ACT Scores [33 but 30 in math interested in "STEM"]

Applying to College
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If his math score stays the same on a retest, Engineering may not be the best path. Students transfer out of Engineering more than any other major. With high school grade inflation, so many kids have As in math because of 2nd, 3rd and 4th chances on homework & tests. They get to college, things get real, and the Cs and Ds start coming.

You son had super high scores in other areas. He can likely be in the very top tier of other majors. Just something to consider.

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FromCornell Faq. - ambiguous as to grad. Youā€™ll have to ask.

https://cornelladmissions.happyfox.com/kb/article/49-do-applicants-who-are-direct-descendants-of-cornell-university-graduates-have-a-better-chance-of-admission/

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Yes, Cornell counts that as legacy. However, there have been calls from within in the university for at least two years to end legacy preference entirely. As it is, the university says they only consider legacy in ED rounds.

In my experience with alumni meetings, the only legacy students that Iā€™ve seen accepted recently had a second hook of some kind or were national award winners.

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Cornell Engineering is tough, not just to get in but to stay in the engineering majors. OTOH, there are some very interesting STEMmy majors in CALS that might be worth thinking about. For example, Food Science | CALS is very interesting and has great career prospects; if he particularly likes chem, it could be a great fit. (And not something thatā€™s available at the LACā€™s, even the ones that have engineering.) Maybe something to look at if he decides to consider an ED/legacy application. Thereā€™s also a Biological Engineering major in CALS that is very chem-heavy.

Given his attraction to the liberal artsā€¦ is he at all interested in art & architectural history and conservation/preservation/restoration? These are fields that require a broad range of interests and strengths, because you need a strong background in the artistic and historical aspects, but you also need a very strong chem foundation (a requirement that deters many an art lover from the conservation/preservation fields!). Perhaps not in his wheelhouse at all, but thought it was worth mentioning in case.

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Smaller schools (below about 5k) in the northeast with engineering makes me think:

  • Lafayette (Seconding this PA one)
  • Union (Seconding this NY one)
  • Bucknell (PA )
  • Lehigh (PA )
  • Fairfield (CT)
  • Merrimack (MA)
  • Ohio Northern
  • U. of Hartford (CT)
  • Widener (PA )
  • Wilkes (PA )
  • Clarkson (NY)
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