<p>So I'm a high school junior and starting to get serious about a college search and I'm trying to compile a list of colleges to visit. So far the only ones I've visited are UMass Amherst and Amherst College. Some that I'm thinking of are
Northwestern University
University of Chicago
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
University of Michigan
Brown University
Cornell University
Duke University
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Wake Forest University
Bucknell University
University of Texas Austin
Rice University
Columbia University</p>
<p>I'm interested in engineering, so I'm focusing on colleges that have good engineering programs. I'm not really basing it on whether or not I think I could get into these schools, as some of the colleges that I'd like to visit, like Columbia, I think would be impossible for me to get into. But if you want more info my gpa is 4.55 weighted about 3.75ish unweighted and I haven't taken the SATs yet but the last time I took the PSAT I got a 208. If you guys could suggest some places to look at I'd be really grateful. </p>
<p>can your family afford any of these colleges? have you run the “net price calculator” with your parents’ tax forms and talked to your parents about what they can help you with? These are more important questions than whether you can get into these very good schools.</p>
<p>The best engineering program for the money may be at the public flagship in your own state. The private schools you’ve listed are long shots for your stats. OOS public universities could cost double your own in-state rates (with little need-based aid for OOS students).</p>
<p>Chicago, Wake Forest, and UNC-CH are very limited in their engineering offerings. Chicago has a new Institute for Molecular Engineering (but no chem/electrical/mechanical/civil engineering programs.) WF has 3-2 arrangements (where you go to another school for engineering courses). I think UNC only has environmental science and engineering (no chem/e/m/c etc).</p>
<p>Everyone always seems to be obsessed with cost, but if the OP says that cost doesn’t matter, there is no reason to suggest the in-state flagship. I applied to several state schools, but refused to apply to my in-state one (even though it is considered a good school).</p>
<p>Around here the engineering powerhouses are Penn St and Va Tech…</p>
<p>Engineering top schools often differ significantly from basic USNews top schools. If looking for top engineering schools, check their specific engineering lists, but then also realize that many engineering firms like to hire from local powerhouses, so consider where you think you’d like to work and see where they tend to hire from.</p>
<p>In addition to the schools on your list, you can think about GA Tech and maybe Villanova (more of a safety for you and they have non-binding EA I believe). </p>
<p>UT has great engineering. I agree with tk and would take Wake and the others mentioned off the list as well as Amherst and would add Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Penn State, CMU and MIT (reach) to the list.</p>