I don’t think it’s realistic to think you’ll get NMF but you never know. If you do, a school like Alabama (5 years tuition, 4 years housing, and an annual stipend) or UT Dallas or Tulsa or more because very low cost. Already, schools in the South, like Bama or smaller UA Huntsville - will be low 20s -and Bama has the McCullough pre medical scholars.
But if you want $50K and you want to stay in the NE, then you have lots of options - but U Pitt isn’t likely to hit - but could with merit. The UPitt of the South is UAB - strong in healthcare, medical nearby - and will crush the budget (like a 2 for 1 :). College of Charleston could be interesting if you were to qualify for the Charleston Fellows Program (reach - for the program, not the school). One of the recent grads is doing a Masters in Global Public Health at one of the top IR programs but is planning medical school. You have Medical U of South Carolina down the street - so it’s over budget but if you get Fellows, would be well under - you’d be a part of a small cohort and have a May away included and other mentorship, etc.
Short of that - in the NE, you’d have many schools from the SUNYs assured to hit cost, UMASS might, U Pitt less likely but not impossible to U Maine, URI, UNH would all hit and maybe UVM. If you ventured further, you could look at Ohio State, Purdue, UF, FSU, etc. U Del is likely to hit with merit - but not UMD (like Pitt, will be tough). You might like the size of an Albany vs. the bigger SUNYs.
Va Tech has shadowing on campus - but it doesn’t mean you’ll get it - and even if you are close at other places, doesn’t mean it will happen. Shadowing can happen when you are home. And while $50K is possible, it’s even more unlikely than UMD/Pitt.
You could look at schools like Syracuse (could hit), Ithaca (will hit with merit), some of the Jesuit/Catholic schools (think Creighton, Loyola MD, Loyola Chicago, U Dayton, Providence, Fairfield, Sacred Heart) although not sure of your religion - some may hit $50K but no assurance, American (may hit $50K).
A James Madison and App State will both hit. So will TCNJ.
Have you been out to colleges to visit? If not, have mom and dad take you to some - some large, some not large. Some in town like you like but maybe a UCONN type, not in town to see if there’s enough spirit. It’s easy to say on paper what you want but not so easy if you’ve not seen schools.
And talk to mom and dad about budget - it’s an 8 year journey. Is $50K the true # or lower is the # in reality.
And don’t worry about safety or reach. Find the right school. The one where you can excel academically (not shadowing, etc.) and can afford is the most important one. So ensure you have those few that will 100% hit budget - and if you have any SUNYs, you will. But if you want reaches - anyone from a Vandy/Emory/WUSTL all have full rides but Emory tougher - and the last two won’t have the spirit if it’s D1 you want (even Vandy doesn’t). You could try Rice and Tulane but they will be much tougher merit gets to get you under budget. Everyone loves Tulane - or SMU which has the Presidential (safety for in, high reach for Presidential). A Case Western is possible with merit - but not assured as would be the case with Rochester. School spirit at either? nah - although it depends what you mean by that.
You sound like you have a good structure set up - so best of luck to you.
Oh, you asked about SAT. I wouldn’t take again because you’re not seeking a no merit school. For your list, it’s very strong. But as you’re just a junior and have time, if you want to - sure. But it’s not necessary.
College of Charleston | Charleston Fellows
