Rising HS Senior from Maryland Seeking College List Feedback | 3.84 UW GPA, 33 ACT, Pre-Med/Biology, <$80k

Chance Me / Match Me
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Hello I am a rising senior seeking feedback on my profile and college list. I’m interested in highly selective schools, with biology/public health as possible areas of study. I’m very flexible about the type of school I’d attend and am open to schools anywhere in the US, ideally on the East or West Coast. I’d especially appreciate feedback on how my academics and extracurriculars come across and how competitive my profile may be at the schools I’ve listed. I’m also looking for suggestions for schools I should consider adding, as well as any schools on my current list that may not be a good fit or may be unrealistic given my profile. My understanding of what makes a college a good fit is still developing, which is why I initially leaned toward popular, highly ranked schools when building my list. I currently have only one liberal arts college on my list, so I’d especially appreciate suggestions beyond the schools I’ve already considered. I don’t have a strong preference for a particular learning style or any extremely specific criteria, so I’m very open to recommendations.

Demographics

  • US Citizen
  • State/Location of residency: Maryland
  • Type of high school: Top rated, large, public high school
  • First generation in the U.S.

Budget
Absolute maximum of 80-90k per year.

Intended Major(s)

Aiming to take the pre-med track with a biology or public health major.

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 3.84/4.00
  • Weighted HS GPA: 4.74/5.00
  • ACT Scores: 33 34E/31M/34R (Retaking to try super score a 34)

List your HS coursework

  • English: AP Seminar, AP Language, AP Lit (Senior year)
  • Math: Hon Algebra 1, Hon Geometry, Hon Algebra 2, Hon Precalculus, AP Calc AB, AP Stat (Senior year)
  • Science: Hon Chemistry, Hon Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Biology (Senior year)
  • History and social studies: AP Government, AP World, AP US History
  • Language other than English: Spanish 4
  • Visual or performing arts: Band all years
  • Other academic courses: AP CSP

Awards

  • Maryland STAMP Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish

  • State-level HOSA winner; qualified for international competition

  • State qualifier in HOSA 2 years

  • Honors All County Band selection

  • National Honors Society

  • Tri-M Music Honors Society

  • Eagle Scout (Expected Soon)

  • EMT course completion

  • AP Scholar w/ Distinction

  • CPR Certified

Extracurriculars

  • Local Volunteer Fire Department EMT in training

  • Boy Scouts Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (7 years in troop)

  • Varsity Swim Team 9, 10, 11

  • Junior Varsity Lacrosse Team 9, 10

  • Youth Economics Initiative Club President

  • HOSA Club Officer

  • Model UN Club

  • Local Summer Swim Team Junior Coach

  • Surgeon Shadowing (70+ hours)

  • Regional Representative for a National Cultural Nonprofit

  • Red Cross Blood Donor Ambassador

  • Trombone Player (School Band, 5 years)

  • Tri-M Music Honors Society (Social Media Chair)

  • Volunteer Trombone Instructor

  • Piano (13 years)

Essays/LORs/Other

I am still in the process of finishing my Common App essay, but I think it will be a strong essay. I don’t expect my teacher/counselor recommendations to be major strengths. I am also receiving an external recommendation from a college professor I interned with, although I’m unsure how strong it will be.

Schools (I aim to apply to 15-18 schools)

  • Assured: UMBC (very likely + affordable)
  • Likely: University of Pittsburgh (hoping to get in early through rolling admissions so I don’t need to apply to any other safeties, as I would be happy to attend upitt)
  • Likely: George Washington, Penn State
  • Toss-up: University of Maryland, UCSD, Case Western Reserve, Rochester or Wake Forest, University of Florida
  • Lower Probability: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, University of Michigan, University of Virginia, Emory, UC Berkley, Tufts
  • Low Probability: Johns Hopkins, University of Pennsylvania, Duke
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Yes, I agree. I would retake the ACT for a competitive math score for your low & lower probability “reach” targets. I would drop University of Florida since merit aid for OOS students is quite limited. University of California doesn’t offer any merit aid to OOS applicants. You have an $80-90K budget & will have other options to choose from. Schools like Emory, Georgetown, Northwestern, & Rice are possible “reach” alternatives to consider for pre-med.

