As a former chemistry major, I'll warn you that many core chemistry classes can be really tough if they're stuffed with ultra competitive pre meds. Pre meds create a really bad dynamic because all they care about is getting an A and suck all the fun out of science classes. He should look to see if those schools offer a separate track for premeds take chem pre reqs vs chem majors, as well as the proportion of premeds at the school.

If he actually wants to major in chemistry, he should also look for a school where he can do undergrad research in a lab as early as possible. This will likely require him independently reaching out to professors to advocate for himself and find a spot in a lab. That can be super intimidating and difficult at a large state school.

If he has confidence issues he might consider a school like Clarkson, where there is still rah rah school spirit for the D1 hockey team, but also has an Honors program where students start undergrad research the summer before freshman year. It's a great program that introduces prefrosh to campus, classmates and real research that they have the option to continue into the school year. It's also a school where nearly everyone is in STEM so the whole school is focused on study groups and problem sets, making it harder to feel like the only one with a tough course load. It's sort of like the STEM version of a liberal arts university.

University of New Hampshire impressed us. Ultimately, DD wanted a smaller school, but UNH is a likely for your DS and might offer merit and an honors program.

Anonymous wrote:OP here- these are great suggestions. Schools DS is definitely applying to:

University of Minnesota
Wisconsin
Colorado-Boulder
University of Pittsburg
University of Miami

Reaches:
UNC
UMich

Seems that we need to think about Delaware and UMass

I appreciate the feedback. For context DS has unmedicated (his choice) ADHD and no test accommodations (his choice). His standardized test scores are inconsistent. He's extremely bright.

Check out Lyman Briggs College at Michigan State. This list looks a lot like DC1's list and, after visiting, he *loved* Michigan State--a "likely" that I think finished up number two on his list. Plus, no supplemental essays!

Anonymous wrote:OP here- these are great suggestions. Schools DS is definitely applying to:

University of Minnesota
Wisconsin
Colorado-Boulder
University of Pittsburg
University of Miami

Reaches:
UNC
UMich

Seems that we need to think about Delaware and UMass

I appreciate the feedback. For context DS has unmedicated (his choice) ADHD and no test accommodations (his choice). His standardized test scores are inconsistent. He's extremely bright.

Don’t even bother with UNC, the OOS acceptance rate is 9%.

OP here- these are great suggestions. Schools DS is definitely applying to:

University of Minnesota
Wisconsin
Colorado-Boulder
University of Pittsburg
University of Miami

Reaches:
UNC
UMich

Seems that we need to think about Delaware and UMass

I appreciate the feedback. For context DS has unmedicated (his choice) ADHD and no test accommodations (his choice). His standardized test scores are inconsistent. He's extremely bright.

Anonymous wrote:But …. Delaware

What's wrong with Delaware?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1430 SAT - not great but nearly an even spread in both language and math. 710 and 720.

3.98 unweighted. Only AP test so far is Chemistry. Received a 5. Did not take the APUSH exam due to confidence issues.

Senior: All As so far.

AP Physics/Mechanics
AP Calculus
Advanced Chemistry Research (3rd high school chemistry class)
AP Literature and Comp
Humanities Seminar.
Government (required)- I don't think it's AP

HOSA 3 years, HOSA ILC qualifying 2 years, Math team, Swim team, Leadership (a program at our school), and is an after school tutor a local tutoring center for Chemistry and Math.

He really wants to go to a large public university and do something with chemistry and/or STEM. He's obviously applying now, but would love some ideas in case there's somewhere we haven't thought of.

WTF is wrong with you? It’s 95th percentile.

Nowadays, a 1430 isn't getting you anything, especially coming from the DMV. It might help you if you're FGLI or from a rural area.

I’m so glad I’m done with this board (DD is now college freshman). She got a 1400 and got into all but 4 of the 19 schools she applied to - with very significant merit aid and one full tuition scholarship offer. She had a realistic list with some excellent schools (including the one she handed at). The ones she was rejected from were Ivies/Elite schools which we pretty much expected. We were thrilled with her results and this board is a toxic bubble. Try to stay off of it if you want your emotional peace of mind through this process.

