<p>I've realized that I've been building my college list based on simply academics, and I don't want to regret it later, but I don't really know what I'm looking for in a college. To me, it seems like the next step in life, just like how we went from elementary to middle school, from middle to high school.</p>
<p>I was hoping some CCers could help guide me in choosing colleges/universities on the East Coast somehow, through questions or any other method. I'm looking to major in computer science. I do need financial aid. I have top stats academically (rank 1, perfect subjects, high SAT, straight A's, etc) and I have my pool of leadership in EC's.</p>
<p>Also, on a side note, if anyone could recommend any unrestrictive EA schools I could consider for CS anywhere in the states, I'd appreciate it.</p>
<p>What do you want out of a college? 50,000 students who you’ll mostly never meet or 1,500 that you’ll probably see every time you go to the dining hall? Good weather an issue? Tons of studying or having enough time to party on the weekends? Preppy or not? Stringent course requirements or complete freedom? A wet campus or a straight-laced one? Do you need financial aid or not?</p>
<p>And so on. You have a massive selection of schools. Do your research and find out which ones interest you.</p>
<p>I don’t want a small school where it’ll be like high school and everyone knows everyone. I prefer a larger campus or student body but still small enough to meet people.</p>
<p>I hate super hot weather, but I don’t mind the rain (and I love snow). I’m a California resident, and I find the weather here to be nice, but I like the cold weather of the East Coast. </p>
<p>I’m not a big party kid, but I’d like to have some freedom to do my own stuff on the weekends. I don’t mind studying, but of course, I don’t want to have to only have time to study and have no time to socialize.</p>
<p>As for course requirements, I don’t mind as long as I get to focus on computer science related courses. I don’t need complete freedom, just a bit of leeway to choose.</p>
<p>My mom says we stretch our finances a little to get by with the 11k-12k EFC. Do my outside/extra scholarships pay for the financial need portion or the EFC portion?</p>
<p>Outside scholarships just get applied to the financial need portion…they don’t get applied to the EFC portion.</p>
<p>The only way to reduce your EFC is to get a 4 year merit scholarship that is so HUGE (like a near-full-ride) that your remaining cost is less than $12k.</p>
<p>And, keep in mind that most outside scholarships are small and ONLY for frosh year…so no help for soph, jr, sr, years.</p>
<p>I would fall into the “Are you more middle income (like $50-70k per year) and your parents can pay their “expected family contribution”?” category.</p>
<p>I’m a National Merit Semi-Finalist so far (no one knows about Finalist status until February). My PSAT was a 238.</p>
<p>“Are you looking at ivies/elites like MIT and Cornell?”
Yes, I am! MIT, CMU, Stanford, and UC Berkeley are my top choices right now, somewhat in that order. Cornell is another Ivy on my list. I’m unsure about whether or not the other Ivies are suitable for me and for computer science.</p>
<p>My family will contribute enough to cover the EFC of 11k-12k if necessary - it’s just a strain on us. </p>
<p>My SAT score is higher than 2300. All of my AP scores are 5’s, with 3 self-studied. I have more than 6 AP tests taken, and 5 more AP classes this year.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the questions because I wasn’t sure what info to provide :)</p>
<p>This is a rather large step you’re making, and your choice shouldn’t be solely based on academics. If I were you, I’d take some time to visit some campuses nearby. Utilize the “ask a student!” emails (if the schools have one). Talk to current students while visiting campuses. Ask admissions officers. Oftentimes, they’ll be very honest with you, because they don’t want people who can’t handle the workload or the environment. Take a look around the area near the school. My family and I went on a week-long road trip down CA, looking at various in-state campuses last year. I also emailed various people about life on-campus and took a look at websites that talked about the social environment. It really gave me some perspective.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I don’t have the ability to travel to visit schools unless the trip is paid by the college for one of those sleeping bag weekends, etc. I’m not sure what to look for in a college yet.</p>
<p>I personally think that these colleges-MIT, CMU, Stanford, UCB ,Cornell + UCLA +USC as a financial safety are probably all you need to have. [Just be sure to apply to USC before the Dec 11 deadline so you can be considered for on of their 200+ Full tuition scholarships.] If you apply SCEA to Stanford, the DEC 1 USC application deadline is OK with Stanford’s SCEA rules, because it required for scholarship consideration.</p>
<p>For east coast also look at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Total UG + grad is about 7500 students so you can judge for yourself if that is too small for you.</p>
<p>"Aren’t MIT, CMU, Stanford, Cornell, and possibly UCB all considered reaches for everyone "
MIT, Stanford, Cornell, and UCB are reaches, CMU not so much, but if you are HAPPY with USC and UCLA as match safeties, [ and I seem to remember your stats/ GPA/ SAT’s are tip-top] then I’m saying I don’t think you’ll need to add any more colleges besides RPI, which I agree with adding. You may want to add UCSD too , just in case. If you apply before Dec 1 to USC [ you’ll probably hear from them in early Feb, when they send out invitations to interview for scholarships- which means you’re in there and WHAT EVER YOU DO- GO TO THE INTERVIEW- it’s REQUIRED to be considered for a full tuition scholarship!!!] , and you also apply EA to MIT, and others that offer EA, and are then deferred or rejected in early Dec, then you’ll have an “early read” on whether you perhaps need to add more colleges before the Jan 1 deadline. I would have all your teacher and GC LOR’s, SAT scores, AP scores, and transcripts already sent to any other colleges you might consider applying to before Dec 1 as well. Your essays and completed application can be done by you after your EA notification, if you choose to complete applications to those colleges.</p>
<p>The other thought is if you change you mind about doing CS in college[ and many students do change majors ] you may want to add some other reach colleges to the list- such as HYP, since you would be considered “competitive” for those schools, and Columbia, and Chicago-[ unless the thought of doing the “core” at the last 2 makes you ill]
Just a thought.</p>
<p>^^^^ the OP posted this earlier-
“Unfortunately, I don’t have the ability to travel to visit schools unless the trip is paid by the college for one of those sleeping bag weekends, etc”</p>
<p>Yes, I saw that, so the point is, visiting the schools is out of the question, financially, & who wants to attend a school, sight unseen? That is what I would like to get across…</p>
<p>private colleges, especially wealthy ones, will often help accepted students with low EFC’s visit during April. We did not visit 2 of DS’s reach schools back east until the acceptance letters came in. [ we’re also from Calif] For less well off families, a trip to a college where you have less than a 10% chance of acceptance is completely unaffordable, as well as a waste of $$.</p>
<p>Caltech (non-restrictive EA, reach for all), Rose Hulman (rolling, safety/match), Case Western (non-restrictive EA, safety/match) - none on the east coast but all good schools.</p>
<p>And you’re right to want to do lots of EA - it makes Spring SOOOOO much better!</p>
<p>And if you DO manage to get into MIT or an Ivy, you won’t have to pay much at all. They have ridiculously good need-based financial aid.</p>