<p>Hey everyone! I'm a HS senior who's having a tough time deciding which university and program will be the right fit for me and will give me the best opportunities for success in grad school and beyond. I've applied to UT-Austin, Texas A&M, Baylor, OU, and Georgia Tech. </p>
<p>I am 10th in my class of 350 (auto admit into all Texas schools), have a 4.0 unweighted GPA, an SAT of 2220, and have what will almost certainly be a National Merit scholar qualifying PSAT score. </p>
<p>Here are my questions:</p>
<h1>1</h1>
<p>UT Austin, Georgia Tech, and TAMU are from my knowledge the top programs in Mechanical Engineering out of the schools I have applied to. However, Baylor and OU offer massive scholarships to National Merit Scholars (and Baylor is my favorite campus/school environment). Is the prestige of the top three schools great enough to warrant paying significantly more for tuition, especially when that money can be saved for graduate school? </p>
<h1>2</h1>
<p>Are there any other schools which you would recommend applying to for Mechanical Engineering? They would have to offer SOME merit scholarships because I qualify for in-state tuition at UT Austin and TAMU.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Note that Texas A&M offers a National Merit scholarship:
<a href=“https://scholarships.tamu.edu/Scholarship-Programs/National-Scholars#0-NationalMerit®Opportunities”>https://scholarships.tamu.edu/Scholarship-Programs/National-Scholars#0-NationalMerit®Opportunities</a></p>
<p>What kind of graduate school? PhD programs worth attending should be funded. However, professional school like law or medical school will be expensive.</p>
<p>What kind of cost constraints and financial aid situation are you looking at?</p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>Yes, TAMU also offers generous merit to NMFs.</p>
<p>How much will your parents pay? What amount do you have that you want to save some for grad school.</p>
<p>Alabama would also offer you a LOT for NMF and engineering</p>
<p>5 years of tuition
1 year of housing including honors
3500 per year PLUS 2500 per year (so…$6000 per year)
2000 for study abroad
iPad
admission to the Honors College</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies everyone! TAMU definitely offers significant merit aid, which makes my decision even more difficult. We have a significant amount of money saved, but I don’t think I will receive much financial aid and I am aiming for a future MBA at Harvard, U Penn, or another prestigious school (if I do very well in my undergrad degree) in addition to a possible masters in engineering. I have also heard of Alabama’s great merit scholarship offerings and may consider applying there.</p>
<p>You should visit Alabama. Beautiful and state of the art new Science and Engineering Complex.</p>
<p>If you do visit, first set up the campus tour online…try for an early morning time! Don’t bother with the “info session”, you’ll get that info here pretty much on the Alabama forum on College Confidential which is VERY active. By skipping the Info Session, the people in the HC will have more time to schedule meetings with profs, etc.</p>
<p>Set up your campus tour online. The tour is a mix of walking and riding in a small bus, so each tour is strictly limited to the number of seats on that small bus.</p>
<p>In the email to the below listed people, include:
Student’s name and contact info
Date and time of the Campus tour that you’ve reserved.
GPA and test scores (include likely NMSF if applicable)
Likely majors
Career interests (including med, law, etc)
Anything particular that you want to see. If you have an interest in seeing the new Science and Engineering Complex, the TV or radio stations, the B-school or what-have-you, let them know.</p>
<p>Honors Recruitment</p>
<p>Susan Alley
270 Nott Hall
205-348-5599
<a href=“mailto:susan.alley@ua.edu”>susan.alley@ua.edu</a></p>
<p>Kayla Fields
<a href=“mailto:kdfields1@ua.edu”>kdfields1@ua.edu</a></p>
<p>They will arrange the rest of the day…meeting with faculty, honors people, touring honors dorms, etc.</p>
<p>Sometimes mail goes to their SPAM folders, so call them if you haven’t heard back within a few business days. They do an excellent job and work very hard.</p>
<p>Not to piggyback, but I have the same question. My son is a senior with an unweighted 4.0 GPA, Probable NMF with a combined SAT score of 2260 (800 Reading, 800 Math, 660 Writing). We live in FL and have Prepaid college, so he could go to UCF for free. He is also applying to Georgia Tech and FL Institute of Technology. What other schools should he be looking at? I see UA and TAMU listed above, but would they be worth the extra distance and money they will probably cost?</p>
<p>Both the OP and FLmom should be looking at schools that won’t require you to take on much debt. Your scores should allow you to do that, and you might take advantage of that possibility. As long as the schools are ABET accredited, go with low cost: </p>
<p><a href=“http://main.abet.org/aps/Accreditedprogramsearch.aspx”>http://main.abet.org/aps/Accreditedprogramsearch.aspx</a></p>