Anonymous wrote:Biology is such a broad field. I suggest having your DC dig deeper into what aspect of bio interest them - cells? animals? humans? bacteria? DNA/RNA? Then match up with schools that have good programs in those areas. And don’t rule out OOS - for an A/B student there are a lot of schools listed 60 or lower in USNWR that offer merit aid to make it competitive with in state VA (esp UVA/W&M).

Oh, please. The kid isn’t looking at PhD programs. Biology is biology.

Anonymous wrote:Virginia but open to OOS recs too

Wut? Then why is the title of your thread IN STATE????

In MD, SMCM is a good choice.

VCU!

Known for med school

With their guaranteed admissions policy, students definitely should have this school on their list.

If the biology interest is around health sciences, look at VCU. Environmental sciences, look at GMU or UMW, depending on size preference.

There are lots of options, and they don’t all have to be public.

Consider some of the VA private colleges where your child might be good merit PLUS the VTAG money (state grants of $5k/year currently towards private school tuition)

My daughter has Emory & Henry, Randolph and Shenandoah on her list. Granted, her grades are nowhere near as good as your child’s, but don’t rule these places out.

Also, for publics, please don’t rule out everything below JMU. We recently visited ODU for their open house and we had an incredible time. I know others really like UMW.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Student has always been an A student and freshman year became more involved in school activities and sports teams. Grades slid to A/B in all Honors or AP. Where does an A-B student go with a Biology interest?

Is your kid in 9th or 10th grade? Please don’t worry about actual colleges to apply to until the spring of 11th grade when you have a pretty good idea of GPA and test scores.

This is such unhelpful advice. So many people choose to live in Virginia rather than Maryland or DC in the hopes of sending their kids to UVA. It’s really helpful to develop a more realistic view of the situation before you stress your kid to the breaking point. That’s the parent's baggage to work through, and it’s perfectly appropriate for them to be doing that work now, so they’ll be ready to support the kid they have come junior year.

Biology is such a broad field. I suggest having your DC dig deeper into what aspect of bio interest them - cells? animals? humans? bacteria? DNA/RNA? Then match up with schools that have good programs in those areas. And don’t rule out OOS - for an A/B student there are a lot of schools listed 60 or lower in USNWR that offer merit aid to make it competitive with in state VA (esp UVA/W&M).

apply everywhere in state

Virginia but open to OOS recs too

What state?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Student has always been an A student and freshman year became more involved in school activities and sports teams. Grades slid to A/B in all Honors or AP. Where does an A-B student go with a Biology interest?

Is your kid in 9th or 10th grade? Please don’t worry about actual colleges to apply to until the spring of 11th grade when you have a pretty good idea of GPA and test scores.

11th grade.

Virginia or Maryland?

Anonymous wrote:Student has always been an A student and freshman year became more involved in school activities and sports teams. Grades slid to A/B in all Honors or AP. Where does an A-B student go with a Biology interest?

Is your kid in 9th or 10th grade? Please don’t worry about actual colleges to apply to until the spring of 11th grade when you have a pretty good idea of GPA and test scores.

Student has always been an A student and freshman year became more involved in school activities and sports teams. Grades slid to A/B in all Honors or AP. Where does an A-B student go with a Biology interest?