Apply to RPI - they give lots of money to top students, and their engineering program is excellent. For example, CMU, which has one of the best CS programs in the country, considers RPI a “peer school” and will even match their financial aid, so that tells you something. RPI isn’t well known to the average Joe but it’s highly respected in the industry because its programs are known to be top-notch (and very tough academically).
My daughter also with 2300 SAT chose RPI (chemical engineering), mostly because she got a quasi full scholarship. It wasn’t her first choice initially, but she’s a freshmen there now and loves it. It’s a very nerdy crowd, so if you like that, it’s good. Also, she recently told me 100% of CS grads get hired out of college there. - The downsides are: it’s very STEM oriented and you won’t find much variety of other courses if you want that; it’s not much of a party school (though of course it has all kinds), and Troy is so-so compared to other places.
Well what I meant by my parents putting it all on me is that they expect me to pay them back someday. Sorry if that was unclear. I think I’m going to apply to RPI and I want to add Wellesley - it seems out of the blue but it seems that their CS grads actually do very well and go on to excellent grad schools.
Being that much indebted (even informally) to your parents is probably not a good idea for either you or them. You will be burdened by the debt for many years, which can limit your life choices (e.g. you may have to chase the money when making job and career choices, rather than choose a lower paying job with better career development). Your parents may not want to have to depend on your income to that extent, due to ups and downs of the job market.
Yeah I know @ucbalumnus. I’m just going to have to do my best, though. As much as I don’t want to pay, I agree with my parents that it’s only fair that I pay for my own education. My brothers will be doing the same. I can only hope that, as a computer science grad, I’ll come out with a high paying job
You are too late with many of those colleges mentioned. Colgate is a great school you might want to consider that has application due on the 15th. University of Richmond is another one you might want to consider. Penn State university campus is rolling I think although applying early can help you get in. Here is a link to a list of colleges you can still apply to. http://time.com/money/3652370/best-colleges-late-application-deadline/
You are obviously qualified to go to the colleges on your list and hopefully one will say yes. But I would consider them reach for anyone.
good luck
Go back to those lists in reply #37 and do yourself and your parents a favor.
Just curious because my school uses the 4.0 system, is a 97.5/100 GPA mean you got an average of 97.5% in all your classes? I don’t consider that just good-that’s great!
While not necessarily matches, I’d add some schools more in between your matches and reaches in selectivity- BU, Boston College, Lehigh. I don’t know too much about other schools in the NE!
Good luck!
HAHAHA no @pineapple86. I wish. I actually have quite a few grades in the 80s. Also, my average is weighted. I don’t know my unweighted GPA, but I think I’d be lucky if it even broke 90. I know I’m smart, but me and high school just don’t work together :-S
Ok, I didn’t realize the Union College deadline was Jan 15 so I will be applying there instead of Wellesley. I don’t think Wellesley really made sense for me anyway lol
Their RD application deadline is today. Rochester’s was January 5. So I guess both of those are out …
although, when one of my kids developed an interest in a school after the deadline had passed, he submitted an application anyway. They took it (and accepted him). A call to the admission office(s) might be in order.
Be sure to run the RPI net price calculator to estimate your own net costs.
They do award many merit scholarships. However, out of 100 private universities on the Kiplinger “Best Value” list, they have the highest average debt at graduation. For 2015-16, they claimed to meet the full financial need of only 27% of aid recipients. For Rochester, the corresponding figure is ~90% (but at this point, you may have a harder time persuading Rochester to take a late application.)
I know the RPI deadline is today, I’ll have it done by midnight 
(I’m a professional procrastinator) I’m not doing Rochester. And yes I did do the NPC.
This thread is full of last minute plot twists.
The Wellesley application did not, as you observed, seem to make much sense. (However, an “over-application” does little harm, so I didn’t comment earlier.)
I agree with you that last day applications are legitimate. The time spent on them may be the same irrespective of when you fill them out. However, bring sincerity to your efforts, as your new choices are quality schools with venerable histories and should be regarded accordingly.
Based partly on tk’s comments, seriously considering UR may still be a good idea. Simply let them know by phone or email that you only recently learned of everything they offer in terms of your interests – should you, of course, feel that’s the case. An entire four-year experience can be a lot to miss because of a deadline that may not be completely fixed.
Also remember that you can always try to transfer after your freshman year in case you really want to go to a college whose deadline you missed. You can also reapply to a college you didn’t get accepted to, if your freshman GPA is high you’ll have a chance.
Transferring means the OP would not be eligible for any merit aid that is only offered to freshmen, which is most of it. That’s not generally recommended on CC for financial reasons.
I did very well with my RPI and Union supplements. I had my guidance counselor read them over, and she said they were excellent. They were short and easy to do, and writing is one of my strengths. I honestly feel no need to apply to UR, and my parents would kill me if I added another school. I feel comfortable with my options now. I think both schools, especially Union, helped fill the gap between my safeties and my reaches. I’m not planning to transfer unless I am unhappy at my school, which I don’t think will happen because I know I will make the best out of wherever I end up. Thank you all for your advice!
WPI, RPI and Stevens Institute of Technology are probably all “match” schools by the metrics you are using. Unfortunately these metrics may be better at indicating your probability of admission than they are of predicting a fit for you. You are a unique individual who may respond differently to these different school environments. They all have great graduate school and job placement.
As similar as entering freshman data may look, the educational philosophies and college environments can differ even between these three similar schools.
Find out how the faculty interacts with undergraduate students. Do they mentor?
What percentage of first year students graduate four years?
Find out how decisions are reached regarding you course of study. Do you want direction or exploration?
Do you want to pursue some other interest? What are they? Can you follow those interest on campus?
See the colleges BEFORE you matriculate. Ask questions, take your time, be selective. YOU are shopping. Put some work into it and it will pay off. It will probably increase your success after arrival. All are expensive and all have financial aid BUT do select some financially safe schools with selective discretion. This is at least as important as a prom dress!
For application, you are short on time. Try this homework before you actually select a school.
Good luck! But it is not all luck!
RPI was my older son’s safety. He would have been more than happy to attend. (Didn’t apply to RIT or U of Rochester, because for comp sci RPI seemed like a better bet.) They gave him quite a bit of merit money. His rank was higher than yours but his GPA was the same (I assume that is unweighted.) His SAT scores were similar. In 2005 RPI was listed as one of the 25 “new Ivies”. I think it’s a pretty good school, and stronger than Siena for sure.
my GPA is weighted