Not sure if you're from the DMV, but it's possible that kids from DMV with this score have a tougher time simply because there are a large number of candidates with this score from this area. Or, maybe not -- but in any case, congratulations on your daughter's success and choices!

+1 Also have a kid who was TO with same outcome, significant aid, not full ride (though we weren’t aiming for that)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1430 SAT - not great but nearly an even spread in both language and math. 710 and 720.

3.98 unweighted. Only AP test so far is Chemistry. Received a 5. Did not take the APUSH exam due to confidence issues.

Senior: All As so far.

AP Physics/Mechanics
AP Calculus
Advanced Chemistry Research (3rd high school chemistry class)
AP Literature and Comp
Humanities Seminar.
Government (required)- I don't think it's AP

HOSA 3 years, HOSA ILC qualifying 2 years, Math team, Swim team, Leadership (a program at our school), and is an after school tutor a local tutoring center for Chemistry and Math.

He really wants to go to a large public university and do something with chemistry and/or STEM. He's obviously applying now, but would love some ideas in case there's somewhere we haven't thought of.

WTF is wrong with you? It’s 95th percentile.

So unnecessary! OP is asking for advice for for DC. Cut her/ him a little slack

Anonymous wrote:Large public + chem = UMN

The people telling you how great your son’s stats are have probably never taken a physics or chemistry class for majors at a top research university. No, those are not great SAT scores for chemistry at a top school.

If your son thinks any high school classes are challenging, and he’s at a regular public school, that’s a little bit of a red flag.

Going test optional would be terrible. He could easily end up in classes where he’s in way over his head.

I think he should start by getting whatever Niche.com subscription that you need to see the admissions scattergrams by major.

He should aim for state schools with a lot of chemistry professors where his SATs would easily be in the top quarter for engineering and chemistry majors.

If that means the University of Arkansas, better the University of Arkansas with a fighting chance than UMD with terror about showing you his grades.

University of Washington

Colorado School of Mines--smaller than he wants. It has a pretty high acceptance rate but with a student body in which his SAT score would put him within the 25/75 range. Strong school for his interests.

Agree on Pitt and U Minnesota.

But …. Delaware

Anonymous wrote:I’d say Delaware for chemistry

This is actually a good idea. Newark is a cute college town and there is a lot of good energy on campus.

What were jr year classes other than the two APs? Which AP calc?

I’d say Delaware for chemistry

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1430 SAT - not great but nearly an even spread in both language and math. 710 and 720.

3.98 unweighted. Only AP test so far is Chemistry. Received a 5. Did not take the APUSH exam due to confidence issues.

Senior: All As so far.

AP Physics/Mechanics
AP Calculus
Advanced Chemistry Research (3rd high school chemistry class)
AP Literature and Comp
Humanities Seminar.
Government (required)- I don't think it's AP

HOSA 3 years, HOSA ILC qualifying 2 years, Math team, Swim team, Leadership (a program at our school), and is an after school tutor a local tutoring center for Chemistry and Math.

He really wants to go to a large public university and do something with chemistry and/or STEM. He's obviously applying now, but would love some ideas in case there's somewhere we haven't thought of.

WTF is wrong with you? It’s 95th percentile.

Nowadays, a 1430 isn't getting you anything, especially coming from the DMV. It might help you if you're FGLI or from a rural area.

I’m so glad I’m done with this board (DD is now college freshman). She got a 1400 and got into all but 4 of the 19 schools she applied to - with very significant merit aid and one full tuition scholarship offer. She had a realistic list with some excellent schools (including the one she handed at). The ones she was rejected from were Ivies/Elite schools which we pretty much expected. We were thrilled with her results and this board is a toxic bubble. Try to stay off of it if you want your emotional peace of mind through this process.

Not sure if you're from the DMV, but it's possible that kids from DMV with this score have a tougher time simply because there are a large number of candidates with this score from this area. Or, maybe not -- but in any case, congratulations on your daughter's success and choices!

Yep. We are in the DMV and DC was in public school. Her initial grades are also coming in excellent