<p>My DD thinks she wants to be an engineer, but not totally confident about that, and has applied to mostly big state schools to give her other options if she changes her mind. I can relate to this as I started as an Aerospace Eng. Major and ended up in business. </p>
<p>Her top two picks at this point are Alabama (not much of an engineering reputation) and UCLA, where I can get her in-state tuition. Each pick has very little to do with engineering vs. the overall school and where her friends are going. Specific engineering majors arent that important at this point as she doesnt have a good idea of what she is interested in. She is thinking mechanical, environmental and possibly EE. Daughter lives in Texas and would only consider UT in-state, but did not get into the Eng. Program there. Trying to figure out how much emphasis to put on the engineering reputation when she isnt that confident about engineering. Also, trying to factor in cost vs. difference in school reputation. Definitely comparing apples and oranges.</p>
<p>Accepted into Engineering School at the following:
Alabama (full scholarship, including housing, $3.5K annual stipend, free laptop)
UCLA (no scholarship, but in-state tuition = approx. $10K annually)</p>
<p>2nd Tier on her list:
Auburn (full scholarship including housing etc )
Georgia (Eng. Program is odd no real college, but in-state tuition, honors college and $1,500 scholarship.)
Colorado (Presidential Scholarship tuition cost is still $15K annually)
Arizona (Full Tuition scholarship)
Arizona St. (Almost full tuition scholarship)</p>
<p>She likes Alabama and I like the amazing scholarship (could put her college savings toward grad school), but I am worried she might not find a job with a degree from their program. UCLA is great, but she will end up having to take out loans of up to $40K, which I have told her I would try and pay half of. Looking for her to take one more visit prior to deciding. Any recommendations off of the above list?</p>
<p>She is a national merit finalist and these schools all offered generous scholarships. She applied to UC Berkeley and hasn’t heard. Quite frankly she would have received no aid at most of the “better schools” she could have applied to and $50,000 annually for tuition is out of my league no matter what the efc says.</p>
<p>As a merit finalist she could likely have received significant merit awards from Carnegie Mellon, Case Western to name a couple. But I understand you are where you are. Alabama looks like the way to go to me with an eye toward a step-up at the graduate level.</p>
<p>Alabama would be a decent choice. See if she can put herself in line to grab an internship or two in Huntsville where a lot of DoD work happens. I have been doing defense work here in the DC area for a number of years but it always seem like Huntsville is in the mix for a lot of joint DoD projects.</p>
<p>Not sure how she could get in-state rates at UCLA if she lives in Texas.
Case Western will give her a lot, but still cost a huge amount left over.
CMU is too late anyway and she may not have gotten in.
She might still try for U Tulsa which is comparable to Alabama but private, but all the NMF full scholarships might be gone.
By “Colorado” you mean UC-Boulder (?) and by “Georgia” you mean …U Georgia?</p>
<p>The big problem with both schools is their proximity to Georgia Tech. Recruiters gravitate to GT and avoid the other schools for engineers. It’s like your local band playing a concern when the Rolling Stones are next door and charging the same price of admission.</p>
<p>I live in Cal so I can get my daughter a waiver of out of state tuition for the 1st year until she can establish cal residency on her own. Called a condit waiver after congressman Gary Condit.</p>
<p>Preaching to the choir on GT, but she didn’t want to apply.</p>
<p>Of those schools I’d probably choose ASU. But then again, that’s because I like to party and ASU has a very stout reputation for that. Partying for little money is a great deal.</p>