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My opinion is your application list is well balanced.

Your UMD CP application needs to be done for the early round as they accept 90% of their incoming class in the early round.

You can take the courses for medical school applicants at just about every four year college in this country, arts conservatories excluded.

Is there some reason why you aren’t taking physics? Some of those highly competitive schools will expect to see biology, chemistry and physics taken in HS.

Can you please list the courses you are taking your senior year? I see statistics, AP bio, bad, and AP lit. Are you taking Spanish 4 senior year or did you already complete that?

This student’s stated annual college budget will fund the CA publics.

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Congrats on your achievements.

So let’s talk about cost first. You show a $90K max but $80-90K is a big difference so you should narrow that down.

Then you need to understand that some on your list cost more than $90K - so then you have to wonder - do I qualify for need aid? I put the Tufts NPC down below. Have your family fill it out - as they don’t have merit, it’ll tell you what the school will cost. If $80K or $90K is the max and it’s going to be above that, eliminate it.

Secondly, where you go if it’s med school you want, so don’t think you need to go to a big name. At the same time, you need to afford med school - so if you spend $80K a year (and U Mich, as an example is more), can you afford med school which may be another $400K and you can’t borrow near that much.

So if you are truly thinking med school, this is an 8 year decision.

With that, here’s what I think:

UMBC - great

Pitt - yes, you’ll get in - if you are happy to attend to the point that it is your top choice, then you don’t need a remaining list. Try to apply by end of October - so you can maybe get merit.

GW and PSU are ins - but I’ve seen Pitt and GW - so PSU is - not uber urban - in the middle of nowhere - does that interest you?

UMD - I’d lean in given your major. UCSD - why? And budget - UCs are tough to predict but they like out of state tuition. CWRU - if you demonstrate interest and can pay $50K+ which it sounds like, I think you have a chance. Same with Rochester. Wake - if full pay.

UF - you need to calculate your GPA - add .5 for Honors and +1 for AP. Your ACT is fine - the GPA range is 4.5 to 4.7.

I think you, overall, have it right in your assessment. But if your LORs aren’t weak - why? That could hurt, especially at the top schools.

Now you say 80-90K but your title says $80K.

Now, if it’s $80K, you have to fill out NPCs. But assuming your family has no need, you can eliminate Wake Forest, Michigan, UVA, Emory, UBC, Tufts, JHU, UPenn, and Duke.

Who would I consider - given your penchant for urban-ness, and keeping costs down. You go where your stats stand out.

College of Charleston - which Med U of SC down the street and kids do research there - you might be a candidate for the Charleston Fellows which is a sub group of Honors.

VCU - urban

UAB - urban

Lower cost schools - Binghamton / Buffalo, U Del, UGA (you have UF) and Alabama ($25K ish for you and has the McCullough Medical Pre Scholars - but urban it’s not), UMN instead of U Mich - great and urban and much less $$. Brandeis is another that fits your overall list and gives merit.

What is the LAC on your list? Do you mean Tufts? LACs can be great - and there’s great ones on the East coast - but won’t necessarily hit. But schools with merit could be from Washington College near you to Connecticut College to get you a better name. Trinity in Hartford, Rhodes in Memphis, Macalester near Minneapolis are others that should come within budget. Lafayette and F&M are too more.

Bottom line - if Pitt is your choice, I don’t see any way you don’t get in - but can you afford it and med school? If yes, you are done there is my guess - and either way, apply soon and you’ll have your answer most likely before other apps are due.

Lots to think about here. Here’s the other thing - look at residents of top hospitals like Vandy.

I wrote this January 8th.

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I agree. user217 should register for at least Physics I Honors. General physics is a pre-med requirement. He’ll have a much harder time with physics in college without the previous high school experience.

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$80-90K says per year - UF direct expenses (tuition, room and board) are up but a tad under $50K.

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For Pitt, apply asap when the application goes live. You will hear back pretty quickly, including any merit aid you might receive. If accepted, and you really like the school, you probably can reduce the number of other colleges to which you are planning to apply. In my opinion, Pitt is an excellent choice, and checks a lot of your boxes.

