<p>Nothing personal, GolfingMom, but a student with a 32 ACT and nearly 4.0 gpa would be a fish out of water at UMD (Duluth, not Maryland). My sister went there for two years before transferring out, and the place is a complete joke, academically speaking. They do have a decent little ChemE dept, but the caliber of student there is clearly a notch or two below the TC campus. The OP could do a million times better, without going too much further distance-wise... Iowa State, Michigan Tech, Northwestern, Rose Hulman, Milwaukee SOE, UIUC, Wisconsin, etc.</p>
<p>Also, I wouldn't rule out solid schools right off the bat solely on cost, particularly with a chance at significant merit and need based aid.</p>
<p>with respect to math classes in college, many school will have you take a math placement test to get you in the right class. I know my son took some online placement tests required at one school he was admitted at (U Minn TC - and ended up not even going there) and he also took a placement test for the school he is attended during his summer orientation.</p>
<p>"Nothing personal, GolfingMom, but a student with a 32 ACT and nearly 4.0 gpa would be a fish out of water at UMD" </p>
<p>When did you sister attend? My D has a few friends who were top students at a Twin Cities competitive HS, took HS Calc and honors physics that love it. The OP being from a town of 600 and average math background wanting to major in Engineering may be overwhelmed at UM TC, UIUC, WISC. </p>
<p>We have seen with the U of Mn becoming more competive and its size many top students going to UMD. I mentioned Morris because it is basically a public honors college with an enrollment of 1800, 100 student organizations, and offers merit aid. </p>
<p>Another school to consider is North Dakota State University. They have a very good engineering program and several top student from our HS attend. Two companies, I have work have hired alot of graduates from there.</p>
<p>If you are interested, you would be a competitive applicant for Harvard which has a unique engineering program and good need based aid.</p>
<p>Determining your EFC and what your parents think they can afford is critical. Visit some schools to get an idea of what you like. Some schools waive application fees if you visit. You may want to find out where other top students from you area have gone. Also think about how far you want to go ?</p>
<p>I'd like to go far away from here. NDSU, UND & UofMinn aren't bad schools but I want to get out of North Dakota, and Minnesota isn't quite what I was thinking.
Most of last year's class went to UND, the others went to BSU, NDSU & I believe a few went to Wahpeton. </p>
<p>I've known a few people in much older classes who've gone to Notre Dame, and I have cousins who've gone to bigger schools.</p>
<p>Thanks for the additional info. My D was set on going to the east coast: applied to 5 east coast schools and the U of Mn in case she changed her mind and to appease her dad. She is on the east coast and loves it. Several of her friends who applied to far away schools ended up staying close to home. </p>
<p>Definately make sure you have a financial safety: a school you are sure you can afford in case the FA at other school doesn't meet your need. </p>
<p>You may want to explore the engineering section of this board. There are also several summer programs for HS women interested in engineering. You may want to post on the forum about that.</p>
<p>North Dakota is part of the Western Undergraduate Exchange, an agreement between states -- including California -- to let students from other member states attend public universities in their states at reduced tuition rates over what is normally charged to non-residents. I would suggest that you start by looking at the WUE site, and doing a search for EE, Computer engineering, and Comp. Science and seeing what possiblities turn up that way:
wue.wiche.edu</p>
<p>Additionally, please PM me if you would like the list of resources for you and your father to start reading in order to get up to speed about financial aid. The fact that your father is grumpy about discussing financial issues, however, is a possible red flag in my mind. Before you do ANYTHING more, I would sit down with your parents and have a serious heart to heart about the financial side of things. Don't beat around the bush, and don't allow your Dad to do so either - ask the question directly: How much do you think you'd be comfortable contributing to the cost of college? And, ask the question sooner, rather than later. The answer may affect the colleges you can investigate, and it may also point you in a different direction.</p>
<p>I understand that it is uncomfortable discussing family financial issues, but it will be even MORE uncomfortable to be having the discussion next year at this time, after you've already applied to, and been admitted to colleges.</p>
<p>I also would second Mackinaw's suggestion about investigating ways to take additional math -- precalc/calculus. You might look into Stanford's EPGY online courses, as well as the online courses offered by Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, or talk to your guidance counselor and math teacher for other suggestions.</p>
<p>One additional suggestion: You may also want to consider attending a summer program in math and/or engineering this summer. You can find a list of possibilities at: <a href="http://tbp.mit.edu/highschool/%5B/url%5D">http://tbp.mit.edu/highschool/</a> Some of the listings are out of date, so go to the individual universities/colleges websites and search for them if the links don't work.</p>
<p>In particular, look for programs that are geared towards females interested in engineering careers. There are some on the list above. Check with the U of ND as a start - I vaguely recall that they had a free summer math program for girls at one point, but I could be wrong. Also go to Smith's website and look for their women in engineering summer program for high school students. That would be a good option for you to test the waters as to whether engineering is right for you, and also to assess what you may need in terms of your math skills. A summer program would also give you an idea of what it is like to live on a college campus, and possibly some exposure to another part of the country.</p>
<p>You will have to move quickly on summer programs, however, as many have deadlines for applying.</p>
<p>Most of the camps that my D has received information from do have some cost, I haven't heard of many that are free but I don't have a lot of knowledge. </p>
<p>:( While there is nothing more that I would enjoy than taking a summer engineering course, I have a job this summer; I can't sacrifice the money I'll need for different expenses in college no matter how great the experience would help me.
