Which colleges(>50% acceptance rates OR test-optional) have good research/internship opportunities?

College Search & Lists
1

Intended major: Biochemistry or Molecular Biology (pre-med)
State of Residence: NC
Type: Private (public schools don’t give good financial aid to OOS); I’m open to LACs!
Location: Preferably in the northeast or the south… basically anywhere but the west coast (too far away from home)!
Opportunities: I’d like a college that has on-campus research. Having or near a health care facility is a plus too

I already have about 10 colleges (most are reaches) in my list, but I feel that I need some solid safeties and matches. My current ACT score is 26, and I’m very positive that I can get it up to 29-30 on September 10. That being said, the rest of my application is solid (4.0/4.79 UW/W GPA, well-rounded ECs, 8 APs).

here’s my current list:
Tufts University (reach)
Tulane University (reach)
Vanderbilt University (reach)
Emory University (reach)
UNC-Chapel Hill (reach)
NC State University (reach)
East Carolina University (safety)
College of the Holy Cross (test optional, so probably a match)
Bates College (test optional, so probably a match)
Bowdoin College (test optional, so probably a match)

2

Drexel

3

With an acceptance rate of around 14%, Bowdoin is not a match for anyone, even if you don’t submit the ACT. I think only 30% of matriculants take advantage of the test optional policy, so you’ll still be competing against the 70% that do (and the median score of those that submit is a 33).

4

http://www.fairtest.org/sites/default/files/Optional-Schools-in-U.S.News-Top-Tiers.pdf

5

Furman in SC! They have an excellent pre-med program and are ranked in the top 10 in the country for under graduate research!

6

What about other North Carolina public universities?

http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/ indicates that a higher ACT or SAT score could get you some large scholarships. Actually, you already can get a full ride at Prairie View A&M and full tuition at Tuskegee with your 4.0 / 26.

7

Bates and Bowdoin are not matches for you, they are a high reach with an ACT of 27, and still a reach with an ACT of 30. I would also say that Tufts and certainly Vanderbilt are high reaches as well. You really need to go over your list again, I think you are shooting too high. If you are interested in NE LACs, try the ones in the 35-50% acceptance rate parameters. One match school that I think you might want to look at, not LAC, is University of Scranton, there is a very good science program there.

8

Agree… Tufts and Vanderbilt are really hard to get into. Pare down your reach list.

How about university of richmond?

9

You should look into Mercer University in Macon, GA. They have a health science center and offer a number of undergrad research opportunities.

Eckerd College in Florida may also be of interest to you. Small LAC located on the beach which encourages undergraduate participation.

The University of Scrantron, if you’re willing to consider Catholic institutions, may also work.

Given that you’re interested in Bates, you may also want to consider St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY.

Union College in upstate NY might also be worth considering.

10

Rochester. Fantastic research opportunities.
They are test flexible, so you send in the test results that you feel best reflect your abilities.

11

Your list is way too short on match and safeties. For test optional schools such as Bates and Bowdoin, with very low acceptance rates, you really need to be stellar in other areas. I agree with the suggestion of Rochester, great school with a lot of STEM students, attached to a big medical center. It’s test optional too, but I think it’s still a bit of a stretch and certainly not a safety. East Carolina is your only safety. You have no match schools really, except maybe Holy Cross and North Carolina state. Much will depend on if you get a higher ACT score.

12

@anxiousteen Have you considered University of Pittsburgh? It has excellent pre-health/pre-med programs with excellent research and internship opportunities due to the presence on-campus of the U Pitt Medical Center and hospitals.

13

You should add URichmond and Wake Forest to your list. They are NOT safeties but seem to be a good fit for what you are looking for academically.

14

Tufts University (reach) => keep
Tulane University (reach) => they like high test scores, so, unlikely
Vanderbilt University (reach) => likes even higher test scores than Tulane, so, even more unlikely
Emory University (reach) => keep
UNC-Chapel Hill (reach) => you’ve got an instate advantage :slight_smile: so it’s a low reach if you can get 27+
NC State University (reach) => same thing
East Carolina University (safety) => replace with 2 from UNC-W, UNC-A, App State

College of the Holy Cross (test optional, so probably a match)
Bates College (test optional, so probably a match)
Bowdoin College (test optional, so probably a match)
==^> due to selectivity/acceptance rate, all three are reaches.

You need to add some national LACs ranked in the 50’s-60s for matches, and in the 70’s through 90’s for safeties.

Run the NPC on Virginia Tech, JMU, CNU, Syracuse, URochester, URichmond, Centre.

Among test optional, good matches would include Skimore, Dickinson, F&M, Connecticut College, Sewanee.

15

Thanks for the suggestion guys. I’ve since toned down my list and I’ll re-post when I get my ACT score (took it last saturday).

16

Rhodes College, in Memphis, if that ACT score comes up.

17

Check the colleges listed on the website for Colleges that Change Lives. There’s also a book with more detail. Many of the listed colleges have great internship programs and, while they have strong academics, are less selective than many colleges in your list. Beloit, Kalamazoo, Wooster, Lawrence, Puget Sound and Willamette all come to mind. There are many others

18

Definitely switch ECU with UNCW and App State. Far, far better schools academically and they can get you in the door to much more prestigious research and internship opportunities.