Am I missing any schools on my list?

College Search & Selection
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<p>Sorry I know beating a dead horse.</p>

<p>Stats
3.89 uw, 4.6 weighted with APs, 4.3 UC GPA
34 Superscored ACT best sitting score 33
2100 Superscored SAT, 2080 best sitting 1490 on math+cr
after this summer #10 out of 535 students
So far four 5s on four AP tests, plans on taking 5 APs senior year (his own choice, we're against it)
SATII Chem 740, MathII 720, USHist 730
President and cofounder a couple clubs
Highlight tech club - team captain won UCB Robotics competition first year participated.
Community service freshman taught elementary after school program guitar
Couple other ECs - like judged reading competitions for ESL students etc.
College admissions mentor at school
Tutors science and math at school</p>

<p>He'd like to major in aerospace engineering, or mechanical. If he decides to go to a LAC he'd like to do Physics. We've only had time to visit CA schools unfortunately, since we only drive for our vacations.
But recently Pitt offered us $500 in expenses and to pay for 1 nights hotel stay. So we've done the math and might be able to a trip with just one parents for around $1500-1700 less the $500. We were probably going to visit Pitt, Allegheny, and Alabama.</p>

<p>List so far</p>

<p>Super Reaches
Stanford
CalTech
UC Berkeley (praying middle class scholarship act passes state senate)
Princeton (depends on financial aid, calculators seems promissing)</p>

<p>Matches
CalPoly SLO
Pittsburgh (if we get some scholarships or FA, same with two LACs)
Allegheny
Grinnell</p>

<p>Safety
San Jose State
Alabama</p>

<p>So wife has sat down, talked to my parents (ie grandparents). Figured out finances. We figured we could actually stretch and get extended family help and possibly pull off around $15k-18k a year and probably gets loans around $10k per year. So we're praying with scholarships and FA of stickers around $25k-28k. Our combined income actually went up. My wife did a couple thousand dollars worth of personal development work for SF School Dist. Our income is probably around $110k. We actually have a small cushion sitting on now. We put off buying a new car and will live with the 11 year old 180k miles, and just pray it doesn't die on us (only one car).</p>

<p>So been trudging through this forum for the whole summer getting ideas. So many decisions. Thumbing through tons of brochures. Drawing a blank here and there.</p>

<p>We did go to some college fairs and the CTCL fair which was interesting. Toured Stanford, CalTech, CalPoly. Sons aiming really high I think he's going to be disappointed. But him and wife say not much to do but try.</p>

<p>Whats your thoughts on these and adding them to the list, potential for scholarships etc.</p>

<p>Carnegie Mellon
Williams
UAB
Clemson
NC State
Ohio State
Iowa State
WUSTL</p>

<p>Any schools you think I should consider beyond these? Why if possible. </p>

<p>Sorry in advance if I'm a paranoid, obsessive broken record. I truly value everyones input and I always learn something new.</p>

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<p>Chicago has good physics</p>

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<p>Berea College, they are truly a wonder of wonders! great school and truly beyond generous with aid. look up the school and read about their aid!</p>

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<p>Have you looked into Case Western Reserve University? Very good engineering programs: [Undergraduate</a> Programs | Case School of Engineering](<a href=“http://engineering.case.edu/future-students/undergraduate-programs]Undergraduate”>Academics | Case School of Engineering)</p>

<p>Here is their page on financial aid/scholarships: [Types</a> of Financial Assistance Available to Undergraduate Students :: Case Western Reserve University](<a href=“Financial Aid | Case Western Reserve University”>Financial Aid | Case Western Reserve University)</p>

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<p>You and he may want to carefully compare the physics offerings at Allegheny to those at other schools. Some other LACs and small schools may have greater physics offerings. A physics major should be able to take upper division courses in mechanics, E&M, quantum mechanics, statistical/thermal physics, advanced lab, and electives like particle physics, astrophysics, etc…</p>

<p>For NCSU, try to find out if the Park Scholarship is a realistic shot.</p>

<p>For Berkeley, apply for the Drake Scholarship, but that is probably a high reach.</p>

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<p>barr - never thought of UofC, someone did suggest Illinois Inst of Tech once. We thought about that school. I hear UofC isn’t good with aid or scholarships. They did send us lots of info sessions cards. We just missed going to them</p>

<p>zobro - I think Berea is a great school too. But I’m pretty sure their aid is very heavy need based, and from what I can remember they prefer more local students.</p>

