<p>I'm a senior in Scranton, PA. I'd like to stay within about 6 hours of home when going to college.</p>
<p>My grades:
2nd in my class of 225
2240 SAT- 750 math, 740 reading, 750 writing
Robotics Club
Key Club
Gifted Club
Varsity Tennis</p>
<p>I want to go somewhere where I will actually use my good SAT scores. Many people tell me to look at Penn State, but I feel like anybody with a SAT over 1500 could go there. So far, I've visited Bucknell (it was decent) and Carnegie Mellon (I didn't like it too much). I put a lot of hard work into obtaining my GPA and SAT, and I want them to go to good use.</p>
<p>I want to study something in engineering I think. Physics, chemistry, biology, math -- all I enjoy. That's not set in stone though.</p>
<p>Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! Thanks</p>
<p>Something in engineering I think. Physics, chemistry, biology, math – all I enjoy. I thought about bioengineering, but I’ve heard that most people use that as a pre-med and eventually become a doctor. I do not think I want to do that (although I haven’t thought much about it). I think I missed the boat for computer science / electrical engineering because the programs at my school are terrible for that. I’m just learning C++ now, and the electronics program is a joke. I think I’d be too far behind for that.</p>
<p>What about Lehigh if you want to stay instate? Lafayette also (it is a LAC but has an engineering school).</p>
<p>You have really good stats. Why not broaden your horizons a bit? PA is a big state but if you’re willing to possibly stretch your 6-hour limit, you could consider Cornell or the University of Rochester.</p>
<p>Also, what about Virginia Tech? It’s six hours or so south on Route 81.</p>
<p>Rensselaer Polytechnic would most likely love to have you as well.</p>
<p>You are absolutely NOT behind if you are interested in EE or ECE or CS. **Many **students arrive at college with little or no exposure to those subjects or engineering in general. That’s why they have intro courses This is something we asked about a lot since my son was coming from a new charter school that had few science offerings.</p>
<p>There are lots of good engineering schools in the Northeast. What other factors matter to you? City/suburbs/country, size of college, Greek scene, rah-rah athletics etc.???</p>
<p>I think Bucknell would be a good choice. It has an eccellant engineering reputation. Cornell also has an eccellant engineering reputation and is easily within 6 hours. </p>
<p>I would also consider Rensselaer.</p>
<p>Are you a male or female? With your stats, I would apply to MIT. If you are a female, I would say you have an extremely good chance at Cornell and MI T. I know a female with much lower stats than yours that got into MIT.</p>
<p>First of all, I agree with BeanTownGirl that you will not be behind if you start an engineering program in your freshman year. My brother had no engineering background other than being very good in math/science and became an EE in a four year program.</p>
<p>As for schools, I agree that Bucknell is a really good choice along with Leigh and Lafayette in PA, Union and URochester in NY, and Trinity in CT. With your stats, you can also consider UPenn, Columbia and Cornell. </p>
<p>Fordham is a great school (my S is an alum for full disclosure) but it does not have an engineering major per say- there is a program where (I believe) you go to Fordham for 3 years and Columbia for 2 years but it is not the same as a going straight through to get a four year engineering degree.</p>
<p>There are a lot of good ideas here, but just a note about Penn State - the avg SATs at the main campus are 1750-1990. Definitely not a 1500. And they do have a good engineering program.</p>
<p>Engineering degree programs in general assume high school preparation including math up to precalculus, and high school physics and chemistry. They typically do not assume CS background.</p>
<p>Penn State is a perfectly respectable school for engineering, and plenty of high stats students go there.</p>
<p>However, an important criterion is what your price limit is, and what your financial aid situation is (i.e. is your family able and willing to contribute the expected family contribution shown by colleges’ net price calculators?). If you specify that, then others may be able to give better suggestions.</p>
<p>Also, do you have another other preferences like school size, environment, etc.?</p>
<p>When you say you want to actually use your good SAT scores, do you mean that you want to use them to get admitted or you want to use them to get merit aid?</p>
<p>The University of Rochester is within 6 hours drive time as we’re in southern PA and make it in 6 hours. It’s definitely work checking out (as others have mentioned) as it matches what you are looking for. Cornell would be good too (unless you need merit aid).</p>
<p>Keep Penn State as a safety at least. Their engineering program is great and they do have an Honors College.</p>
<p>OK thanks so much for the responses guys. To clear things up: I am a white male. It seems like my choices are go to a top school (and also pay top dollar) or go to a not as great school but save a lot of money. I am very fortunate to have parents who have been saving for a long time, and they have assured me that they will help out with almost all tuition costs. I have a visit scheduled with Lafayette, and I may go see RPI (the only thing that concerns me about RPI is the male/female ratio). Is it even worth it to apply to MIT? That’s sort of been a dream of mine but it may be unrealistic. Maybe try for early action?
Also, the 6 hour range is pretty flexible. I would go anywhere in the northeast that I don’t have to fly to go home. </p>
<p>Check out Alfred University (NY) pretty much holding at about 40k per year.
With your stats you may be eligible for $15,000/year in merit aid. (interview & visit) </p>
<p>School of Engineering
School of Art & Design
School of Business
College of Liberal Arts </p>
<p>About 2400 students, Division III athletics, no Greek Life, housing for all 4 years, merit aid, need-based aid, shuttles to Rochester airport at peak vacation times, bus service to NYC at peak vacation times. Small classes-know your professors, nice charming village of Alfred, NY with very friendly people. </p>
<p>USNWR’s Great Schools Great Prices
Princeton Review’s Best (whatever number they are up to now- was “376”)
Princeton Review’s Best 300 Businesss Schools
Fiske Guide Small schools Best Engineering
Fiske Guide Small schools Best Art & Design
Fiske Best Value </p>
<p>Please note that Alfred University is unique in that some engineering majors are either public or private. The School of Art & Design is public through NYS. School of Business and College of Liberal Arts are both private programs. </p>
<p>Alfred State (public) is across the street from Alfred University (private)</p>
<p>Might try Holy Cross-great pre-med and strong science programs( no engineering). HC has beautiful campus 1 hour from Boston. Holy Cross website is informative.</p>
<p>My white male son got decent merit aid from U Rochester… and there’s no way we’d consider them a “not as great” school, esp for what he wanted in a school. He loves it there. They are a research U, so if you aren’t into research, they wouldn’t fit you as well.</p>
This is something we asked about a lot since my son was coming from a new charter school that had few science offerings.</p>