Hi everyone. First post. My son will be a senior in the fall. He is an aspiring computer science major with somewhat scrambled stats. He has a moderately low GPA roughly 3.33 UW / 3.55W (grading system gives .5 bump for honors, 1.0 bump for AP’s) with a vast improvement in grades his junior year. Mixture of honors (more) and non honors classes. Not taking AP’s until senior year- 3 scheduled. SAT Results: 1500 single sitting: 780 English / 720 Math. Under represented minority (I want to preserve anonymity here -so will not specify which group.) EC’s are a little light. He wanted to do more this year but I counseled him to focus on raising his grades. He will have had 4 years of Band, 2 years of Drama, 2 years of JV Cross Country, 2 years of Programming Club, limited number of community service hours like snow shoveling in the neighborhood and volunteering at a Goodwill warehouse. He recently attended an engineering summer camp in the North East at one of his tech reach schools and loved it there. He prefers a tech school environment and, although he is very sociable, he does not want to attend a “party” type school for reasons specified below.
He had lack luster grades his first two years of high school that are out of line with his SAT scores - mostly B’s and B-'s in math and science classes. His low grades his first two years in high school were attributable, in my mind, to both a lack of maturity on his part (not sufficiently studying for tests or turning in all homework) and being impacted by living part time in a shared custody arraignment with a mom with a severe alcohol problem. I am going to refrain from describing the details of that situation here but it was definitely something that impacted his well being and his school work despite my best efforts to intervene.
As his mom’s situation worsened at the start of his junior year, my son basically had a great awakening both personally and academically and started to actively minimize the amount of time spent around her. After Christmas break he basically refused to go back to her house because of the chaotic environment and has been living full time with me since then. Since the start of junior year, he has been a different student, a much happier kid and has received A- or higher in all his math and science courses and a mixture of A’s and high B in his humanities classes. He is currently ranked in the top third of class in a decent public high school in the North East and moving up but the clock is running out. The most he can realistically raise his raise GPA/ class rank after his senior year 1st semester due to his rocky start would be around 3.4 UW / 3.65 W or the top 25% of his class. At this point, we recognize that his grades are what they are- not disastrous given what they could have been but certainly not as competitive as they should be for some of his top picks.
I told my son I thought he had a small but meaningful chance at some of the reach schools if he maintains his upward GPA trend and if someone at one of these schools wants to take a chance on him as bright turn around candidate but that many of the competing applicants at these schools would also have equal or higher test scores coupled with much higher GPA’s and class rank and that would present an uphill battle. He is going to try to retake the SAT in the fall to up his math score. He thinks picking up another question or two in the math section is realistic. If his practice test runs go ok he will also take the SAT II in Math II and Physics in the fall to demonstrate more math/science chops.
Matches( Need more):
RIT (Visited campus-loved it)
PITT ???(Not sure if this is party school. Not in state)
Binghamton ??? (Not sure if this party school but the computer science department was described as decent in on-line reviews. Not in state)
Safeties: (Need more)
Umass Lowell (Visited campus - liked it but wished it didn’t have split campus. Not in state.)
Our local in state university (I do not wish to identify the state we are from) is off the list for safety schools because of its reputation as party school.
Biggest question for you as the parent is how much you can contribute to help him with his college costs. Be aware that many colleges require both parents’ finances to determine financial aid, so if his mother is not cooperative, or has significant income but will not pay, those schools should be assumed to cost list price or list price minus merit scholarships only. Schools that use FAFSA only will only need your (custodial parent) information; those that use CSS Profile as well often need the non-custodial parent information; check their web sites.
Check the net price calculator at each school’s web site to get financial aid estimates (but note whether the school uses just your or both you and his mother’s financial information and enter appropriately). Out-of-state public schools are unlikely to give financial aid, though some may offer merit scholarships.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology are small techy schools that are not that selective and relatively low cost even for out-of-state. Among SUNYs, Stony Brook is relatively well known for CS. Louisiana Tech would give him a full ride for his stats if their scholarships are like previous years.
