<p>“I actually just got back from a visit to the Triangle area . . .” In which case you might want to consider North Carolina State in Raleigh, which has lots of good engineering programs; and while I don’t know if you would qualify for a Park Scholarship at NCSU (which is full ride), you might still want to take a look at the scholarship opportunities there: <a href=“Financial Aid | Student Services Center | NC State University”>Financial Aid | Student Services Center | NC State University;
<p>You should definitely apply to UT-Knoxville as your safety school (or even Tennessee Tech); think of a safety school as the place where you know you’ll get in and can afford should all other options fail you. I know that the College of Engineering at UT-K has been upgrading its physical plant recently (the new Min Kao Building, for example), and has good placement for its graduates.</p>
<p>Also, Miami University in Oxford, Ohio has a College of Engineering and Computing, and with your grades and test scores you may be able to get some significant financial aid: <a href=“Costs, Scholarships, and Financial Aid | Miami University”>Costs, Scholarships, and Financial Aid | Miami University;
<p>You might also want to look at University of Pittsburgh, or perhaps Temple University in Philadelphia; both may offer merit scholarships to someone with your stats.</p>
<p>What does your school’s guidance counselor have to say about possibilities? </p>
<p>Good luck with it.</p>