Best small school for pre-health

[Anonymous]

My daughter wants a pre-health program that has both nursing and PA (hasnt decided which path). More schools have nursing than PA – all the PA schools, like DPT schools, seem to be tiny schools in terrible locations. Ugg.

The alternative seems to be Boston – but she wasn’t wanting a big city. Is there anything in between on the east coast?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter wants a pre-health program that has both nursing and PA (hasnt decided which path). More schools have nursing than PA – all the PA schools, like DPT schools, seem to be tiny schools in terrible locations. Ugg.

The alternative seems to be Boston – but she wasn’t wanting a big city. Is there anything in between on the east coast?

I know someone who went to UConn (not sure what major; is PA a major?) and is at PA school in NYC (Pace, I think). Anyway, I remember them really liking UConn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter wants a pre-health program that has both nursing and PA (hasnt decided which path). More schools have nursing than PA – all the PA schools, like DPT schools, seem to be tiny schools in terrible locations. Ugg.

The alternative seems to be Boston – but she wasn’t wanting a big city. Is there anything in between on the east coast?

Pitt has six year a PA program I think but it’s super competitive. It is actually not hard for a kid with 1200+ sat (when the sat was common) to get into a lot of the PA programs in terrible locations.

[Anonymous]

https://www.nycolleges.org/institution/sage-colleges_104

Russell Sage has a PA program with Albany Medical College.

[Anonymous]

Also great for nursing.

[Anonymous]

UMass-Amherst has a PA program. Five College area of Western MA.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes the smaller schools in rural or suburban locations have more to offer academically and culturally than people initially realize.

[Anonymous]

F&M doesn't give merit aid, only need-based, so something to be aware of.

[Anonymous]

Did your kid take a rigorous course load and calculus and physics? If so, I don’t agree that many of the schools you have listed are reaches, e.g., Franklin & Marshall, W&M, Hamilton, Gettysburg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did your kid take a rigorous course load and calculus and physics? If so, I don’t agree that many of the schools you have listed are reaches, e.g., Franklin & Marshall, W&M, Hamilton, Gettysburg.

OP here. Eight APs & 2 DEs when all is said and done, including calculus and physics last year. Not much in the way of leadership ECs (she’s introverted) so some high matches, I think, become reaches.

[Anonymous]

What is pre-health? Is it same as pre-med?

[Anonymous]

I think you are reaching too low but I assume that is because of your desire for merit. Since you seem to be from VA, two suggestions would be Davidson and W&L, which might match in-state Virginia tuition. If I were you, I would swing for the fences at Grinnell, which is a top tier SLAC that gives merit aid. It will only cost you the application fee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD has a 3.88 uw/GPA (NoVA public) & 34 ACT. Wants to go into pre-health, with a biology/biochem major, is looking to do research with a professor and also internship possibilities.

Schools on her list include:

Hamilton College (reach)
Franklin & Marshall College (reach)
William & Mary (reach)
Connecticut College (low reach/high match)
Gettysburg College (low reach/high match)
Dickinson College (match)
St. Mary's College (MD) (safety)
College of Wooster (safety)
Allegheny College (safety)

Assume we'll need merit/FA.

On this list, you really don't have any that will be stronger than William & Mary for pre-health, and you would have in-state tuition there if admitted. Although expensive for an in-state school, William & Mary offers pretty good financial aid depending on income for in-state applicants. It is also strong for undergraduate research opportunities according to USNews https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/undergrad-research-programs .

As someone mentioned earlier, you might want to add Davidson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter wants a pre-health program that has both nursing and PA (hasnt decided which path). More schools have nursing than PA – all the PA schools, like DPT schools, seem to be tiny schools in terrible locations. Ugg.

The alternative seems to be Boston – but she wasn’t wanting a big city. Is there anything in between on the east coast?

My daughter wanted direct entry accelerated PA school and really liked Duquesne and Drexel. Quick google search says they both have nursing as well. Also, Marquette. Not direct entry, but it does offer the accelerated program- you apply to the PA school as a sophomore. Not east coast either, but we thought Milwaukee was cool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter wants a pre-health program that has both nursing and PA (hasnt decided which path). More schools have nursing than PA – all the PA schools, like DPT schools, seem to be tiny schools in terrible locations. Ugg.

The alternative seems to be Boston – but she wasn’t wanting a big city. Is there anything in between on the east coast?

My daughter wanted direct entry accelerated PA school and really liked Duquesne and Drexel. Quick google search says they both have nursing as well. Also, Marquette. Not direct entry, but it does offer the accelerated program- you apply to the PA school as a sophomore. Not east coast either, but we thought Milwaukee was cool.

I would have thought for undergraduate, someone would need to apply directly to nursing school, so it wouldn't really fall under the pre-health (medical, dental, optometry, vet, etc.) catch-all. Is the OP interested in nursing? Might need to clarify what pre-health means.