Hello, looking for suggestions for a school in the above area, medium sized (5-10k), not in a city (or at a minimum not a city feel), that will provide merit aid. 4.0 (4.6 weighted), no test scores yet, highest rigor, good ECs. It seems a lot of the higher rates Pre-med type of schools are in a city where they are close to hospitals but really don’t like the city vibe. Thanks!
What state do you reside ?
What is your budget ?
Merit means little unless it gets to your target.
Some schools are cheaper without merit than with.
You’ll likely be ‘above’ academically schools you are fed but that’s how you get merit.
But if you can answer those two questions.
But for now I’ll tell you Marshall and Millersville. I’ll give you another M - Mary Washington but it’s a tad smaller than you asked for.
Thanks.
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You can take the required courses for medical school applicants at just about any four year college in this country (arts conservatories excluded).
So…start by asking your parents what they can contribute annually.
I can think of lots of schools…but no point in making suggestions until you know your budget.
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We would be OOS.
Budget is as low as we can be but hoping for under 30k (not sure if that’s achievable)
Prestige is not a factor, would rather be in a supportive environment and save money for possible med school.
Thanks!
So OOS for all four ? I assume MD is ok too since you go VA to PA ?
Will be back with ideas.
I think for any name - Harvard or Fairmount State, support comes if you seek it out.
I’d also make sure to visit in person or online with student ambassador to ask support questions.
What is your home state? I ask bcuz some schools may discount that state.
Some schools he may want to consider include:
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Indiana U. of Pennsylvania: About 7400 undergrads. Tuition and fees plus room and board (aka, sticker price) come in right around $30k, and your son would be likely to receive merit aid to lower the price further.
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Kutztown U. of Pennsylvania: About 6400 undergrads. Sticker price of about $30k.
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Marshall (WV): This school was already mentioned, but it has about 8200 undergrads. Sticker price is about $33k, but I think there’s a merit chart on the website.
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Millersville U. of PA: Already mentioned, but about 5700 undergrads with a sticker price of about $30k.
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Slippery Rock U. of PA: About 6800 undergrads with a sticker of about $26k.
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U. of North Carolina - Pembroke: About 5500 undergrads with a sticker price of about $19k
One school that probably won’t hit a $30k budget, but that he may want to check out is Elon in NC. It has about 6400 undergrads and I’ve only heard positive things from families who have had a kid attend, and there have been repeated mentions of what a supportive school it is.
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Adding to @AustenNut 's list, West Chester University and Commonwealth University Bloomsburg would be a few thousand over 30k sticker price, but merit would be likely. Shippensburg would definitely be under 30k with a Raider Success Scholarship but at ~4000 students is a little smaller than your preference.
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Can you elaborate on this? Is your kid looking for a more remote/rural location? Or are suburbs okay? Is it a desire to avoid super urban like NYU/GW/BU? Or how would you describe what he’s looking for in terms of a location?
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Edit - I was taking a long time to crank #s. So @AustenNut beat many of my suggestions.
I’m using just tuition, room, and board and mandatory fees. Note some of these might be more regional - so sending a student in from far away, there may be a high local bias or even go home on weekend bias.
I added Delaware and Maryland if you don’t mind - as in between PA and VA.
Definitely some that will hit - but I’d talk to students to ensure quality.
Costs are today, not tomorrow in most cases.
Personally, I’d look at Salisbury (MD), Millersville ¶, Mary Washington (a bit over budget), and Marshall. Radford perhaps - not a great rep but it might be the same with all these.
Delaware
Delaware State - an HBCU - is $34,924. Has merit up to full tuition. It’s population is 65% black, 8% white.
Maryland
Loyola - Jesuit - $77,840 but you could get $38-40K. So it’s over budget but - if you want a higher end private. North of Baltimore - so not uber urban.
Salisbury - $36,074. Without a test, you get $7500. With a 30 ACT, $8500.
UMBC - $46,371 - I don’t see merit so not sure if can get $30K. South of Baltimore - so not uber urban.
North Carolina
Fayetteville State and UNC Pembroke are NC Promise Schools - and will be just under $20K all in. Not sure about merit.
Pennsylvania
Bloomsburg - $34,859 and $9,500 in merit - so under $30K.
Gannon - catholic - $57,776 but up to 8 full tuition each year from a contest. Tuition is $40,340 so it’s a hail mary but under $20K.
Indiana U PA - $27,217 b4 merit. Up to $5K merit.
Kutztown - $35,050 b4 merit. $6K merit.
Millersville - $35,782 Merit up to $7K a year.
Scranton - Jesuit, $71,088 - has full tuition or $32K. Tuition is $53K - so another Hail Mary.
Shippensburg - $29,110 full cost May be $5K merit.
Slippery Rock - $29,220 full cost. Has merit - not sure how much.
Villanova - over $80K, but on another thread, a student is up for a full tuition scholarship ($66K) - so a Hail Mary that won’t work, but someone is going to win…
Virginia
Christopher Newport - a tad smaller and pricey. $45K before merit. So $40K-ish. To me a small William & Mary.
Longwood - can get to $37,500 with $8K merit. Mid 40s overall
Mary Washington - $44,015 ; $9K merit - so $35K-ish.
Radford - $37,693, merit $7-10K.
WV
Marshall - $33,634. Merit will be ACT dependent. A 30 gets $14K, 28 $12K and all the way down to a 20 and $5K.
Hope this helps.
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Why pre-med? Many HS students can only name a few medical occupations so they pick doctor. But doctors are far from the only ones in the health field that help people. Physical therapists, radiology techs, perfusionists, speech pathologists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, to name but just a few as shown on http://explorehealthcareers.org Careers that pay well and take less than 11+ years of education and training plus the immense debt that comes with a M.D.
Calling oneself “pre-med” is easy; pick a life-science major or sign up for Calc and Chem frosh year and you’re on your way. The flip side is the attrition rate is tremendous. At many colleges there were probably 2 or 3 starting frosh year calling themselves pre-med for every one that actually ends up applying to med school, and only about 40% get in. So given that less that 20% end up as doctors you may want to give a fair amount of time considering which of your colleges you’d like if you weren’t pre-med.
Until you’ve carefully considered the alternatives and have first-hand volunteer experience I suggest thinking of yourself at the stage of considering medicine. Do the volunteering and work with the career center in college to figure out what’s right for you. Which actually may turn out to be earning a M.D.
What is the major, or possible major?