<p>suzy - I did think of CWRU a couple times, along with UofO, and Dayton. Dayton I know gives very good aid. CWRU I hear gives lots of aid, but even with aid their sticker is really high isn’t it? They’re ranked really high is lots of categories too.</p>

<p>ucb - you hit it on the nail. Park and Drakes to me seem really outta reach. I’ve read the stories and background of the kids that have won it. You ever hear of the Asian mentality? Think the worse so when the best happens your like “AMEN!” Hahah so you always think that you got a C or B then when you end up with an A you’re super happy. I don’t know if I’m too much of a pragmatist (might be wrong word). I think everything is a reach, my wife always things the world of our son and thinks I don’t have enough faith on whats possible. Engineering as a whole at any UC is a crap shoot. I thought about UC Davis with the possibility of the Reagents scholarship. It’d only be an additional $40 add since you don’t have to send the scores more than once. We were very impressed at SLO and CalTech. But CalTech is like getting into MIT so out there. That why when I see LACs I’m like it will be closer to a CalTech type education without the crazy pressure of these insanely smart peers. Not saying people there won’t be smart, but you get the idea. The LACs do have super smart people as well.</p>

<p>So far only school we applied too was Alabama, we’ve skimmed the Common App, brainstormed some essay. Read an essay writing book that someone suggested on this forum. It was very informational, got the juices flowing.</p>

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<p>uab apps go online tomorrow…quick easy, no essay. he should also apply to the sci tech honors program . if going to visit alabama, worth the 45 minutes to get to bham, unless you are flying in, and then it is right there. think we have already discussed merit by pm :)</p>

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<p>There may be other LACs that offer a better physics course selection and/or offer engineering like Harvey Mudd, Swarthmore, Bucknell, and Carleton.</p>

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<p>UAB doesn’t have Aerospace Engineering. If you want to add another Alabama school, UAH or Auburn might make more sense.</p>

<p>UMiami, RPI, WPI might be worth considering for merit possibilities.</p>

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<p>parent56 - We’re still 50/50 on applying to UAB. The scholarship that doesn’t cover 15 units but only covers 12 units made us thing twice.</p>

<p>ucb - Yeah we thought about all those. But selectivity is high. I didn’t see much aid at Bucknell. But Swathmore and Carleton sound like good suggestions. All the LAC recruiter I’ve met have been super nice. Gave us department head emails etc. Told us to talk to them. We’ve always been a little peckish on making contact.</p>

<p>Bob - Umiami is expensive unless you can get the Foote scholarship right? RPI not very familiar. Thought about WPI but the sticker is so high. Even with aid I think it would still be crazy.</p>

<p>We’ve always tossed around idea of applying to Northwestern, GATech, Purdue, Minnesota, Michigan. Just couldn’t really see much aid based on income. GATech does have some super nice scholarships but they are super competitive from what I can tell. Minnesota has a really low sticker but zero aid same with Michigan. I did notice the Michigan State has some really nice aid and assistantship program. Debated on that.</p>

<p>My son was super intrigued with Northeastern, but seems like the best aid is only for NMSF. Co-Ops to him sound awesome. Same with Drexel. I wish applying was cheaper then we would just apply all these places. But I’m sure that counterproductive.</p>

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<p>You can co-op at lots of schools, they just aren’t mandatory</p>

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<p>agree that there would be extra costs due to semester hours, however things like dorm are less expensive than at ua… uab dorms are 5200 per year… ua is 8-10k for the suites. (there are some cheaper ones thought)…so the extra credits would probably work out the same. If he wants research, uab is full of opportunity to do that. my son liked pitt and got full tuition there, but when he met with dept heads, they didnt encourage research first year…suggested at least 2nd year</p>

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<p>bobwallace - really??? I thought it was part of the program. Do you consider internships co-ops? I thought it was different because you get placed. Like they heavily help in finding you these positions. Where as at other schools not everyone that wants to can do it because there are more students than internships out there.</p>

<p>parent - good point lower room and board would make a decent difference. I’ve read on forums that the honors suite housing at UA is really expensive. Pitt sounds like a great choice, interesting your son choose against it even with full tuition. Besides that research issue what else heavily influenced his decision.</p>

