College Suggestions?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So, here goes - I've decide to reduce myself to asking a bunch of strangers for college suggestions (I already have ideas in mind, of course, but external suggestions couldn't hurt). You guys are smart, though, so I have faith.</p>

<p>Some info:
- GPA: 4.0 uw, 4.24 w (that's what it will be at end of this year (junior year)).
- SAT: 2240 (800 M, 700 CR, 740 W).
- Want to major in engineering (probably electrical).
- Want good academics/good prestige (doesn't mean it has to be MIT or something).
- Want a good quality of life (happy students/school spirit, nice campus, good social scene, rigorous but not overwhelming courseload, preferably no cutthroat competition).
- Weather isn't a big deal for me, but a sunny place would be cool.
- Tuition isn't an issue.
- Don't say Stanford or MIT (I'm already applying to them with full knowledge I won't make either).</p>

<p>I'm thinking about places like Rice, University of Michigan, UPenn, Schreyer... Basically, places where the amount of fun and social life is on par with the academics, and where engineering is at least pretty good. Rice in particular seems to be pretty freakin awesome from what I've read (res colleges, happy students, good engineering, NASA proximity, great campus, Houston). UMich seems awesome too except I'm skeptical/worried about the size/bureaucracy. Penn is Penn, and Penn State's engineering is actually pretty good, etc. etc. etc.</p>

<p>Anyway enough rambling. Could anyone give suggestions/reinforce or denounce what I've said/verbally destroy me for my incompetence? Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>You and your family can afford up to $60,000 per year cost of attendance?</p>

<p>Is your eventual goal after graduation to:
a. Work as an electrical engineer?
b. Go to graduate school in electrical engineering?
c. Work as an investment banker?</p>

<p>If a or b, the usual suspects include Berkeley, UT Austin, UIUC, Georgia Tech, CMU, Michigan, UCLA, UCSD, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Washington, USC, etc…</p>

<p>If c, Ivy League or MIT.</p>

<p>Check ABET accreditation at [Accredited</a> Program Search](<a href=“http://main.abet.org/aps/AccreditedProgramSearch.aspx/AccreditationSearch.aspx]Accredited”>http://main.abet.org/aps/AccreditedProgramSearch.aspx/AccreditationSearch.aspx) .</p>

3

<p>Well ok maybe not but we honestly won’t be qualifying for need based scholarship anytime soon or anything. Thanks for the info.</p>

4

<p>

Sounds like you need to include your in-state flagship (which probably has a good engineering program).</p>

5

<p>

</p>

<p>What is your state of residency? If you cannot afford list price of up to $60,000 per year and will not quality for need-based aid, then you need to consider less expensive options:</p>

<ul>
<li>In-state public universities.</li>
<li>Other schools with lower list prices (e.g. Minnesota, Virginia Tech, Cal Poly SLO, Iowa State, Stony Brook, Massachusetts, etc.).</li>
<li>Other schools with large merit scholarships (e.g. Alabama, UAB).</li>
<li>Community college for two years, then transfer to an in-state public university.</li>
</ul>

6

<p>ucbalumnus is right. If you can’t afford the tuition straight up then you probably need to start thinking about trading some of the prestige factor for merit money. You need to figure out your EFC right now because that will tell you if schools like Rice are still in the running
[What</a> is EFC? The Start of Your College Search](<a href=“http://diycollegerankings.com/2011/05/05/what-is-efc-the-start-of-your-college-search/]What”>http://diycollegerankings.com/2011/05/05/what-is-efc-the-start-of-your-college-search/)</p>