Give Me Ideas for Schools Please?

College Search & Selection
1

Looking for ideas for Safeties/Matches/Reaches

White Male from a public high school
Parents income <100,000/yr

Looking for a small to medium private college (<15,000 students)
Parents can contribute ~$12,000/yr

About Me:
GPA (UW): 98.278
SAT: 2200
Planning to take SAT Subject Tests for Math II and Chemistry
Most Rigorous Course load (9 APs between Junior and Senior Yr)
Rank: Top Decile
Possible Majors: Engineering (Electrical/Electronics), Computer Science

EC’s:
• Music
o Symphonic Band: 3 years
o Marching Band: 3 years (1 as Drum Major)
o Jazz Band: 3 years
o Brass Ensemble: 3 years
o Summer Community Jazz Band: 1 year
o Instruments I play: Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone Horn, French Horn; Currently learning piano
o Chorus: 2 years
o Select Chorus: 1 year
• Theatre
o Drama Club: 2 years (Lead roles both years)
o Musicals: 2 years (1 supporting and 1 leading role)
• Student Government
o Student Council HR Representative: 2 years
o Class President: 1 year
o Class Fundraising Chairperson: 1 year
• Honor Societies
o National Honor Society
• Community Service
o Key Club: 3 years (1 as Treasurer) (Currently LTG-Elect for my division)
o Key Leader: 1 year
o Interact Club: 2 years
o Total Community Service Hours: ~150
• Other Clubs
o Mock Trial: 2 years
o Chess Club: 1 year
• Other
o EF Tours Spain and Italy Trip: Summer 2015
o Published 2 Op-Ed articles in the Asbury Park Press
• Work Experience
o Candy Shop Cashier (4 years)
o Dishwasher/Busboy (May 2015-current)

Extracurricular and Academic Honors
• School Based
o Freshman Year
• Academic Excellence in English I
• Highest Achievement in Geometry
• Outstanding Achievement in Chemistry
• Excellence in Spanish II
• Key Club Service Award
• Garnet Gull Education Gold Award
o Sophomore Year
• Outstanding Achievement in Algebra II
• Excellence in American History
• Excellence in Biology
• Excellence in Spanish III
• Key Club Distinguished Service Award (50+ hours)
• Mock Trial Participation Award
• Garnet Gull Education Gold Award
• Perfect Attendance Award
• National Awards
o Selection for the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists Award of Excellence
o President’s Award for Educational Excellence 2013
o President’s Award for Educational Excellence 2014

Sorry if the format comes out weird I just copy/pasted from a word document

So in summary I’m just looking for overall suggestions on which schools I would be a good fit for. Currently I’m interested in Northeastern University, George Washington University, Boston College, Wesleyan University, Tufts University, and my two dream schools are UChicago and Princeton. Please let me know how you think I would fare at each of these schools and recommend me to any I may have overlooked. I want my total list to be around 10-12. Thanks in advance!

2

Only three of your schools appear to offer engineering.

3

@merc81 I knew I forgot to mention something, thank you. The only schools on this list that don’t have engineering are Boston College and Wesleyan, at BC I would major in math or physics likely and at Wesleyan I would pursue a 2-3 program

4

3-2 programs are not normally recommended on CC because most students don’t follow through on them for whatever reason - extra cost, don’t want to leave their friends of 3 years…

If your parents can only contribute $12K/year then you should look at merit aid. http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/

Run the Net Price Calculator on each school’s web site for your current list.

5

Chicago does not offer engineering.

6

Agree, UChicago does not have engineering. It is also a real outlier in culture from the other schools in your list.

What about Bucknell or Lehigh? You need to run net price calculators for every school, though. Look on the “Affording” or financial aid webpage for each school.

What is your home state?

7

<<<
Looking for a small to medium private college (<15,000 students)
Parents can contribute ~$12,000/yr

About Me:
GPA (UW): 98.278
SAT: 2200
Planning to take SAT Subject Tests for Math II and Chemistry
Most Rigorous Course load (9 APs between Junior and Senior Yr)


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Eng’g or CS major

Ok…first of all…

Will your parents have a higher EFC than $12k? it sounds like they’ve figured that they can pay $1k per month, but if their income/assets figure differently, that could mean that you could get accepted to schools, but not be able to afford to attend.

Have your parents run the NPCs on a few websites…a public, a couple of privates (not ivy), and maybe an ivy.

I see that you’ve listed that you want a small-med private. Are you writing off publics??? Many, many publics have VERY GOOD eng’g because they can afford (and need!) to have the expansive STEM research facilities.

States have a vested interest in having excellent eng’g programs because states NEED engineers!!! So, they invest heavily in having excellent facilities.

Also…since the College of Eng’g tends to be “off on its own,” an eng’g/CS student can still feel like he/she is attending a smaller unversity, even the univ is large.

What I mean is…the Col of Eng’g is often a set of buildings in one section of the school, and those students often rarely have to go to the other parts of campus. Their classes are sequenced, and there really is a small school feel, even if in a larger school.

For instance, at my kids’ large undergrad, the College of Eng’g has it’s own lovely Quad, eng’g library, dorms nearby, and dining hall. It’s like their own little world in the corner of a large campus. My eng’g son only had to go elsewhere on campus when he decided to take Spanish and Italian classes…and those were only a 5-10 minute walk…oh, and a philosophy class. To give you an idea, here is a pic of my kids’ undergrad’s Eng’g buildings… You can see that the buildings form a circle with a lovely Quad in the middle with a fountain. There is also a lovely “mini quad” in the center of the huge building shaped like a pentagon. The dorms are right off to the right and above the pic.
http://eng.ua.edu/buildings/

Your stats would qualify for FREE TUITION plus $2500 per year at Alabama. This would be a good financial safety for you because the remaining costs would be about $12k…perfect…no loans needed!

