<p>Seeking help in putting together a list of potential schools for my junior DS focusing on computer science right now but considering mechanical engineering or math or physics as well. </p>
<p>NYS resident
3.8 GPA (unweighted, mostly A's except for English)
ACT 32<br>
9 AP's expected by end of senior year
Work experience: Lifeguard/swim instructor summer camp
Extracurricular: Set Construction/Lighting/Technical for HS drama club - at least 20 hours per week per school year.
Service: 100+ hours Assistant Stage Manager for elementary/middle school/community theater groups</p>
<p>Not going to qualify for much need based aid as per the NPC's but hoping to keep tuition and room and board costs to $25,000 without loans so could go to $30,000 if he takes out loans.</p>
<p>Would like to be within 12 hours driving distance of NYC or at least in Northeast, Midwest or Southeast regions. Not really into sports (playing or watching) or Greek Life but knowing the budget constraints is open to all suggestions. </p>
<p>Start with some SUNYs esp Stoney Brook and Bullafo, I’m not too familiar with the others, I’d think. I know some OOS students who got tuition breaks from UMass. He would qualify for a full tuition ride from Univ of Alabama plus $2,500 per year extra for engineering or CS. And a plane ride might be a lot quicker and cheaper than a 1 hr drive, a lot of OOS students take advantage of that offer and he can apply to the honors college. There is a very active UA board here to read what some of the students are up to. You might want to look at the financial aid forum and some of the resources pinned to the top about automatic rides and low cost OOS colleges.</p>
<p>You could look at UMaine Orono. You would automatically qualify for flagship scholarship ($60,000 for the four years). Your cost would be $25000a year OOS. Engineering scholarships could stack on top of that. It is a pretty campus, state of the art engineering facilities, small classroom size, great research opportunities for undergrads. We are we are looking at this school for our student. Very friendly and safe campus. Buses run from Orono to South Station so getting home is not too bad.</p>
<p>Son had an interest in engineering, but was a major computer geek. We were surprised he didn’t want to majorin CS. We had him apply to CS schools and schools with engineering programs (that all had CS as well). </p>
<p>Applied and accepted to all 15 he applied to. In the end he chose SUNY Buffalo for it’s amazing engineering program and opportunities he had on campus. He did amazingly well. Graduated with 2 bachelors (BS in Mechanical Engin and a BS in Aerospace Engin.) in 4 years. Tough program but he was well focused. Great internships were both gotten through UB’s fall engineering fair and also got 3 job offers from the fair and knew he was employed by the November before graduation. He’s been out of UB for 1 year. No regrets. (Girlfriend also UB Engineering major and grad and had great internships and job offer as well in different Engineering discipline. </p>
<p>Though son was told he could go to any of the schools he applied to, at our cost, loan free, he said he made the decision based on the program at the school and incredible cost (he got half tuition merit). No regrets. Easy flight home to Long Island. </p>
<p>ceilblue- Sons stats were same as your sons by the way. Also, not into athletics/Greek life either which is total opposite of other son who is athletic, loves to play and watch all sports. Loves school spirit and all the games. Frat boy. </p>
<p>Feel free to PM me or add any messages on the Buffalo thread and I’ll see it. </p>
<p>Thanks for the responses! Glad to hear about the positive experiences at Buffalo. Sounds like we have similar families crazed. My older 2 were into sports and school spirit and picked their colleges with that as a key factor. Any thoughts on Stony Brook or Binghamton?</p>
<p>For engineering, UB or Stony Brook. Although some posters at Binghamton would disagree (and my son apoplied and loved Bing but hated what he saw going on in the engineering dept---- and much later I searched and Bings engineering is so much newer than UB and SB and much lower in ranking for the program. (Otherwise Bing is a great school!)</p>
<p>Stony Brook of course has a great reputation. We live in the next town over. Not much of a school town at all. Close to the mall by car. Train station is very close. The school is pretty spread out. Unsure if you go from one side off a main street to the other, or if students stay put on one side. Great hospital on campus. Feel free to ask me any questions I may be able to answer.</p>
<p>Stony Brook- has a reputation as a commuter school though unsure how valid that is. Long Island is so congested, maybe there are plenty of kids who commute or go home for weekend. Buffalo, much less so in that regard. </p>
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Not really into sports (playing or watching) or Greek Life b
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<p>At schools with a Greek presence, often the Eng’g and CS students aren’t that involved. I know that at my kids’ undergrad, they were Math and ChemicalE majors and very few of their classmates were Greek. My older son had no interest in football when he started, but he did catch the fever and became a fan. </p>
<p>Your son would get free tuition at Alabama, and if he majors in CS or Eng’g, he’d get an additional $2500. Remaining costs would be about $12k per year. </p>
<p>He’d have to apply soon. The scholarship deadline is in Dec. </p>
<p>We will look into Alabama as a financial safety possibility and consider expanding his geographic preference. </p>
<p>My perception of the SUNY’s is Stony Brook is really strong in computer science but has a large commuter population and generally unhappy students, SUNY Buffalo has a strong engineering program but is very large and has the extreme winter weather and SUNY Binghamton tends to be the school everyone loves but is weaker in engineering and computer science and the most difficult to get accepted to. We will have to visit and do some research on all three to see which one would be the best fit for him. </p>
<p>New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology has OOS rates a few thousand dollars more than SUNY rates for NY residents. Check it out if you want a good STEM school in a warm climate.</p>