College Suggestions (NJ Resident)

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am currently going into my senior year and I have only vague idea of what schools I should apply to. As of right now the only ideas i do have is applying to Rutgers University, mainly because my brother currently attends that school and will be graduating next may. Other than that I don't know where to apply so i've come here looking for guidance.</p>

<p>What matters most to me is the education. I plan to major in Computer Engineering or Computer Science (maybe both) so the school must have an excellent program. Also the school must offer at least a Master's degree in science for CE/CS. Must also be a 4 year university/college.</p>

<p>The next factor is Location. I live in NJ and would love to go to an in state school, but if there is an excellent program I would go there. No farther north than Massachusetts/New York and no farther south than North Carolina.</p>

<p>I prefer a suburban/urban area.</p>

<p>Information About Me:
-Honors Student</p>

<p>-Sat: 2000 (Looking forward to scoring higher in Nov.)</p>

<p>-Un-weighted Gpa: 3.8+ (Not formally calculated yet)</p>

<p>-Sat2: Planning to take Physics Chemistry and Math 2 in Oct. and studying over the summer to make sure i get 700+ on each.</p>

<p>-I excel in Math and Science, I also have college-level knowledge in computer science but sadly no formal education to prove it (yet).</p>

<p>-Ap: So far I've taken no AP exams but I will be taking AP Calculus, AP Gov, AP CompSci and AP Statistics classes my senior year. As well as take the AP Physics and AP Chem Exams (Studying on my own). </p>

<p>-Sports:
Sophomore: Spring Track
Junior: Cross Country, Winter Track, Spring Track
(Most Likely)Senior: Cross Country, Winter Track, Spring Track</p>

<p>-Awards:
Participant in New Jeresy Science League for Earth Science(Freshman) and Chemistry(Junior)
Cross Country Work Horse Award (Hardest Working Athlete)(Junior)
Baush + Lomb Honorary Science Award (w/ Consideration For 30000+ Scholarship to Rochester University)
High School Academic Award (Junior Year only, slacked of first 2 years but determined to succeed now)</p>

<p>-Extra Curricular
Member of BLD Trenton Youth Group and I attend Weekly Worship every Friday night, (I provide my talent of playing guitar for the worship.)
This summer I'll be volunteering at my local Hospital</p>

<p>-Work Experience
None.</p>

<p>-Hobbies (If it matters)
Guitar
Programming Video Games
Producing Music
Learning/Studying</p>

<p>I would greatly appreciate Any help, really ! Websites, Suggestions that I could do to become a better candidate for colleges to pick, really anything!</p>

<p>Thank You in advance, and I hope you have a great day!</p>

2

<p>Rutgers New Brunswick is obviously a great option, also check out Lehigh University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Carnegie Mellon (reach school), RIT, Cornell (Reach), to name a few.</p>

<p>Obviously a higher SAT score can only help your chances at any school.</p>

3

<p>Click here [College</a> Search - College Confidential](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/]College”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/) and be able to do a complete search using all the criteria you want. It totally nailed my son’s first choice. It is an amazing tool.</p>

<p>It came up with a lot of great schools for you: Princeton, Stevens Institute of Technology, Momouth University, Rutgers, NB, Rutgers Newark, TCNJ and NJIT, etc. Lot’s of choices.</p>

4

<p>How much are cost and financial aid a concern?</p>

<p>Rutgers is an obvious choice.</p>

<p>Others worth considering include Stony Brook, UMass Amherst, UNC Chapel Hill, NCSU, Virginia, Virginia Tech, UMCP, UMBC.</p>

5

<p>How about Stevens in Hoboken?</p>

<p>I also consider TCNJ to be one of the best schools in the state - their computer department is small, though, and not sure about the masters. You could also check out schools in the Philadelphia area such as St Joe’s and Drexel with the coop program (although that’s not for everyone, of course…)</p>

<p>I am also a fan of Northeastern, but like Drexel, it isn’t for everyone with the coop program. </p>

<p>A lot of schools are expensive so not sure what kind of financial aid you’re hoping to get, either need-based or academic. I think the academic is getting more and more competitive - and some schools will award it based on only the math/verbal portion of the SAT.</p>

6

<p>Apart from urban/suburban, what are you looking for in a school? Large vs small? Tech focused school or not? How important is cost? Will your family qualify for financial aid?</p>

<p>Instate public options: Rutgers, TCNJ, NJIT, Rowan
Rowan wasn’t mentioned yet, it has a relatively new but well-regarded engineering school. It would be a safety for you.</p>

<p>Private schools that come to mind: Drexel, Lehigh, Northeastern, RPI, WPI, RIT, NYU Poly, Stevens, GW
These schools differ widely, so it would be good to know what other criteria you have.</p>

7

<p>STEVENS! The salutatorian of my class that graduated this year is going there in the fall. They are every good with computer science.</p>

8

<p>Stevens is a bit expense at 40k plus a year…although it does seem appealing</p>