need help shortening my list

[severe yoke]

Location/Region: suburb or city
Major: biomedical engineering or biochemistry
GPA/Test Scores (optional): 3.94 uw and 1540 SAT
**Curriculum: **Rigorous but no extreme grade deflation
Size: I’d prefer going to a smaller school but wouldn't really mind if it was bigger
Costs: won't be needing aid
Schools you're currently looking at (if any):

Safety:
Syracuse University, UCSC, UC Riverside, Purdue University, WPI, Virginia Tech, Santa Clara University

Target:
Cal Poly Slo, UMiami, UC Davis, Case Western

Hard Target:
UCI, UCSD, UMich, Northeastern, USC, Notre Dame, Tufts

Reach:
UCLA, UC Berkeley, Johns Hopkins, Pomona College, Duke University

Additional: Would like not huge class sizes and not freezing cold weather; Also don't know how accurate my placements are since I used collegevine to build this list, so I'd appreciate any help recategorizing schools

[frigid oxide]

Hey there! The Northeast can get really cold during the winter so since you want warmer weather, you might be able to eliminate Northeastern, Tufts, WPI, and Syracuse.

UMich and Notre Dame are also in an extremely cold area due to being in the Midwest.

Also, unfortunately, USC, Notre Dame, and Tufts are extremely hard schools to get into, and they're reaches for everyone.

UMich is also a reach for most applicants if you're not in-state.

I think that you don't need more targets necessarily because you already have a good amount, but if you're looking for more, I recommend looking into other schools!

[tiny gazelle]

Miami is more of a low target for you, probably same can be said about UC Davis. Not sure if Purdue can be a safety for engineering.

[severe yoke]

thank you so much for your help, I was worried that I had an unrealistic list lol

[severe yoke]

ah ok, would you say that purdue could also be a target school?

[frigid oxide]

No problem at all! You're totally fine.

[tiny gazelle]

Probably!

@severe yoke My two cents as a Miami guy: Assuming you aren't premed (in which case it doesnt matter as much ig), do biochemistry instead of biomedical engineering. Engineering program isn't ranked too high.

Miami also has grade inflation which is nice, the 101 chem class fall average was a C+ after curve tho, if you at least work hard, you'll probably get a B in it minimum, but know a couple of folks who got an A+ -- telling you this cause you mentioned rigor

Also for size, many of those state schools on your list is very large fyi

[severe yoke]

I was leaning towards biomedical engineering because I saw that they have a BS/MS program for BME that allows you to get a masters in only 5 years

Would it still be better to choose biochemistry?

[tiny gazelle]

That's true, but for some reason, the engineering school I don't even think is T100. It's really up to you, I'd just keep that in mind. FIU has a higher ranked engineering program somehow. However, they just built a new chemistry building and think they are building a new engineering one.

Just a general thing--you don't need aid which is helpful that you won't be restricted by scholarship needs