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<p>santookie… primarily the research (but as an instate must admit he got housing at uab too…which i just “threw away” as he has moved off campus this year LOL)… but a huge reason was Dr. Tucker and the sci/tech honors program at uab… very cohesive small group of high stats kids with similar interests… Pitt’s honors programs were a bunch of classes designated as “honors” and you didnt have to take them. Pitt is a great school but he really wanted a honors “program”…classes geared to his interests etc…retreats, social events through the year, a peer mentor from upperclassmen in sci tech, and specific classes for example they had a class in public speaking for scientific presentations…something he has used and benefited from… . He began doing research his very first semester… has worked in 3 different labs, forensics, cancer, chemistry…has had great interactions with his mentors, has published and has other research submitted for publication (and also won a national research scholarship… with 2 years funding)</p>

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<p>Co-ops and internships are not the same thing.</p>

<p>[Cooperative</a> Education : Michelin Career Center : Clemson University](<a href=“Home-Clemson Center for Career and Professional Development”>http://career.clemson.edu/students/cooperative_education/)</p>

<p>[Georgia</a> Tech Cooperative Education Program Website :: About Us](<a href=“http://www.coop.gatech.edu/about_us.html]Georgia”>http://www.coop.gatech.edu/about_us.html)</p>

<p>[AU</a> Co-Op Program](<a href=“http://www.auburn.edu/co-op/about_co-op_sub.html]AU”>http://www.auburn.edu/co-op/about_co-op_sub.html)</p>

<p>[::</a> Co-op ::](<a href=“http://www.ncsu.edu/co-op_ed/]::”>http://www.ncsu.edu/co-op_ed/)</p>

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<p>parent - Wow that is really informative. So he had a graduate student as a mentor? or a professor? Do all science majors take those classes? I mean I don’t see many engineering majors taking public speaking courses, unless its a lower div requirement. So the honors program at UAB is more cohort style? Social events with all honors program partisipants? Or just your major?</p>

<p>bob - wow awesome coops. But most of the schools even with scholarships would be pretty expensive. GAtech has good scholarships but they’re extreme competitive, Auburn I think at most offers $16k unless you’re a NMSF and thats tuition, NCSU has the Park scholars which is same very competitive, and Clemson hmmm haven’t heard much regarding they’re aid. Coops sound like a great thing fod a student to undertake. I wish more schools offered them.</p>

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<p>sci tech honors has students from all stem majors…chem/bio/engineering/cs/physics etc. it is selective but your son has a great shot at it. About 50-60 students are selected each year…the students of all years interact through the four years at uab. ie my son acts as a peer mentor to freshman, and as research liason to introduce research to freshman . There are a number of different honors classes offered for sci tech…you can decide which ones you want to take. (all his other classes he takes honors track ie chem honors etc) They have an honors building, with a floor (study space, lounge etc, copiers, computers etc open for sci tech) His mentors have all been professors…dept chairs, or md/phd’s doing clinical research . There is an undergrad expo each year where they can present in poster sessions as well…</p>

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<p>Those were just random examples that I happen to know of because we hire coops from those schools. </p>

<p>Lots of schools have coop programs, including schools with big merit awards. All of the Alabama schools, for instance.</p>

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<p>What about Rice? No aerospace but excellent financial aid overall, families under $80,000 receive aid with no loans.</p>

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<p>parent - wow only 50-60 damn small honors program. I would think its highly selective. I remember you telling me that it being a semi-commuter school wasn’t that much an issue. We live in SF sigh so wonder if he would be lonely there on weekends. He’s a bit of an introvert. sigh sits and home on free time drawing maps for his D&D that he does with friends once every couple months or just builds things in minecraft.</p>

<p>bob - Aaaah yeah we went to CalPoly SLO didn’t seem like they had a coop. But most kids took a year off between senior and junior year to intern/work. To me I thought that was sort of like a coop. When I googled it a couple months ago mainly all the poly type schools popped up. Besides Alabama, what schools offer large merit Northeastern? seems like thats mainly for NMSF, son I’m sure is only commended because we’re in CA he got a 217 if I think off the top of my head.</p>

<p>sad - You know I mentioned Rice. But did not seem to be that much interest. My wife is anti Texas but my son is impartial. Wife is a teacher in SF so she’s a little on the very liberal side. I’m somewhere in the middle and just think of fit and quality+costs of education without regard for location. But son didn’t really consider Rice. We did consider WUSTL but read multiple times that it might be beyond our read financially. Which is sorta similar to Rice.</p>