. Lots of BMEs with relatively low GPAs, and med schools give no consideration for a harder major with relatively lower GPA.
This is a solid profile but the list of universities needs to be tweaked.
Does she want to be an engineer or a physician?
Engineering makes med school harder to reach due to grading and the amount of requirements which make adding premed pre-reqs harder.
All universities listed as likely and above are reaches due to the major chosen or other rules (in state vs. OOS).
Is a large state school her favorite environnement or would a smaller one (like URochester, IIT, Villanova, Lafayette, Lehigh…) be a good fit?
Why Rutgers? Especially from so far away.
If East Coast/Mid-Atlantic is acceptable, what about UMaryland, Penn State, Pitt, Virginia Tech, UMass?
What about Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona - all closer to you?
Many public universities will have Nov1 deadlines so time is of the matter.
Since you attend a Catholic high school, and have a decent admissions profile, I think Santa Clara is likely for you. What is your school’s record in terms of acceptances to Santa Clara? Find out.
My kid was an engineering double major biology at Santa Clara. The kid really had to work for their grades. Engineering was not an easy major. You can message me for more details if you would like them.
You mention no cost considerations for undergrad, but what IF your daughter does end up getting accepted to medical school? That could be $100,000 a year…or more by the time she gets there.
You have a LOT of out of state public universities in your list. Yes, plan to be full pay at all of them. And the privates too since you say you can pay $90,000 a year for undergrad.
If you are looking for missing suggestions…I am glad to see Oregon on your list. And Pitt might be added…if you are looking for suggestions.
I agree with posters above that think your list categories need to be “adjusted”. Perhaps @AustenNut can help with this.
I agree. I don’t see a strong reason for an OOS student from Oregon to pick Rutgers. The other publics you’ve listed are better choices for OP, IMO.
@amyor, there have been several safety concerns raised about the University of Rochester (more so about the surrounding areas than the campus itself). You might want to research this further.
UO doesn’t offer much in the way of engineering (IIRC ABET in ME is the only program of note, plus a good physics major.) They do have a minor in bioengineering, but relatively OSU is much stronger in engineering. I am assuming the OSU that OP has listed as a safety is Oregon State.
This is difficult to say. You need a budget. I could pay full too but set a $50k budget. You’ll be stroking a check 2x per year - is it going to give you heartburn writing a $40k check 2x?
As for rank, if they don’t they don’t. Don’t guess. The counselor will include it if the school does so.
Agree with your extremely likelies but that’s about it.
You could get into some likelies but I think it’s a reachy list overall.
Back to budget - this is not four years but 8. So if you will have heartburn at $80k plus now add $400k more for med school.
Pre med - you can do the classes anywhere. Find a less expensive option. You’ll feel better later once you get there. And it likely won’t impact admissions.
I look at residents from a top academic hospital near me - they do undergrad at flagships like Kansas, regionals like Northern Illinois and more and here they are, plenty, after med school also at non names - at a top academic hospital - Vandy !!!
Was thinking this - SCU however - not ABET accredited in the major but has three tracks in the major, one of which is pre med. so maybe an exception ?
In the likelihood you don’t get to med school, is that a good career track ?
And does ABET accreditation matter in the major ?
Our undergraduate program offers three tracks—Biomolecular, Pre-Med, and Medical Device—that prepare you for a wide array of careers in Silicon Valley and beyond.
I guess the student can (and should) research those options at the schools you mentioned.
I just looked at BME at my family members school and to me, it would be extremely stressful to complete these classes in addition to the additional prerequisites necessary for medical school. Also- my family member dedicated a lot of time to projects. I recall one semester where they made several trips to various off campus facilities working on a group project, etc.
Premeds also need shadowing, volunteering, etc. I think it’s a lot to do all of this in addition to BME.
I agree and hope the OP will see your comment.
The confusion may come from the name or title of the major - BME makes it sounds like it could be structured like biostatistics (statistics applied to biology, one major with relevant knowledge from 2 fields) when it is in fact a wholly separate engineering field that’s unrelated to what premeds do (except in a couple classes that overlap, and not as many as Biochem or chem or biostats… would.)
OP: Generally speaking, combining Engineering and Premed is very tough since being an Engineer and being a Physician are very different jobs.
Thanks everyone for the useful insight regarding BME and chances. Would you help with what major to choose for pre med track which could still have career if one decided or don’t get admitted in Medicine.
Could you also match with more safety and likely schools. Thanks!
I’m trying to calculate weighted GPA from UC side but it is complicated.
She took 4 AP test in junior year and will be taking 5 this senior year.
AP Chemistry - 4
AP Calculus AB - 5
AP English Language and Composition - 5
AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based - 3
Senior year grades and AP classes are not included in the GPA calculation, only classes taken the summer after 9th to the summer prior to 12th. For each semester of an AP class taken during this time (if on a semester system), she gets an extra Honors point in the calculation.
Capped weighted is capped at 8 semesters of Honors points but Weighted is unlimited Honors points.
Her AP scores are not part of the UC GPA calculation only the grades. AP scores can get course credit at the UC’s.
