That’s a pretty strong statement. Just because your DD was denied doesn’t mean the OP will be. They don’t know whether students are applying ED elsewhere, and it isn’t as if they don’t accept anyone RD. For that matter, OP can consider whether he wants to have an ED2 school teed up if Duke doesn’t work out. There may be other schools with ED2 on his list that he likes better than BU, but it’s one possibility.
That said, I hope Duke ED works out and makes everything else moot! 
As I mentioned, I know more than 2 people who were accepted to top schools and denied to BU. BU really does not like to be safety for top students. It wants to be ED school… BU prefers students with lower stats but the ones that for sure will attend…
ED2 may be possible with BU, but RD is low probability.
Yeah Syracuse gives 19k npc so not bad at all. I’ll just have to do more research on each program and what they offer and if it suits my interests, thanks for the new option!
Also, so it is possible to go ED2 to schools that don’t accept ED1? dukes ED comes back Dec. 15. So is there time for ED2? Just curious as this is my first time hearing about this lol
OP, what is wrong with Vanderbilt? Is it affordable? I think there is an extra scholarship for TN students.
??
It’s on his list.
But not ED1 or ED2… OP may get extra help as TN resident at Vandy… Like Duke gives preference to students from Carolinas.
Yes, many schools have a later date for ED2.
Miami has a Jan 1 ED2.
Rochester has a Jan 5, etc.
You can look up each school.
But that’s why they set their dates as such - if a student got shot down at their top choice, the ED2 schools is hoping they’re now your top choice!!
You can look up each school of interest for their date but assuredly most, if not all, will work with the Duke date but not all schools offer ED2 although it seems more and more common.
It’s a much smaller school but you may check Richmond - and they have D1 sports, etc. I don’t think CE but they meet need.
No, you can’t reapply ED2 to your ED1 school, even if that school offers ED2 (which Duke does not). You will either be accepted, denied, or deferred to the RD cycle. But if not accepted ED1, you can apply ED2 to a different school that offers that option. Some of your schools do - BU, WashU, Lehigh, Northeastern, Vandy, possibly others.
Ok, I will move GTech to last priority as it was currently second on my list next to duke lol. Thanks for the info. I will try visiting UTK soon as I have break next week. Yeah I was starting to doubt myself with my original list and rightfully so as I would have had basically no financial options. Good to know about Miami, I’ll do research on it and Syracuse and see if I have any interest in curriculum.
RPI NPC is 36k, have no clue how it is so much higher than others but that’s probably not worth it
Ok! That’s good to know, I’ll do more research on that as I’ll probably be fine applying ED 2 to maybe BU. Vandy ED 2 looks like it doesn’t help at all, but would be nice as I am in TN
I love Vandy! just seems like a big reach, maybe ED2 would help as I’d be fine applying ed if duke doesn’t work out
Ok that makes sense with ED 2, I’ll look into it, U of Richmond NPC comes out to 14k so super good aid! No engineering program though so I’ll have to see how much I want that
Yeah, I wasn’t sure on RPI.
I’m an SU alum so I love to see it get love. They’re not known for aid so it’s good to see they are coming through.
If you go to a school to take a visit, see if you can get an appointment with the department - meet with an advisor or better yet someone (a prof or otherwise) from the department office. And you might even get to meet a student, etc.
Most kids go to an info session and tour the school and decide if they like it or not, but some like to go deeper and most schools are glad to comply. You can start with the AO and make the request but someone will tell you to call the department directly. They likely also have a student ambassador that you can meet up with, whether when there or virtually - and you can ask real questions and get honest answers.
Here’s a UTK salary report from two years ago - most schools should have something similar - but think not impacting your family financially first.
PS - back to Ga Tech - make it lesser priority but apply by Nov 1 to get Stamps consideration (it says by the EA deadline and that’s the OOS EA deadline).
Richmond - yes, it’s CS. But originally you said you’d choose the major based on the school and were using engineering as a back door (it sounded like) - but if it’s not for you, then definitely don’t go there!!
Yeah will look more into SU. What was your major/ how were the academics there?
Ok yeah I’ll try contact AO for UTK to see if I can set up something. That’s good advice.
Ok yeah that UTK report is encouraging as 70k average starting con Engineering college is much higher that I thought it would be. Being in the top of class seems like 100k is doable especially after a couple years.
Ok yeah I’ll see if I can make Nov 1 for GaTech
Yeah kinda still deciding between CS/CE, and kinda want a combo of the two like UTK has so we’ll see.
I’m old - doesn’t matter - but I have zero computer acumen. Broadcast Journalism (they’re known for communications) and Hinstory - double major.
Many schools are known for something - like UTK Supply Chain - but then they are strong in many areas.
As far as salaries go - and it’s not 100% - but most companies pay by the job, not for the school. So my Bama son is in a program for MechE and there’s 150 kids in it - engineering, supply chain and Health and Safety. The engineers make the same, the supply chain make the same, Health and safety make the same.
So whether kids went to Purdue, Case Western, Ohio State, Michigan, W Michigan, Utah, NC State, Missouri S&T or other schools in his program, all engineers make the same. The supply chain, whether top ranked Michigan State or other schools they hire from - they all make the same.
Heck, I did my MBA at ASU and in my program, we had a Dartmouth, UCLA, me and UC Riverside - and we all made $64,992 (it was a long long time ago).
Now CS/CE makes more than say a MechE - but you also have to account for cost of living. You might make $30K more but have to live in the Bay Area or Seattle and you might be like - I’d rather live in Cincinatti or Knoxville - where it’s much less.
So that’s for later…
For now you want to find a good, affordable school. If you have grit and determination, the rest will take care of itself.
So find that fit - the one that won’t strangle your family financially today or you tomorrow - and all will be fine.
Thanks for the reply and finding the best financial fit is going to be top priority now that I don’t have the idea that only top colleges can get me the job I want. I appreciate all of you replies and look forward to not being crazy stressed about admissions with UTK always there for me lol
Syracuse is trying to expand their college of engineering and computer science (it’s all together in one college), and they have been giving some big merit awards out to draw strong students. I’d be shocked if you didn’t get admitted there, likely with very good aid. But you wouldn’t find out until the RD decisions are released in March.
The application only has 1 easy supplemental question. The admissions rep for the college is very friendly and helpful. They really like applicants to show demonstrated interest.
I’m sure you’ll get plenty of excellent offers because you’re developing a nice list. But Syracuse could be a good target (closer to a safety) for you, if you like it.
Northeastern has a combined major, FWIW. (Like BU, a lot of their school/athletic spirit is around hockey, but there is that side to the school’s personality. Depends how you feel about the emphasis on co-op, though.) Computer Engineering and Computer Science, BSCmpE | Northeastern University Academic Catalog
It’s a great school…but is quite isolated in terms of location. If that is OK with this student, Rose Hulman is a good choice.
It’s a college I suggest visiting before you apply. Its location isn’t for everyone. And the school is small.
I like your updated list but not sure I love it. You have 16 schools and it’s October. Have you started apps and essays? Might want to knock a few off the list. Duke and Rice make a lot of sense both academically and financially.
GT is probably off the table. You need a Stamps to go. They’re few and hyper competitive. The kids that seem to get these are MIT caliber students.
Have you been to Rochester? Cold and probably no direct routes there. Miami and BU also seem like odd choices. Great schools and cities but not sure they’re better than your safeties.
I still think an app or two to a meets full need school like Cornell, Princeton or Stanford makes sense. Good luck.