@ucbalumunus and @rosered55 - Hi. Per FAFSA guidelines and definitions, I would definitely be the custodial parent so my ex-wife would not need to fill out the form. Wasn’t aware of CSS. I thought only schools like Stanford and some of the Ivies asked for the non custodial parent financials. That scares me a little. Will definitely look into. Thanks. Her income is minimal but I am not sure she would cooperate if asked.
I have remarried. My wife and I have been bogged down trying to start a small business so our combined income has been relatively low for the last two years. We haven’t run the calculator but don’t expect the expected financial contribution to be a big unmanageable number. We are fully aware there could be a huge disconnect in what aid and merit is offered and what is actually needed. We are confident that there is a significant grandparent back stop if it comes to that. We were are planning on my son applying RD everywhere and weighing the aid packages and cost benefit of where he gets into before making a decision. Son knows the drill. I have told him we will do our best to let him attend the top choice he gets into but that financials and cost benefit will also be weighed.
Thanks for the suggestion on L Tech and SD and NM School of Mines. Not sure if my son would want to go that far from home. I know of Stony Brooks CS excellent reputation but don’t think my son would like the location. Not sure if SB’s “commuter school” reputation is an fair or unfair assessment.
I go to CMU, right down the street from Pitt. I wouldn’t say that Pitt is a party school (maybe in comparison to CMU, but event then, not really). Definitely a different type of student population than one might get at RIT or WPI, though.
The Pitt financial aid website doesn’t seem to mention the CSS profile from a cursory glance. Your son may be able to take some computer science classes at CMU as a Pitt student if he was so inclined.
I think your plan is quite good. Those Reach schools are all excellent. Given upward grade trend and URM I think he has a chance for at least one acceptance from the Reaches. I think RIT is very good and a match. Hopefully the GC can mention the home situation and turnaround in their recommendation letter.
I suggest taking the ACT. You are probably right to apply RD rather than Early (at least for the Reaches), so that hopefully he can show A’s in his AP classes next semester. Though sending one non-binding EA to one of the match/safeties wouldn’t hurt, and possibly be a big relief.
Somewhat far, but close to airport/good CS/the opposite of a party school–UT-Dallas. Not sure what they’d think of his grades, but they give merit aid for test scores.
And maybe consider Stevens Institute of Technology as another match. I hear good things about the school and they seem to be more forgiving of GPA when test scores are high (at least that’s how I read the data.)
He can apply early *action/i to see if he can get admission and scholarship offers early without committing to attend until after being able to compare prices. Also, at schools which have rolling admissions, it can be advantageous to apply early, since sometimes popular majors can fill up early. Some schools have early deadlines for scholarship consideration.
It is best for you and he to have some idea of what each school may cost, based on net price calculator estimates, before applying. That can save you and him from the possible April shock of all admissions being to schools which are too expensive.
Stony Brook is heavily residential, with 84% of frosh living in the dorms, according to http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg05_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=86 . However, it is possible that it has a significant “suitcase” population (i.e. students who live on or near campus during the week, but frequently head back to their parents’ places on weekends).
Be aware that someone starting their own business will have a much higher EFC than you expect. Many of those deductions you take for your business will be added back in, inflating the “amount you can pay”. You may want to look at some merit aid schools here: http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
Alabama and UAH might be some good options. I know Alabama will use his weighted GPA for scholarship levels.
I think you may find that the net price calculators are not very helpful due I starting your own business. Your wife’s income, if any separate will also be counted. I think you may be quite surprised (and sadly not in a good way) at what your EFC ends up being. I would definitely fill out FAFSA as easily in October as possible once it opens so you can know where you stand.
Unfortunately given that your S did live with your ex in 2015 and prior you will have an extremely difficult if not impossible time getting a waiver for any profile schools that use the NCP form. By way of example my bits have not seen their dad since 2001, I have no idea where he lives and have not received any child support in years despite enforced garnishment by the state and significant documented arrears. Despite that, I will likely have a hard time getting a waiver. As best you can I’d simply avoid those schools if possible. You can check the list and see which require it, many at the level you are looking at do not even if they are a profile school.
