Hello,
I am a high school senior and I am looking for help with any other schools I should consider before I make my decision. I am looking to major in Civil Engineering. I have a 3.7 unweighted GPA with lots of challenging courses and a 32 (34 superscore) ACT. From the schools I have seen so far, I like mid-sized, at least decent athletics programs, and good co-op/internship opportunities. I am looking to stay in the Midwest or go to the South, but I would be willing to look at East Coast schools too. Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!
Also, just for your information, these are some of the schools I have applied to if it helps:
University of Dayton
Villanova
Marquette
University of Tulsa
Georgia Tech
Auburn
Cost constraints and financial aid situation? I.e. have you talked to your parents about what they are willing to contribute, and have you and they run the net price calculators on each of your school’s web sites?
My parents and I would love to spend the least amount of money possible for a very-high quality education so as it is for 99% of high school seniors looking at colleges, the cheaper the better. But, at the same time, my parents and I will spend more money for an amazing school if that is what it takes so just about every school is an option for us as long as the cost is worth the education and experience.
RPI fits your description well - excellent engineering, good athletics in some sports (particularly hockey), good co-op. Expensive though. Also Northeastern (Boston).
For Civil, look at Virginia Tech - it’s been making the CE top 10 lists lately. They take approx 30% out of state, Engineering is much tougher to get into than other programs there, your stats put you in the mix - grades on lower end for eng but ACT is great. VERY strong alum network, 2x/year job fair for just Civil + Construction majors with 90+ companies attending. ACC school, football Saturdays are not to be missed and basketball on the rise. University of Illinois is outstanding but really tough to get into. Ohio State. Pitt good with good interning possibilities, prob a little more expensive than others. Georgia Tech also good, slightly more selective than VT.
http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
Crosscheck that with the ABET accredited list. http://main.abet.org/aps/accreditedprogramsearch.aspx
Concurring with the recommendation of RPI, particularly with respect to program quality.
You applied to Auburn, but not Alabama? Take a close look at the engineering program at Bama. The College of Engineering and facilities have been expanded. Your ACT score would get you full tuition scholarship. The co-op office at Bama is great. I have a student at Bama and we live in the Philly region. For our family, Bama was a much better choice than Villanova.
You’ve only got a couple of days left to apply for that full tuition scholarship at Alabama.
Look at Rose-Hulman too.
I did actually already apply to Alabama, but only for the scholarships to perhaps use as bargaining power with Auburn. I visited both of the schools and although I liked things about Alabama, it was too big for me and just not my style.
Case Western in Cleveland.
Also, Virginia Tech has appealed to me so thank you for pointing all of that out. And I have thought about Illinois, but after visiting it I just did not feel the “home” sense.
I also visited Case Western but the very urban campus did not appeal to me and there just seemed to be no campus life.
URochester offers an academic range comparable to CWRU, but on a classically arranged campus on the edge of a medium-sized city. Of Eastern private Universities, UR’s location places it among the closest to the Midwest.
@diamondking2 - I don’t think Auburn cares how much Alabama gives out in academic scholarships - its pretty well published and it doesn’t move them to share more. You can look for some private scholarships that may help.
@diamondking2 - have you visited VT? It does sound like it fits what you’re looking for… very good CE and a real college experience. I know a lot of kids don’t care about sports and things like that but it was something my son was looking for. Going to the “Battle of Bristol” is one of the highlights of his college career thus far. School spirit is obvious and strong. Not urban, college town gets along well with the U, attractive campus. Took Princeton Review top spot for “Students Love the School” and “Best Quality of Life” this year.
My son was not comfortable with Illinois either…too big for him.
@JustGraduate How does your son compare the size of VT and Illinois? Because one of my concerns with VT is that it could also feel too big for me. But I thought that was going to be the case for Auburn and I ended up loving it so I am interested to hear what you/your son’s take is on the size of VT.
He’s fine with the size of VT, it’s around 30k (undergrad is maybe 25) and IL is 44+. IMHO VT doesn’t feel that big. He had no interest in VT initially even though it’s so well thought of for CE. Students + alums absolutely LOVE this school, it’s all you hear about from them. And I think that put him off of it early on - all you hear is wonderful things. In the end he applied just to show he could get in. Didn’t even visit until spring break senior year. And he too fell in love… I don’t know what it is (not an alum) but it just has that rep of being a place people really feel strongly about and are very happy there. Campus itself has a lot of land, and buildings are all of “Hokie Stone” - definite character. Not so spread out that it’s hard to get around though, nice combo of green space and buildings. Football stadium right on campus, walking distance to dorms.
ETA: thinking more about the size comparison… Think IL is more compact, students are a little more on top of each other making it feel like a BIG school (thinking of the Quad esp). The VT equivalent of the Quad is their Drillfield, which is the size of a couple football fields right in the middle of campus with buildings ringing it. Definitely a bigger space and students are spread over a bigger area. Doesn’t seem as “big” imo
Okay thanks for all that information! I have not met many VT grads but the few that I have seemed very fond and supportive of their school as you have suggested. I’ll have to seriously consider applying to VT now. Thanks again!