First time poster from IL. Would love help with suggestions for my high stats junior son who is leaning toward computer science. This is my third kid going through this but the older ones wanted small to medium private schools with science majors and grad school intentions. This kid says he has no preference for size or public vs private, but may only get the bachelors so career resources are much more important. The basics:
ACT score: 36 (including 36 on all subscores)
4.0 UW gpa; 4.7 Weighted at a competitive school with rigorous classes
Likely National Merit Finalist based on PSAT (almost perfect score); waiting on SAT scores
ECs: decent but not great
4 Clubs at school all focused on math and science; VP of one and will be math team captain next year; has won several state medals for math
Peer tutor
3 yrs in same sport, Jr year varsity (but not a standout)
Some leadership at a local food bank, and at a one-week STEM camp (which he’ll do again this summer)
200+ documented service hours
University of Illinois (UIUC) is the obvious choice, but would like some other options that would not be much more that UIUC (34K COA). We do not qualify for need-based aid, but even this will be a stretch and he may have to use Stafford loans, I believe. Could get Parent Plus loans, but I’m not convinced that too much more debt than that would be worth it for a CS degree.
On the list so far:
High merit Safeties:
Alabama
Iowa State?
Matches (35K or less with potential for some merit):
UIUC
Purdue
Ohio State
Reaches (for both acceptance and merit):
Notre Dame (the dream for Dad;)
Vanderbilt
Santa Clara?
USC?
Am I on the right track? Any feedback on these schools in regard to CS, plus any suggestions for additions would be much appreciated!!
The state of Florida has extended the Benacquisto Scholarship (Full Cost of Attendance at several Florida public universities, like UF, FSU, UCF, etc) to out of state students. You may want to do some research on this scholarship.
Check out the 2018 National Merit Finalist Thread for more info on this scholarship and other NMF’s programs.
Thank you, Gator88NE! I will check that out. I am somewhat familiar with the NMF scholarships , as my DD1 was one, although this was 3 yrs ago when my daughter was applying. She ultimately accepted a full tuition scholarship from a smaller private college as it was a better fit for her and she wanted to go to med school. (Now since changed to Environmental Science but she will still go to grad school with no debt. I know next to nothing about Florida schools, and especially if they are good candidates for CS students, but will look into. Sure beats Chicago weather!
Georgia Tech may be a high match/low reach for both acceptance and merit. CS there is very good but competitive to get in and more so for OOS. I don’t recall the details but there is a full or close to full ride scholarship, as well as a scholarship that will bring costs down to in state level for OOS kids(both are extremely competitive). I believe you have to apply early to be considered for scholarships. May be worth it to do the research and get more information.
As for the colleges on your tentative list, both Purdue and Ohio State are likely to be a match with merit based on your kid’s stats, Vanderbilt and USC also seem to be within reach with merit based on the results we saw last year with DS and his friends(similar stats and CS).
Northeastern has a strong computer science program and excellent career services along with co-op program. NMF scholarships have been lowered in recent years, currently maxes out out 30K. This would put it just above 35K, but computer science majors are usually the highest paid co-op students and tuition would be 8 semesters over 5 yrs not 4.
Computer science is one of those degrees where prestige won’t make any difference. He’ll be able to find a comparable job whether he graduates from Notre Dame or a regional state university. Entry level jobs are not terribly lucrative, so the less debt the better. Scholarships are far preferable to prestige.
We are also IL residents who don’t qualify for need based awards. In addition to all the schools mentioned above, I suggest the following as well:
University of Pittsburgh- probable full tuition scholarship/possible full ride
Temple University- probable full tuition scholarship including 4K stipend for travel abroad
University of Texas-Dallas - possible full ride including stipend for travel abroad
University of Iowa - qualifies for 20k/year Presidential scholarship
FSU- qualifies for out of state tuition waiver
Good luck to your DS. He will most likely have some excellent choices for merit aid based on his outstanding stats.
I realized your son would qualify for the NMF full ride mentioned above at FSU after I posted. UF, FSU and UCF would be the top choices for Florida schools (UF is the highest ranked program in FL and one the top in the country for computer science).
Look at UT Dallas it has a great computer science program, Full Ride (room, board, tuition, books) plus $6K for study abroad for NMF. Lots of oppertunity for internship and research.
Your son should be able to get good merit aids from many schools and have a chance even at some top public schools. So he may want to cast the net widely. In particular, look at those schools that would give you in-state tuition rate such as those in the mid-west student exchange program. With merit scholarships, it is quite feasible to bring the cost lower than UIUC CoA.
This is a unique honors-style program at Nebraska where you can major in CS & minor in business (or vice versa). Students in program often get multiple merit awards that can add up to severely reduce price. Students in the program are very high quality.
@SMC0226 UIUC is not a match for anyone. It is a reach and the very best school for CS on your list. It is top tier. Your reaches are nowhere near UIUC for CS. The median ACT is 35 for CS majors at UIUC. You do get an edge being instate though.
@gearmom, Ok, you just reminded me that I DID read that somewhere about only 100 students or so are selected, so I guess I shouldn’t necessarily consider that a match. Yikes!
Any insight as to why Alabama Huntsville as compared to Tuscaloosa? We are visiting Tuscaloosa over Spring Break. Not sure I can fit one more day in…
@billcsho, thank you! I do not know much about the midwest student exchange program because we were only targeting private schools for DD1 and 2. I do know that Illinois has one of the highest in-state tuition/fees rate in the country. And that they give next to zero in merit. Ugh. On the other hand, we are lucky to have such a highly rated Engineering/CS school! Our challenge will be deciding if the rating/ resources, etc. are worth the money when he could potentially get full tuition or a full ride elsewhere.
SMC0226 Huntsville is a better deal financially. Would save you about 30k. It would be smaller and I'd think have a different feel than Tuscaloosa. But I am a northern gal. Our southern friends can provide more info. @mom2collegekids
Really UIUC is the holy grail on your list for CS. People all over the world are trying to get in. It’s in the top 8 in the US for CS, maybe #5. It will be more selective than those other reaches. Your guy has a good chance to get in though.so everything should be perfect on his app. I would pay more for UIUC. Maybe you hadn’t thought of it in that way because it’s local but it really is tops.
U Arizona is worth your consideration. Think they are stronger in CS.
As someone else mentioned, Northeastern has a wonderful computer science program and gives good merit aid. My son’s stats were similar to yours and he was offered 18K per year plus some other one time stipend (I forget the details - it’s been 3 years) which was the best private school offer he received. It stills leaves significant cost, but the co-op program they have REALLY helps to bring the cost lower. I think it would be worth investigating.
I know next to nothing about Florida schools, and especially if they are good candidates for CS students, but will look into. Sure beats Chicago weather!