8

<<<
White, middle-class (~100k) male

Potential Majors: Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Political Science. (I hope to attend a liberal enough college that would be supportive of my diverging ambitions). This is somewhat off topic but I really just value learning for what it is, these specific fields interest me most right now but I’m headed to college to continue my pursuit of knowledge.

SAT: 660 CR (:frowning:), 750 M, 790 W (11 Best Essay) 2200 overall
<<<

Ok…your parents’ EFC will be higher than $12k except for at tippy top schools like Harvard and Yale and Stanford.

The other ivies and other schools will expect your parents to pay about $25k per year …at least. Your parents EFC could be HIGHER if they have savings/assets…and equity at schools that use CSS Profile.

Your W score will not likely be considered…at all. Schools don’t really consider the W, particularly for eng’g/CS majors.

You have a 1410 M+CR…that is not likely competitive for ivies/UChi without a hook.

Is that a superscore???

are you retesting?

What state are you from? How did you do on the PSAT?


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because most students don't follow through on them for whatever reason - extra cost, don't want to leave their friends of 3 years...

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If your parents can only contribute $12K/year then you should look at merit aid. http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/

Run the Net Price Calculator on each school’s web site for your current list.
Post edited by Erin’s Dad at 8:04AM
<<<

^^^
absolutely true. 3-2 programs don’t work out well…and who knows what aid you’d get for the last 2 years.

What tie do you have at Brown. Realize that the ivies don’t give merit, and your parents would be expected to pay at least $25k per year for Brown.

9

Washington University St. Louis
U of Tulsa
Clarkson U
U of Rochester
Vanderbilt U
Saint Louis University
U of San Diego

10

I second #5 suggestion for Lehigh and add Lafayette.

11

I think you should consider larger schools.
These would be reaches, but they do meet need, and are ranked highly for engineering:

-Harvard
-MIT
-Princeton University
-Stanford University
-Rice University
-University of Pennsylvania
-Vanderbilt University

What’s your EFC?

Here are some safeties & matches, you may receive merit aid:
-Baylor University
-Clemson University
-Drexel University (You’ll receive full tuition + $8,000)
-Florida Institute of Technology
-Stevens Institute of Technology
-Temple University

12

I really don’t think adding HPSM to this student’s list is a productive suggestion.

13

University of Delaware

14

University of Maryland, Honors Program

15

@“Erin’s Dad” Thank you, ill be sure to check out that link. I have already ran the calculator and for most schools the average net price was around 17,000.

@TomSrOfBoston I’m do not vest my interest in a school based on having certain majors. At Chicago I would likely pursue a major in CS, Math or Physics… I am in no way certain that I’d even end up as one of those.

@intparent Noted. Checked out Bucknell and Lehigh, both added to my list. Great suggestions, thank you. Also noted in the above. My home state is New Jersey

@mom2collegekids Average net was around 17k. I am not entirely put off by public schools, only geographically-speaking, most publics that offer full-tuition/full ride for certain criteria are not where I want to be going to college. I respect your point about how eng’g schools can be their own small community within a larger school and will not rule out larger schools, though I still prefer smaller schools. My SAT (660,750,790) is one sitting. I’m retaking a makeup on February 20th that was cancelled last month due to snow. I strongly believe I can bring my CR above 700 this time. From NJ. Sophomore PSAT 187, 2015 PSAT 1320 :frowning: So I dont think taking the new would be beneficial really. My Aunt’s close friend is an admissions officer there. If I choose to apply he will interview me, I am currently in contact with him and email him regularly with questions. Perhaps not as strong of a tie as I had originally figured.

@LakeWashington I’ll try to check those out

@Oregon2016 I’ll check out Lafayette as well

@newjerseygirl98 Thanks for the suggestions but most seem a bit unrealistic for me haha. However I will consider Drexel, thanks!

@CDK I’ll check it out

16

@njmom666 What can you say for the engineering program there? I’m assuming you have personal experience with the college?

17

Seconding Bucknell, Lafayette, and Lehigh, adding Union and Trinity, CT.
For good matches with strong sciences and merit (but no engineering), look at Grinnell, Dickinson, Rhodes, Macalester, and St Olaf.
For safeties, Wooster or Ithaca?
Definitely apply to TCNJ as early as you can so that you can “lock in” an affordable acceptance. Do apply to the Honors College.

18

@intparent Why isn’t it “productive”? They asked for reaches, matches, and safeties. I suggested all three.

19

The Ivies and UC are major reaches, let’s be honest here. If you can boost your test scores, that could change, but for now those are very reachy. Unfortunately, you do not appear to have a hook for admission.

You need to look for merit schools. The U of Alabama recommendation is a great one. Free tuition, and you can swing the room, board, books and likely transportation for your budget of $12K.

At Lafayette, it is going to be tough to drive the cost down below about $25K per year. Same would go for schools like Trinity U in Texas, where you can look up the Merit aid your would qualify for–completely transparent.

Trinity has a super CS program.

Good luck!

20

Chicago now offers Molecular Engineering.