I pretty much cruised through high school. As an analytical visual learner I can learn advanced math and science with no struggle, and with a little effor I can write really well too and think in big ideas that pertain to the humanities. I consider myself a well-rounded student. Lest year as a junior I took AP Calculus AB and AP Physics B, and got a 4 on both tests. This year as a senior I was a bit more lazy and only took AP Psychology and I expect to get a 5 on the test. I’ve maintained a GPA of about 3.5. I don’t have any extracurricular stuff but I have plenty of volunteer hours and I am part of the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society. In the fall as a junior I thought that I wanted to become an engineer so I applied early action to Wentworth, WPI, and Northeastern, as well as all of the Massachusetts state schools (the UMasses and Bridgewater) as safeties. I got accepted to all except Northeastern and WPI. Only now that the regular admissions have passed do I realise I don’t want to be an engineer or go to an engineering school. I want to go somewhere where there are more options to explore. And because Wentworth gave me a $9000 scholarship, I feel that I could have got something similar for a different private college in Boston. So now I feel like I am basically left with state schools each of which gave me a scholarship under $5000. I don’t know what to do. I know I could go to Wentworth or a state school and then transfer to a private college, but I’m nervous about how much less merit financial aid will be available to me as a transfer. I feel like I could have done better and I’m totally beating myself up over it. Other students at my academic level in my school are getting scholarships from private schools for like half the tuition or more, and I can’t stop considering how I could’ve planned differently. I’m lost and feel like I missed the right path, I need to know what my best options are from here on out.
Congratulations on your acceptances UMass Amherst is a great option. Part of this depends on whether money is an issue. For example if you go to a private college that is 50K getting 10,000 off still leaves you with 40 K. As opposed to if you UMass under 30 K getting 5K off leaves you with 25k. It actually sounds like you got in where you should but perhaps should have chosen a few more LACs of the same caliber as the schools you got.
I am a firm believer that if you get into everyplace you apply then your aim was to low unless everyplace are the HYPS. However if you end up not getting in to any place you applied obviously your aim was to high. Since you have a mix of acceptances it sounds like you aim was good. I would speak to your GC first to get some guidance.
If money is not an issue I would also look at where your friends got in that you would want to go to as well especially friends that a half step below you in terms of grades and scores. If those schools are interesting either I might contact them or have that your GC contact them on your behalf to see if they would consider letting you apply now. Be prepared for them to say no then you have nothing to lose
Go see your guidance counselor today and explain the situation. UMASS Amherst by the way is a fabulous school with endless options for students just like you.
I think you are thinking wrong.
A school like UMass Amherst is a great value…so many opportunities for a good price.
Plus they are part of the 5 colleges consortium (https://www.fivecolleges.edu/) so you can
take advantage of liberal arts classes!
In any other part of the country, getting into the state flagship is considered a great choice, and even a dream, for many students. For some reason, New England is biased against its public universities even though schools like UConn and UMass-Amherst are pretty great. Don’t beat yourself up; UMass-Amherst is a great option that is large enough to offer just about anything you want to explore.
There is a reason everyone is focusing on UMass Amherst. You’ve made it clear you don’t want an engineering school and you want a school that offers “more options to explore”. UMass Amherst is a perfect fit and a great school!
Also, try not to beat yourself up. It sounds to me like you have accomplished a LOT and are capable of even more. I think it’s crazy for everyone to expect high school kids to know what they want to do at such a young age. You will be fine. Take it one step at a time, and believe me you do have time to change careers if you want. It’s good that you are thinking the way that you are, think about how miserable you’d be if you went to an engineering school and became more certain it’s not what you wanted. You are doing a good job. One step at a time kiddo. Good luck to you! (p.s. I speak from the experience of beating myself up over career choices - it gains you nothing but emotional bruises. Just go forward!)
I applied engineering but only to non tech schools so if I change my mind there is a social science option
It really, truly, is OK to take a year off while you come up with a different college list. So think about a gap year option. What would you do if you had a whole year when you didn’t have to be in school?
Transfers do not really get any merit aid and they are often disadvantaged in need aid as well. Don’t count on funds as a transfer. I think you are good to go with your state school. You might want to consider the freshman engineering program and explore a couple electives. If you don’t like it you can change out, but you can’t change in as easily or at all in many cases.