I believe my parents pay a few thousand for tuition for my sister (she's going to UND; she had a 26 on her ACT and has received some significant scholarships) and I don't know how much more than that they would be able to pay.
Though we have a lot of property (and therefore net worth) my family doesn't make that much. We always have enough each year but not much extra... part of the reason why my dad's always stressed about it. (it's more frustrating than you can imagine when your complete income relies on the stock market & the weather)</p>
<p>believe my parents pay a few thousand for tuition for my sister (she's going to UND; she had a 26 on her ACT and has received some significant scholarships) and I don't know how much more than that they would be able to pay.</p>
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<p>This is why you MUST ask them directly. I sense that you may be afraid of what the response will be, and that's understandable, but you need to overcome that fear so you can make informed decisions about where to apply. Some schools might be more affordable than others for you, even leaving the financial aid out of the equation, depending on overall cost, possibility of merit scholarships, etc. Additionally, it is important to understand how the farm assets will be used by straight FAFSA schools and those that require the PROFILE (used by about 300 schools), so you can weigh possibilities.</p>
<p>Again, I understand that it's hard to ask the questions, especially if you're afraid of the answers, but knowlege is power when it comes to college planning.</p>
<p>The all-girls math camp at UND is one week. Is there any way you can talk to your employer about missing one week out of the summer?</p>
<p>~~</p>
<p>I could talk to her about it, depends on which week Girl's State is as well. I'm working at a place that's only open during the summer; the work season is very short. </p>
<p>I talked to my dad and he said they currently pay about 5 thousand for my sister's tuition. He told me basically that that is what he'd want to pay for my tuition as well. I think we could afford more if we had to, but I think he's pretty set on that number.</p>
<p>I also mentioned visiting the University of Nebraska, since I have relatives who live there (Lincoln), and I'd imagine we could make it to Creighton as well.</p>
<p>As has been mentioned, U of MN-Twin Cities has a well-respected engineering and technology program with the Institute of Technology.</p>
<p>Let me add to the chorus of advice you have received already: you should not give up on the possibility of financial aid elsewhere. Your scores, grades, and location make you an attractive prospect for many schools.</p>
<p>Have your parents filed the FAFSA for your sister? Will you both be in school at the same time? </p>
<p>Wherever you end up, I would look at finding outside scholarships. The local ones give you the best chance.(Lions club ect) Work on this during the summer. Also, the Society of Women Engineers has a number of scholarships. You apply second semester of your HS senior year.</p>
<p>I know two girls who thought they wanted engineering but after attending
FREE weeklong "engineering for women/ minority programs"- they both opted OUT of engineering. (one attended Penn State- other College of NJ)</p>
<p>Son Freshman Eng - ND (Notre Dame) said that many, many (males and females) have dropped out of program since Sept- FYI </p>
<p>Good advice from savvy parents above- and, don't overlook your status as applicant from North Dakota- </p>
<p>ya' might want to have a look a Curmudgeon's D's experience last year -
good luck Becm0jo</p>
<p>Definitely look into MIT. They have an incredible EECS (electrical engineering and computer science) department, and they too are looking for those from the Dakotas. North Dakota, at the moment, is the only unrepresented state, but "they're working on it." In fact, one person was admitted from N. Dakota this year (or who has signed the MIT guestbook, a feature for admitted students.) Anyways, the point is that they really want to represent the Dakotas. They have need-based financial aid and it's only need-based, so they're committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated need. The admissions process is need-blind, so how much money you do or don't have doesn't affect your admissions decision. In short, you might as well apply. They have a really helpful admissions website: mitadmissions.org. This would be a reach school for you (it is for everyone). You would have to show that you're passionate about something and that you've worked your hardest, but really, you need to do that for any college. Also, keep in mind that admissions is done in the context of the background of the student.
People do go into these schools without having taken calculus (just ask molliebatmit, she went to MIT not having taken calc...I think anyways), however, you might be interested in looking at EPGY through Stanford. You have a high math score for not having taken trig as well.
That being said, there are plenty of other wonderful schools out there, all of which have been mentioned. I just know the most about MIT because I'm probably going to go there in the fall.
Also well known for CompE is Stanford. Check out their admissions website too, even though it's not quite as helpful as MIT's =)
Good Luck!</p>