Chance Me! VA Resident, Aspiring Engineer Who Loves Music [3.9UW 4.6W, 1510 SAT]

Chance Me / Match Me!
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Let me add one more anecdote.

Cornell has a GREAT career dashboard. Very easy to understand.

Many think - high rank - connections, etc. and they’re going to hook me up.

Cornell is a GREAT school - but it’s the era of the Internet and when you look at how their MechEs are getting hired,

16 report finding their job on linkedin and another 12 from an internet posting (so i presume Indeed as my kids mostly sourced there). 4 more from Handshake - a school’s linked in and companies blast all over.

Yes, some got via job fairs and career services - like all schools - but not near as many as the #s I listed above. but today and I’m saying this as directionally - it’s going to increase more and more each year - the Internet has leveled the playing field - and it’s little different at Cornell than - name your other other schools.

That’s why/how my son was able to land so many interviews and while my daughter is in a different field, she chose #16 of 17 rank wise she got into - and she’s had no issue securing a paid internship in DC, which most say is very difficult to do.

In the end, your success is not going to come down to whether you go to Cornell or George Mason.

It’s going to come down to - how much do you hustle to secure that fantastic future you want.

Schools are great and offer different resources. We know that Purdue has a killer career fair and that privates and some publics tout alumni networks.

But none of that matters if you don’t have hustle - and with the spread of online recruiting (perhaps in part due to covid), it’s becoming more and more a level playing field. That’s why these schools that some might never consider, are crushing it.

They have tons of smart kids with great stats like you - but more importantly - they have scrappy kids, who hustle.

So no matter where you attend, if that’s you- you’ll be fine. If it’s no, you’ll struggle -like many also do at all schools.

Good luck.

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That would make sense, the phrase “recruited athletes” made me think otherwise. I don’t know anything about college athletics, so go figure. I apologize for the snarkiness.

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My husband played basketball for CMU decades ago, as an engineering student. Out of curiosity, I looked at their current 16 person roster-only 2 engineering students, lots of business administration, with some other majors thrown in like finance, economics, statistics. A mixed bag. The football roster is much larger and I just glanced at it, but looks like lots of different majors as well, with some engineers in the mix.

You have some good options on your list, including some very good instate options. Once you are clearer on the budget, you should be all set to finalize your list. Hopefully, you will be able to visit these schools, as they will have very different vibes. CMU, for instance, will be very different than a school like UVA(as you probably already know). Good luck!

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Talked to my parents about aid and budget. Financial situation is looking a lot better than I initially thought. Thank you to everyone for the support and advice, but I’d like to close this thread for now as my lowballing led to me getting good advice that isn’t entirely appropriate for me.

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Lowballing what way?

School list or $$?

Your list isn’t lowballed - you’re a fantastic student but when applying to schools with sub 20 and sub 10% acceptance rates, kids like you get rejected in droves.

So ensure you have a balanced list - and your initial list is balanced as long as you are ok attending one of your safety and likely schools. Too many add a school to the list and then are upset when that’s where they have to attend. So make sure - you’d be excited to attend (and can afford) GMU, Va Tech, Penn State, and RPI.

While I think you have a decent shot at Purdue, it’s not a given - and UVA and Ga Tech plus your four reaches are that.

So I love your list if there’s no fiscal constraints - it’s nicely balanced - but make sure you truly love it too - if that makes sense. No point in getting into a school that you have no excitement for.

Best of luck to you.

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My financial situation is lowballed, excuse me. The advice I got was for the 25k figure I gave which I’ve just found out is no longer accurate due to generous folks in my extended family. Thus, the advice is good, but much of it is inappropriate for my new situation.

TL:DR I have substantially more money than I thought. Everything is much appreciated and I am definitely still excited for my safety schools, especially VA Tech.

Thank you!

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67

That’s great news and I’m sure is a relief to you. Family finances are often a difficult conversation so kudos to you and your parents for clarifying for your peace of mind.

Best wishes!

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That’s good to hear, but what’s the new budget? You don’t need to share any financial details of course, but providing us a number helps us better guide you.

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Basically, money isn’t as much of an object as I thought. My nuclear family isn’t particularly wealthy but my extended family is and none of them have kids. I’m very lucky to have generational wealth in that respect and I’m not sure that it’s appropriate for me to seek any more guidance, at least until I get my decision letters back. Thank you so much!

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The only reason you should continue to think about it is if they’d gift you the money regardless of what you do with it. An equivalent degree with the residual invested over the period of your career will end up being a LOT of money. If they’ll only let you spend it on education, then it’s a moot consideration. Good luck!

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Remember too that if they gift you the $ in advance, for any school that would possibly look at need based aid (sounds like you don’t have need, but just FYI) that money becomes part of your assets and some schools look for the student to pay a bigger % of their assets towards college.

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Some schools are need aware, so the ability to be a full pay student can be a positive factor in admission.

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You’re welcome, and good luck!

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74

That is the hook that helps get them admitted.

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I know that many STEM programs are trying to increase the number of women enrolled. CMU has a policy of having each incoming class in its STEM majors be 50% men and 50% women, regardless of how many students of each gender apply.

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Re: assets…if none of it is in your bank account as of the day of filing your FAFSA and Profile, it is not considered an asset. It’s only money IN your possession the day you file your forms that is considered an asset.

I don’t know what the new FAFSA guideline is in terms of others paying your costs. @kelsmom can clarify that.

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Actually…if you you apply and get accepted to a college that meets full need for all, you might find your costs are doable. UVA, for example, meets full need for all accepted students. This is if your parent income/assets qualify you for enough need based aid.

With these stats as an instate resident, I think you have a chance at acceptance. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

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Because $1,000,000 in assets alone would add $56,000 to your family contribution JUST in assets alone per FAFSA . Add what your income would also generate, and who would think they would get need based aid under these circumstances?

BUT this is a little off topic…because this student now says the immediate family doesn’t have a lot of resources.

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Yes, my comment was earlier than his disclosure.

Originally OP made it seem like he was a higher pay family but with a strict budget.

We now see his family is what it is - we really don’t know - but he has extended family that will help with tuition.

That he is able to pay $90K+ a year (by the time he’s done), means he can apply and see what he gets.

If what he gets if anything works for him and the relatives, then great.

And if not - hopefully he’s got an affordable and workable option - which he should.

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Imo, if they give large enough merit scholarships pick a few reaches to apply to (in addition to safeties etc) and work HARD on those merit scholarship apps. I have a similar budget to you and also would not get nearly enough financial aid from anywhere. But if a school doesn’t offer merit scholarships, there is really no point in applying. You mentioned wanting a masters. I want to go to grad school or med school, so I had to realize that no undergrad degree is worth loans when I’m going to be buried in loans from grad school and can go to undergrad for free or cheap enough to have my parents cover it. You’ll get into grad school from anywhere with good grades but no I think it’s a bit pessimistic to take off all of the reaches. As long as you have the time needed for the applications, keep life interesting. Good luck!!!

Ps I’m also a science/math nerd who loves music. Glad to see more of us :slight_smile:

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