<p>Sorry if these kinds of threads annoy you but if you've been through it you probably know about how the uncertainty eats away at your very being and if you haven't been through it you will. </p>
<p>I'm a Asian male that lives in CA who wants to major in Engineering (preferably mechanical but I can deal with aerospace, EECS, naval)
I have a 2350+ super score and 2340 single sitting (2 sttings).
I have an 800 on math 2
790 in physics
780 in U.S. History
I have 5's in ap physics C E/M, calc BC, psych, physics B, Literature, Euro
4 in U.S. History
I play the viola and I've played first chair in many orchestras throughout southern CA.
I'm also involved with a lot of community service (mostly senior home concerts and some hospital and convalescent stuff through a club I started) and I'm officers of a couple clubs, and one interesting microfinancing club.
I also take part in Science Bowl and Oceans Bowl and have some small regional awards.</p>
<p>During the past two summers I've had the opportunity to attend the California State Summer School of Mathematics and Science (COSMOS) and had an internship with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. I've also left a good impression on my professors as well as my managers so I'm sure I can get a good recommendation. </p>
<p>I'm also a pretty good writer I have quite a few essay awards. One received divisional recognition in an International contest and another one received an award from the Korean Consulate General.
Oh and idk if this changes anything but I also was awarded the RPI Medal.
My essays are more or less going to be well written.
My teacher and counselor recs are gonna be ehhh because for the most part... my teachers and counselors dont know me and they probably dont want to (I go to a large public school)
GPA Weighted is high enough and GPA UW is High enough almost 4.5 and almost 4.0 respectively</p>
<p>Everything looks great, and you might even hope/try for merit scholarship awards; last I heard they were still giving a few of these out. Re the recs, definitely get supplemental recs from your summer program profs or any extracurricular advisors that would be able to add another perspective to your accomplishments. Have them send a copy to your guidance counselor to keep on file so the counselor can have this background when he or she prepares the counselor evaluation (a once-in-my-career level of rec goes a long way with scholarship committees). Try to ascertain your class rank, and if it is high, try to communicate that to Mudd, but they really want it confirmed by the HS if for scholarship awards. I second the visit/interview suggestion. If Mudd is your first choice, consider applying ED unless you are holding out for merit offers from other colleges. But I don’t think ED is an absolute necessity for you unless Mudd is your first choice; you are sure to get other top tier offers.</p>
<p>Mudd is definitely my top choice and I’d like to apply ED I really really would it’s just my parents are worried that IF I were to get in ED it’s binding and potentially could be very expensive (I come from a middle lower class family of four with one working parent). I’m not sure how the financial aid stuff works for early decision because I don’t want to be in the position where I can’t afford it and have to tell Mudd and go through this whole other process of repealing (if such a process were to even exist). </p>
<p>Oh I took your advice on the interviews and I set one up. Wish me luck! </p>
<p>Here is how financial aid and ED work:
If you apply to a school ED, and are accepted, you are bound to go. Schools do give financial aid to ED applicants - and it will be very important to file all your financial information in plenty of time. My understanding is that schools will generally give a reasonable package to ED kids - they don’t want the kids they accept ED to turn them down because of money. HOWEVER, that package may contain a lot of loans and you will have no chance of comparing offers which is important for at least some applicants.
Remember that your parents are the ones footing the bill. They are right - Mudd may be more expensive than other schools.
Mudd cannot force you to attend. However, if you turn them down because of finances, you may be called to account for that, and if you have turned them down ‘lightly’ you may not fare well at other schools.</p>
<p>Thanks nemom!
I think that cleared up A LOT of stuff about ED.
For now I think I’ll have to do regular decision especially after I read about the President Scholars Program.
It’s not that I need a full ride (though it would be very nice) it’s just my parents can’t put in more than 10k a year for going to college and I heard somewhere that COA is around 57k for Mudd so that’s what I’m worried about, but I’m hoping to off set that with Gate Millennium, PSP or national merit and a mix of a bunch of other scholarships.</p>
<p>You are right about the COA. You can shave a bit off by getting second hand books, and taking a meal plan with fewer meals, but that’s about it. Mudd also, I think has some on-campus jobs, and Mudders often have relatively well paying summer jobs. I think you probably be wise to go RD. Mudd is likely to meet your need, but it’s not a sure thing, and you might get a very good offer elsewhere too. If you make NMFinalist, you will find some schools will offer large scholarships for that, for example.
Best of luck!</p>