<p>^many thanks, Shrinkrap. Rollercoaster city! This evening, S emailed me his “essay so far” and it made me laugh and then I got a lump in my throat. It is beautiful and really offers a glimpse of who he is. I’m sure we’ll hit some other dramatic bump in the college application road tomorrow, but for now, I am happy and proud… and he is feeling a bit better about his chances.</p>
<p>Can someone tell me what colleges I have a chance to go to. I have a 3.2 unweighted. I have a 3.8 weighted because of all the AP and honors classes I took. My SAT is mediocre at 1900. I want to get into an engineering program. I got a 700 on the Math section. Can I get into engineering into any of these schools. </p>
<p>Purdue University
Texas A&M(My favorite)
University of Texas-Austin
Carnegie Mellon
Villanova University
Georgia Tech
Cooper Union
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Clemson University(safety)
Michigan State(safety)
Cal Poly
Bucknell University
Milwaukee School of Engineering
UMich</p>
<p>I blieve Carnegie will be very tough; Bucknell tough; Michigan tough; Villanova possible but not great for engineering. Have you looked at Lafayette and Lehigh (both tough, especially the latter) and Penn State?</p>
<p>Lots of people on these 3.X threads talk about RIT.</p>
<p>A 700 on anything will help a lot on anyone’s applications. Good for you! Good luck!</p>
<p>As is often said here, do a few apps as early as you possibly can - it will help define your playing field and hopefully give you an acceptance you like that will ease your whole year.</p>
<p>If you’re looking at Milwaukee School of Engineering - and we know many people who have gone there and loved it - you might want to look at UW Platteville as more of a safety. Its location isn’t so great (I see you kind of like cities) but it does have a very respectable engineering program without being impossible to get into, and it has a nice state-school price.</p>
<p>Roanoke College is an excellent private school in Virginia that offers a ton of financial aid even if you are a B-/B+ student. I love it here! I’m a rising senior that had average grades in HS and comes from a middle class family and I know some people say RC is full of rich and preppy kids but that’s not true. I’m in a sorority here with quite a few rich girls but I have never felt out of place. Also, the partying is what you make of it. You can find people to chill with or you can always find a party to drink at. It’s all about the type of people you hang out with.</p>
<p>Anyone have suggestions for colleges in California?</p>
<p>Chloe, Somewhere on CC there is a thread specifically for western states 3.0 -3.3 – but I haven’t seen it near the front for a while. It is worth searching because some sainted poster (historymom, perhaps?) has done a ton of research and posted a list with links.</p>
<p>Meawhile, my son is looking at UC Santa Cruz, which is a bit reachy these days for kids in the 3.0 -3.3 range; a CSU that he especially likes is Sonoma State, but there are 23 CSUs, so there is something for everybody. We visited Whittier, which is really lovely but super small and expensive. CLU has an excellent reputation and a nice campus. Are you looking for big or small, ocean or inland, in or near a city…</p>
<p>Chapman & Univ of San Diego</p>
<p>^I’m not sure our 3.0-3.3 students would get in there, but I could be wrong.</p>
<p>B.U.M.P. it up!</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/907349-western-schools-3-0-3-3-kid.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/907349-western-schools-3-0-3-3-kid.html</a></p>
<p>Calvin, what is CLU? oh…Cal Lutheran?</p>
<p>My D got her first acceptance letter today to The University of Alabama. This is not her her first choice, but her first choice hasn’t even opened the application yet. If only we could let this be in and she’d be done. Guess I’m asking for too much there.</p>
<p>We got back from The Last Hurrah College tour where we saw four colleges in three days in two different states. I’m beat.</p>
<p>We visited Champlain, UVM and St. Mike’s in Burlington and Colchester, VT and Clarkson in Potsdam, NY. Believe it or not, we also managed to squeeze in a day trip to Montreal between VT and NY. Son liked Champlain the best, but also very much liked St. Mike’s. Clarkson and UVM are probably off the list. One of the things that resonated with him at Champlain was when the tour guide told us that grading was generally 80% projects and 20% testing. Son does so much better on projects.</p>
<p>Burlington has my vote for the very best college town too. It has all four seasons, lots of outdoor activities and a great downtown.</p>
<p>I’m looking into Champlain myself. Would you mind writing up a complete visit report?</p>
<p>I’d love to write a new report about Champlain, but when I just tried to, it entered it as an edit instead of a new review and then said that the editing time had expired. I may have to open a separate account. Guess you are not supposed to visit and review with two different kids!</p>
<p>Here’s my old one. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/vibe/champlain-college/4291688.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/vibe/champlain-college/4291688.html</a> It says 2007, but the visit was actually 2005.</p>
<p>Do you have any specific questions about Champlain CIA?</p>
<p>Well, I found your review from 2005 very informative. So basically my question is simple…what’s changed?</p>
<p>We met with the Director of the core curriculum and the Dean of the Information and Computer Science Departments. Both talked of how the rigor of the curriculum has improved. The core curriculum was changed in direct response to feedback from students looking for classes that were relevant to them and not just the same old psych 101 and English Lit. Check out this for Champlain’s spin on the core classes - [Champlain</a> College – Academics & Majors: Core Curriculum](<a href=“http://admission.champlain.edu/acad_majors/core.asp]Champlain”>http://admission.champlain.edu/acad_majors/core.asp) </p>
<p>The other big change since I last visited with my older son is the addition of two campuses, one in Montreal [url=<a href=“http://www.champlain.edu/Office-of-International-Education/Champlain-Abroad/Montreal-Campus.html]Champlain”>Champlain Abroad Montreal | International Education | Undergraduate Academics | Champlain College]Champlain</a> College Montr</p>
<p>We also had looked at Champlain years ago and we really liked it (of course we did not visit in the winter ;)). I just want to focus your attention to their endowment. I don’t know how endowment factors into an education or aid. Frankly, on a personal note, we have seen some packages from wealthy schools that gave a lot less than those that decided to discount their school more. Anyway, Champlain has a very low endowment, and I don’t know if that should be a great concern or not. In 2009 it was just over 9.5 million and the student body was just under 2700 (20% of those students are PT).</p>
<p>Northeastmom, Yes, endowment and it’s affect on possible financial aid are on our radar screen. When my older son got his finaid package there several years ago, it was minimal and did make it one of the pricier colleges. What’s somewhat encouraging is that their sticker price is lower then any of the privates we’ve looked at, a lot lower.</p>
<p>I just checked out the costs. This is a very well priced private college. One has to look for a long time to find a school with this sticker price. I know, because I just have finished our hunt of some lower priced private colleges. If one can afford close to sticker without aid, then one has less worries about the “what ifs” in terms of “making the grade” to keep a merit award, or what their FA package will look like the following year. </p>
<p>My big concern is with their tiny endowent, and whether they would have their current programs in place for years to come.</p>