Unfortunately I’m not much help specific to CS and east coast (would have some west coast and Midwest thoughts) but I would say to be very careful about avoiding schools entirely because of a perceived reputation. All schools (exempt maybe a true dry campus) will have drinking and drugs. It can not be avoided entirely and your S will have to navigate in a world where that is present. That said many/most schools offer substance free housing and substance free floors. I personally would look for that versus ruling an entire school out. Those schools that have those reputations also have serious non imbibing kids, as well as one that imbibe responsibly.
@KnitterGirl -Thanks for the feedback on Pitt. My wife actually attended CMU many years ago as an art student. I will have to ask her if she remembers Pitt. @Tennisforlife -Thanks for the tip. I have the feeling I am going to be looking hard at that waiver. @Otterma - Thanks for the tip. I don’t know the school but will look it up. @SouthernHope - Thank you for saying that. It made my day!! @atomon -I hear good things about the UT system from my in-laws. Definitely too far from home for us though. @pickpocket -Thanks I will definitely check out Stevens. @Erin’sDad - I hear great things about Alabama. My sister in-law’s grandfather graduated first in his class there ages ago and did extremely well for himself. I just fear it would be culture shock for my son. @eandesmom -I’m not sure if it matters for the purposes of the NCP form but while my son did live part time his mom in 2015 he still lived more with more me in 2015 because I am the residential parent that lives in the school district. I will take your advice and fill out the FAFSA early. @usbaluminus -Thank you for the link. I have printed it out. Agreed on the rolling admissions advice. We are going to get those applications in early.
Have you considered Illinois Tech? It’s in Chicago
Other than URM, my DD sounds very similar to your son in profile. Illinois Tech said that as long as you mainly have A’s and B’s in your science and math classes (certainly coupled with good test scores), you will be accepted. We toured it and it seems very nice.
I think Illinois Tech is a safety, and I also think Purdue (if you’re willing to put Math with CS as a second choice degree) is a safety. At worst a match.
UMass Amherst also has an excellent computer science department. Not sure if it’s a safety or a match…
It actually doesn’t matter where he lived for the NCP form. What matters is being able to show you have no way to get information from the NCP and why. CP is based on nights spent, not financials but for Profile you really have to show a strong case why you’d qualify for one. It requires 3rd party documentation as a general rule but each school has their own form and policy. I’d contact ones of serious interest but here are some typical parameters:
If the whereabouts of your noncustodial parent are unknown, or if you have extenuating circumstances regarding your situation, complete the Noncustodial Parent Waiver Petition. Note that third party supporting documentation is required. Refusal of your noncustodial parent to provide information or support does not constitute a waiver
You probably need to find an in-state safety, maybe a smaller directional campus, so you have one spot you’re guaranteed in-state tuition. Or, dig into your local state U and see if there is a substance-free dorm option that might work.
Missouri S & T is another easier to get into tech school that I haven’t seen mentioned yet.
Buying the latest Rugg’s Recommendations PDF might be helpful as well. It will give you a list of colleges at different levels of selectivty offering good CS programs among their peers.
@Shiprock1976, interesting how you wrote custody arraignment- perhaps you meant custody arrangement? I agree that your S is lucky to have a parent who cares and wants to give him an opportunity to succeed.
I noticed that you nixed UT Dallas but take a look at this school. It is a top notch CS school that is really trying hard to attract more geographical diversity and gives merit. The key for merit is to show early interest and apply early. Is there a particular reason you want him close to home? Plus, because it is a public school, they don’t require the CSS.
What about LAC’s? Especially those that need males?
I have read of cases where families ask a cleric/priest/rabbi or Doctor write a letter explaining how the non custodial parent is not cooperating and the private school will waive that part of the CSS.
I would definitely try to clear up exactly what you can contribute financially. That will help clarify the parameters and see if your S needs to really look at merit.
Also, just to let you know that some schools will give out merit to specific minority groups. So although you may not want to share this, I would encourage you to look into this.
For example, my D was considering applying to one LAC that gave a merit scholarship to National Hispanic Scholars.