<p>Just a suggestion ... but check out Kettering University in Michigan. It's a co-op school. It's not widely known, but it is very well-respected in the engineering world. The only thing is, you would have to drive!</p>
<p>Engineering is not just a passing interest... I've been researching it as a career since I took Computer Applications in 9th grade. (although I didn't have the dedication in math I should have >.<) I DO appreciate you guys stressing that I may change interests, though, because it is more likely than in most other programs.</p>
<p>I had to submit school transcripts for a recent scholarship application, and it turns out that my GPA is currently 3.8 IF I get straight A's this year.
Which means I will be able to bring it up to a 3.85 at most if I get straight A's as a senior as well...
My frosh/soph mistakes (and a really BAD math teacher) were essentially the causes... will they hurt my chances at some of these schools even more?</p>
<p>Your mistakes in Freshman/Sophmore year shouldn't hurt your chances. Schools put more emphasi on the latest grades.</p>
<p>The biggest thing that will hurt your chances of going is being able to afford to go. As Carolyn said, schools determine need differently whether they are a FAFSA school or CSS Profile school. Some have their own methodology. Dartmouth has a financial aid calculator on their web site. Most school have information on their website re their FA process. Also, outside scholarships are treated differently by different schools. In many cases, they reduce the amount of need based aid. You really need to determine your FAFSA EFC and CSS EFC and see how that compares with what you can pay. Based on that, you can develop a list of schools to apply to.</p>
<p>It is good you are applying for outside scholarships already.</p>
<p>Dang, I don't know why we as a group didn't think of this earlier, but look into Cooper Union (NYC) and Olin College of Engineering (near Boston), where every student receives a full-tuition scholarship, and only needs to pay for room & board! Admissions standards are understandably quite high for both places, but I think you are at least "in the mix" and have to give yourself a shot. Outside of the service academies, there is no better deal in engineering education.</p>
<p>I definitely will look into Cooper & Olin, they sound great :D</p>
<p>As for other colleges, I'm a little confused how to figure out their financial aid. The first step would be to do an online fafsa estimator, and then what?</p>
<p>Colorado School of Mines seems to be very aggressively reaching out to recruit students. My S got a 36 on the science section of his ACT (he wants to go into political science however, and pre-law, so had no interest), and they kept sending him postcards and invitations to apply. We are in NY State.</p>
<p>They sent so many, it got to be kind of a joke in our house.</p>
<p>I've been getting about two mails a week from Tulane O.O I think once I did a college search using my prospective major they decided to lay off.</p>
<p>I have some questions about subject tests as well... If/when I take them in June, should I buy some prep books? I think it would be in my best interest to take Physics & Math II if I was to take any of them, but should I withhold my scores from colleges right away? With the classes I have taken, I don't know how well I will score on them and I would hate to lower my chances at some schools because of it.</p>
<p>Haven't posted on here a while but...</p>
<p>I've been looking into the selections you guys gave. I've found a few that I am quite interested in, but there's still too many, and I'm think there are too many reaches...</p>
<p>There's that Amtrak 2 for 1 deal, where a parent can go free with a student who is visiting colleges, so that gives me a few opportunities, anyway. My dad is surprisingly open to the idea of my missing school to visit colleges for a week, but we'd have to figure out where we're going to go and such.</p>
<p>I was considering Indiana because I could take a look at Purdue & Notre Dame, but Massachusetts would be great as well... I could look into Boston U or Olin. but I'm not sure if there are other places that would be helpful to visit.</p>
<p>I'm still unsure of how to narrow my college choices. All I have are the view books and sites, and what I read about them from here & other forums, and that usually just makes me think that there's no way I'll be accepted.</p>
<p>If you go to Massachusetts consider looking at Worcester Polytechnic Institute - it's a little easier to get into than Olin. If you get a practice book you can take a practice test and get a pretty good idea what your SAT2 scores are likely to look like. We went ahead and sent scores to the schools that my son knew he'd be applying to and didn't worry about what the scores would be. But he's a kid who has always scored very, very well on multiple choice tests.</p>
<p>Wow.</p>
<p>Took a look at trains going from where I live to Massachusetts.
O.O
30 hours on a train isn't probably the best idea. If I went to Indiana, I could also take a look at Rose-Hulman. </p>
<p>I could even be ambitious and make a multi-state trip.</p>