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I also think you have a balanced list. Be sure to apply early to Pitt, and keep in mind the high cost of medical school.

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I think your list is balanced,..and reasonable ..I think Penn/Duke/Hopkins are big long -shots, but I think you know that.

Are you taking AB AND Stats senior year? (Fine if so, though I might drop stats and add in a physics class)

However, If you took Calc AB jr year and then stats senior year I would encourage taking BC or a harder math senior year. Stats is generally seen by Admissions as easier than calc or at least on par to AB at best..

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One can borrow that much, not just from the Federal goverment loan programs. Sallie Mae writes loans for up to 100% of med school COA, to take one example.

I am not recommending OP take out loans though, and agree they should minimize debt and potentially total COA in undergrad…just depends on the family’s financial situation.

Agree, and would say all relatively competitive schools want B-C-P, assuming availability. OP can you still change your senior year schedule to add physics?

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Thank you - yes, you are correct. I’ll clarify what I meant - the federal limits - I pulled this from UCLA.

Overview of New Federal Loan Limits for Student Borrowers

On July 4th, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law. In addition to tax and spending reforms, this bill includes new policies sharply limiting student loan borrowing across graduate and professional degree programs. Effective on July 1st, 2026, students borrowing federal loans will face a $20,500 annual cap and a $100,000 lifetime limit. Students enrolled in professional schools (e.g., medical and law schools) will face a $50,000 annual cap and a $200,000 total limit. In addition to these new loan caps, the Graduate PLUS Loans program, which previously allowed students to borrow federal loans for educational expenses not covered by other financial aid, will be terminated.1 These changes in federal policy may limit flexibility in student lending practices and enrollment in professional schools.

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Thank you maijem11 I will definitely consider dropping UF and adding Georgetown or Northwestern.

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Thank you thumper1. My senior year schedule is: AP Lit, AP Stat, AP Bio, AP Research, Band, and AP Physics 1. I didn’t mention that I am taking Physics 1 because I have been debating switching out of physics and taking Honor Molecular Biology instead. This would reduce my workload and give me a better background in biology for premed. What are your thoughts? Also, I have already completed Spanish 4. Sorry for the confusion.

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Why would you drop a school you can afford and add two schools you cannot afford as they give no merit and cost more than your budget. Keep UF and unless you get need aid, given your budget, there’s no reason to consider GTown or NU.

Have your family run the NPCs for each.

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Thank you for the advice L_NewEngland. I took Calc AB last year and plan to take AP Stat this year. I am also planning to taking Physics 1, but I didn’t mention that because I have been debating switching out of physics and taking Honor Molecular Biology instead. From my POV I think that this switch would reduce my workload and give me a better background in biology for premed.

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Thank you for the advice. I currently have AP Physics 1 on my schedule for next year, but I have been considering switching it to Honor Molecular Biology. Do you think I should keep physics over mol bio?

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Thank you tsbna44. I will use the NPC’s to pick which one of the 3 colleges to keep or drop.

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UF is under $50k for tuition, room and board - full cost out of state so if you have interest, regardless of the other two, it works.

I gave you info above for you to see how to calculate your UF GPA to see if you are in range.

It’s an easier admit than the other two but also very different, very large.

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Thank you again tsbna44. I’m going to run the NPCs for my schools with my parents and narrow down my actual budget. Thank you for taking the time to find schools that fit what I’m looking for while also being more affordable. I really appreciate that. For UCSD, I’m mainly interested because of the location, research opportunities, and strength in the sciences, but I’ll definitely have to see how the cost compares to my other options. I’m also going to run the NPCs for the more expensive schools and figure out whether my actual limit is closer to what my parents are thinking. I’ll take a closer look at the schools you suggested as well. And yes, I was referring to Tufts for the LAC. The point about undergrad prestige and med school was also really helpful. Thanks again.

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Thank you very much. I saw you mention how to calculate my UF GPA, so I’ll go ahead and do that. I think I’m leaning toward keeping UF over the other two, given how much more affordable it is. I also think it has more of what I’m looking for in a campus, despite the fact that I’m not very particular about that.