<p>GPA- 4.0 out of 4.8
SAT's- 630 math 610 reading 680 writing
AP's- US History (4 on the test), World History, Biology, Computer Sciences
Couple of extracurricluars (blood drive, math honor society, national honor society, etc.) including work experience since I was 16. </p>
<p>Im looking to go into engineering. Some of the most important factors for me include tuition price (not completely limited would like to keep it under around 30,000 a year before any financial aid). Distance, i want to go away (i dont like Nh or its weather) however im limiting myself to the larger schools on the east coast more or less. And of course most importantly academic strength in my intended area of study. </p>
<p>And i've looked at these schools so far.</p>
<p>Clemson (28,000 for tuition, would most likely go for mechanical engineering)
Virginia Tech (22,000 for tution, mechanical engineering)
West Virginia University (17,000 for tuition, Biometric Systems and Electrical Engineering dual major)
University of Rhode Island (last resort if the prior 3 dont work out.... like the distance to the beach however)</p>
<p>I have visited the 4 and was found them to be actually similar. All had great school pride (especially tech) and i liked the surroundings towns (Morgantown, Blacksburg, Clemson, and Kingston all had a college town feel). </p>
<p>So would anyone be willing to speak for any school, any program, or anything of that matter. Among the three top schools its been difficult to find reasonable differences as to why i shouldnt pick any 1. Any alternatives ive overlooked? </p>
<p>Im looking to go into engineering. Some of the most important factors for me include tuition price (not completely limited would like to* keep it under around 30,000 a year before any financial aid)**</p>
<p>Clemson (28,000 for tuition, would most likely go for mechanical engineering)
Virginia Tech (22,000 for tution, mechanical engineering)
West Virginia University (17,000 for tuition, Biometric Systems and Electrical Engineering dual major)
University of Rhode Island (last resort if the prior 3 dont work out… like the distance to the beach however)</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>???</p>
<p>First of all, WHY are you just looking at tuition? You have to pay for fees, room, board, books, etc as well. That can easily be another $12-15k per year.</p>
<p>For instance, Clemson costs about $40,000 per year for an OOS student.</p>
<p>Secondly, most OOS publics won’t give you financial aid to cover their costs. So, expect to pay for all costs except for maybe a $5500 student loan. </p>
<p>Are you saying that your parents will pay $30k per year?</p>
<p>Will you be testing again? Your stats are low for merit money. You have a 1240 M+CR score. The writing score doesn’t count much and won’t likely count for merit either.</p>
<p>You’ve asked people to speak about schools. Son really likes VT. As mom2collegekids says, however, it will probably be very unlikely that you will get merit aid unless you improve scores. I think you would have to bring scores and grades up significantly to feel more assured, confident of being accepted. Son in 09 was waitlisted initially ,instate,with 710 math and 650 verbal, 5 in AP physics, very significant EC’s,etc. but lower GPA. They do not really look at writing (I’m sure someone will correct me if that has changed). VT is getting more recognition recently (recruiters like their graduates, international award in June for their Lumenhaus,etc). It is only potentially going to get tougher to get into their most respected programs like engineering and architecture. Whatever you can do to make yourself more competitive for admission will help.Good luck!</p>
<p>I really don’t get your school choices. On one hand, you have Virginia Tech and Clemson, excellent engineering schools while there’s WVU and Rhode Island which aren’t as good for engineering. Have you looked at schools like Georgia Tech, Purdue, NC State, Wisconsin etc…?</p>
<p>I hope the OP comes back and gives some financial clarification.</p>
<p>He doesn’t seem to realize that out of state students don’t get need-based aid to help with OOS costs. And, his stats aren’t high enough for merit.</p>
<p>If his family will only pay $30k, then he needs to create a different list. There are schools that would work, just not mostly the ones on his list.</p>
<p>In terms of financially… Anything above Clemson is too much and even Clemson is relatively high. And in terms of financial aid… I understand It’s unlikely I’d get any. But at URI for example I’d get a tuition break as unh doesn’t have some of the programs. So I’m necessarily talking merit money im just talking any sort of reductions whatever they may be. I took the sats again on Saturday so that’s another piece that will change. In response to citing the differences between the schools. Virginia tech would be my top choice. With west virginia second due to it’s biometrics program as well as the cost and the overall environment. Then Clemson, mostly due to cost. Then rhode island. And to the suggestion that I should into schools such as purdue, I would like to stay along the east coast. And of course thank to everyone for the information. I appreciate it.</p>
<p>You are going to have a tough time at VT. Engineering admissions start consideration at 600 CR/M…consideration, not acceptance. In state is heavily favored at a 70/30 split, making stats tougher for OOS. The class of 2014 had an avg GPA of 3.96 on a 4.0 scale. VT is overwhelmingly stats based admissions. Your SATs, GPA, and course rigor matter most. ECs are largely ignored unless you have awards on a national level. LOR’s and essays may matter if you are on the fence or waitlist, however VT was overenrolled this year and didn’t touch their waitlist.</p>
<p>Here are stats for this years class. Anticipate that this admission cycle will be more competitive.</p>
<p>I think merit-aid would be highly unlikely.</p>
<p>My son is a freshman engineering student at WVU. He really loves it there and the work is challenging. His SATs were about the same as yours, but his GPA was a little lower. With your stats you would be eligible for a scholarship of at least $4,000 per year at WVU. What do you mean your GPA is out of 4.8? Can you explain further? A weighted GPA is usually on a 4.0 scale, even though GPAs can be higher than 4.0. For example, blueiguana posted that Virginia Tech’s avg hs GPA for class of 2014 is a 3.96. This is a weighted GPA, many kids will have GPA’s higher than 4.0 (that’s how the average comes out to be 3.96) but it is still on a 4.0 scale. Are you sure your GPA is not on a 4.0 scale?</p>
<p>Weird high school. It is out of 4.8. It’s an attempt by the school to reward students for taking accelerated classes ( they are weighted higher) it’s reasonably effective as a way at avoiding top students taking the easy classes to maintain a high gpa but it’s an odd system.</p>
<p>I still dont get it. At most schools the weight added to accelerated classes is like extra credit. For example, if you get a B in an AP class 1 point is added so you get 4 points out of 4 instead of 3 points out of 4. If you get an A in an AP class you get 5 points out of 4. Think of extra credit on an exam: if you get an 80/100 plus get the 10 point extra credit question right, you get 90 out of 100, not 90 out of 110. If you get 100 plus the extra credit you get 110 out of 100. It is possible to get up to a 4.8 at our high school but it is still on a 4.0 scale. Meaning an A is worth 4 points, a B is 3, C is 2, D is 1 and F is 0. The weight is added because the school acknowledges that getting a B in an accelerated class is like getting an A in a regular class. So you get the “extra credit” point. But it doesn’t change the grading scale. Most schools report the weighted GPA as well as the unweighted on your transcripts.</p>
<p>I guess my point is I’m still not convinced you don’t have a weighted GPA of 4.0 on a 4.0 scale. Which means your GPA falls above the average GPA of VTech, contrary to what blueiguana posted.</p>