Help me find the right school!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey all,
This is my first post here so please let me know if I'm breaking any etiquette rules or anything. I'm currently a senior at my high school in Oregon and am now feeling the pressure to find and apply for colleges. I'm looking to get a 4-year degree in Comp. Sci from a good school with a good atmosphere, preferably near internships at video game companies or software Dev. studios. However, my parents aren't in the best monetary situation right now so I'm in a bit of a bind. Here are my stats for those interested:</p>

<p>SAT: 1960, 660 CR / 660 MA / 640 WR (First try, taking it again Oct. 1st)
ACT: 30 (Non Superscore)
GPA: 4.0, Top 1% of class (Valedictorian)
AP Classes: AP Calc AB, Honors Eng. 12, AP English 11
E.C.: Student Gov. (ASB President, Junior Class President, NHS, Leadership)
A Ton of Volunteer Work
I am White, male, and (fairly) middle class, so any scholarships for minority students are out the window.</p>

<p>I've been receiving a bunch of mail since Sophomore year from schools like Brown, Yale, U. Chicago, Tulane, etc. I don't think I'm too limited in terms of where I can get accepted, and I'm not really looking to any Ivies. My Biggest priority is MONEY. Ideally, I'm looking to get out debt free, or with as little debt as possible. So, What schools should I be applying to in order to get a full ride, or at the very least, a MAJOR portion of that? My parents make $100,000+ a year, but due to various debts and the like, will not be helping me pay for college in any way, shape, or form, so in effect, I am on my own. I intend to get at least a part time job while enrolled to help offset the costs as well.</p>

<p>So, in short, can anyone tell me what schools would be best for an above average student looking to get off as close to debt free as possible with a degree in computer science, ideally near a video game studio for the purpose of internships? I'm currently looking at U. of Alabama, U. Chicago, and possible Cal Poly. Any help would be greatly appreciated, and I look forward to your responses.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>*SAT: 1960, 660 CR / 660 MA / 640 WR (First try, taking it again Oct. 1st)
ACT: 30 (Non Superscore)
GPA: 4.0, Top 1% of class (Valedictorian)</p>

<p>I am White, male, and (fairly) middle class, so any scholarships for minority students are out the window.
*</p>

<p>* I’m looking to get a 4-year degree in Comp. Sci from a good school with a good atmosphere, preferably near internships at video game companies or software Dev. studios. However, **my parents aren’t in the best monetary situation right now **so I’m in a bit of a bind.*</p>

<p>As a very good financial safety…</p>

<p>The University of Alabama would give you TWO assured scholarships for your stats and your Comp Sci major if you apply before Dec 1st.</p>

<p>The two scholarships combine to give you** FREE TUITION and 2500 per year**. Total value…over $90,000.</p>

<p>From The University of Alabama</p>

<p>Out-of-State Scholarship Offers</p>

<p>UA Scholar</p>

<p>Students who have a 30-31 ACT or 1330-1390 SAT (critical reading and mathematics scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive two-thirds the cost of tuition for four years.</p>

<p>**
From the College of Engineering (including Computer Science)</p>

<p>Out-of-State**Students who have a 30-31 ACT or 1330-1390 SAT (math and verbal scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive a tuition supplement to bring their University-level scholarship offer up to the value of tuition. In addition, they will receive $2,500 per year for four years.
(As tuition prices rise, this scholarship increases. So very good! :slight_smile: )</p>

<p>So, you’d get both…for free tuition plus 2500 per year. :)</p>

<p>Bama has a new and mega-sized Science and Engineering Complex (SEC). The campus is beautiful, the academics are strong, and the people are friendly.</p>

<p>Here’s a video of the College of Arts and Sciences, but it gives you a glimpse of part of the SEC…of Shelby Hall…which was the first phase of the SEC. And, gives you a view of the school.</p>

<p>[The</a> University of Alabama College of Arts & Sciences “This is How College is Meant to Be” - YouTube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>

<p>BTW…if you weren’t a Comp Sci or Engineering major, then you would have needed an ACT 32 or 1400 M+CR SAT to get the Presidential free tuition scholarship. See below.</p>

<p>Presidential
Students who have a 32-36 ACT or 1400-1600 SAT (critical reading and mathematics scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive out-of-state tuition for four years.</p>

3

<p>Oops…I missed the part where you said that you’re already looking at Bama. Oh well, I spelled out what you’d get.</p>

<p>*What schools should I be applying to in order to get a full ride, or at the very least, a MAJOR portion of that? My parents make $100,000+ a year, but due to various debts and the like, will not be helping me pay for college in any way, shape, or form, so in effect, I am on my own. I intend to get at least a part time job while enrolled to help offset the costs as well.</p>

<p>*</p>

<p>the Cal Polys are very good schools, but you’re OOS and you’d have to pay all costs.</p>

<p>UChicago is a very good school, but it’s mostly a need-based school, so your family would be expected to pay a good amount. How would you cover your parents’ “expected contribution”??? I know that UChi doesn’t have engineering, does it have Comp Science?</p>

4

<p>You should be looking at schools that offer generous merit aid. You want to be in the top 10-15% of applicants to get that merit aid. For instance, the college I go to, Bard College offers full scholarships to a very small number of science majors. I used the Colleges That Change Lives book to find well regarded liberal arts schools that I’d be overqualified for. Many of them have good merit aid. Hope that was helpful!</p>