<p>My college list is way too long. There are about 24 colleges. I want to narrow it down to around 12. These are the colleges:</p>
<p>Boston University
Brown University
Carnegie Mellon University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Drexel University
Florida Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
Haverford College
Lehigh University
Loyola University Maryland
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Northeastern University
Northwestern University
Princeton University
Purdue University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Stanford University
Tufts University
University of Delaware
University of Pennsylvania
Yale University</p>
<p>I'd like to go to college for computer science/engineering. My top four colleges are MIT, Carnegie Mellon, UPenn, and Lehigh, so I do not want to cross them off, even if I might not get in.</p>
<p>GPA according to my transcript is 4.0, although it doesn't specify whether that's weighted or unweighted (school uses a strange and unclear system). SATs are 2160 superscored, and I will retake after studying a lot. My two most important extracurriculars are computer club (which I founded) and forensics (speech and debate, qualified to compete in nationals, and I seriously like it so much that I'm skipping prom to go to a tournament). I'd like to keep 2 or 3 safeties, and I wouldn't cross off a college just because it's a reach.</p>
<p>What I'm looking for in a college is a place with good research resources and a creative, intelligent student body. I would not like an over-sized student body that likes to party and go to football games (such as Penn State's). I really like tech culture, but I also love music so a school with some balance would be great. An orchestra is also a huge plus (I play the violin). I'd also like a college with a good reputation for computer science/engineering.</p>
<p>I haven't had time to research all of these colleges in depth--some of them I just stuck on the list because they were on USnews, and some are on there because something little caught my attention. So, disregarding finances, which colleges would you recommend crossing off the list? And I know I have lot of colleges, but if there's one I should really consider and am missing, what would it be? Thanks for reading. I know it's kind of a long post.</p>
<p>I too have looked at Florida Institute of Technology, and although it is a great school, if an intelligent student body is important to you, you won’t be immersed in an intellectual powerhouse there. Definitely keep Purdue if you’re serious about engineering (don’t discount Big Ten/State schools). MIT is big time reach, but you probably realize that. I’d keep Cornell, Purdue, Penn, Stanford, and Carnegie Mellon based on what you’ve said you want. You should really be looking to narrow it down to 6 soon too, though it’s a good thing that your list started out so big.</p>
<p>I would get rid of Boston U, Brown, Columbia, Florida Tech, Haverford, Northeastern, Northwestern, Princeton, Yale, Drexel, Loyola, Tufts and Delaware. None of those are known for a good engineering program. If I were you, I would make the list like this:
Reach: Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, MIT
Match: Purdue, RPI, Georgia Tech, University of Michigan, Rose-Hulman
Safety: Pick your state school and one of those schools you have on that list like Milwakee</p>
<p>Notice I added Michigan to that list. It’s an engineering must.</p>
<p>Every student needs at least one institution that
is affordable without any aid other than federally determined (FAFSA) aid and/or guaranteed state aid and/or guaranteed merit-based aid (financial safety)
is absolutely certain to admit them because the student meets or exceeds the specific admissions requirements that are posted right on the website and/or the student is at a HS where no applicant with their stats has ever been denied admission (academic safety)
offers the major
the student will be happy to attend if all else goes wrong in the application process (love thy safety)</p>
<p>Which of the places on your list meets those four criteria? If you don’t have one (better yet two so you will have a choice come next April 1), find one.</p>
<p>Before you write things like “disregarding finances” find out what your family can afford. In the end money almost always makes the final decision.</p>
<p>I like Bimbop’s list. Yale, Princeton and Brown would be big reaches, and since they are not known for CS, why bother? And unless you get a 2350 and that 4.0 is all As in your school’s hardest courses plus you’re the Val, I’d probably apply ED to your favorite reach school for your best shot.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone, for all the input. I’ll keep it in mind and probably drop some of the ones you recommended. One of my friends applied to 20 schools this year, and I definitely don’t want to do that (too many apps to keep track of, not to mention app fees).</p>
<p>If all of your grades are A grades, then your (unweighted) GPA is 4.0. Otherwise, if you have any B or lower grades, then your (unweighted) GPA is less than 4.0. Colleges may not give much importance to weighted GPA as reported by your high school (as opposed to possibly recalculating by their own methods) since high schools vary in how they calculate weighted GPA.</p>
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<p>Unless you and your family are able and willing to pay full list price to any school on your list (up to about $60,000 per year, or $240,000 for four years), then disregarding finances could leave you with acceptances only to schools which you cannot afford.</p>
<p>Run the net price calculators to check need-based financial aid at each school. If the school is too expensive after applying need-based financial aid, then it cannot be a safety unless a guaranteed-for-stats merit scholarship is available to you that brings the price down to the affordable range. If there exist large enough merit scholarships which are not guaranteed for stats, then the school is a match or reach depending on your chance of getting those merit scholarships (as opposed to admission). If not, then the school should be removed from the list.</p>
<p>If you and your family can afford $30,000 to $35,000 per year, consider Minnesota, Virginia Tech, and NCSU for your application list. If you need cheap (under $15,000 per year), there are University of Alabama schools offering large merit scholarships for GPA and test scores that you may want to consider for safeties.</p>
<p>Once you have determined your safeties (see #6), you can remove from your list any school that you would not choose over your safeties for any reason.</p>
<p>I would not get rid of Brown or Tufts if you are interested in computer science or engineering. Do your research on some of these schools because I doubt the majority of the people here have worked in the industry.</p>
<p>…Dude I applied to like 7. Seriously. What is this I don’t understand you’re not entering a random lottery. Select 3 that completely capture your heart and make you swoon and maybe 2 that you would definitely get into (but wouldn’t mind going to). And the way to get here is research based on setting a personal criteria and evaluating them accordingly. Strength of department isn’t the only factor and more often than not it measures the grad dept with no bearing upon the undergrad experience. Brown and Tufts are amazing (I applied, did extensive research and got in so email me any questions). And some of the colleges on your list are polar opposites - Brown and Columbia for example. Some have radically different vibes, Brown and Penn for example. PLEASE do your research and figure out what YOU want from these 4 years, you’ll get a kickass education anywhere but then learning isn’t limited to the classroom. While after extensive research you’ll end with a shorter list, you’ll also be able to input more genuine passion into your essays giving you a better shot and in the long term you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into giving you a better chance at happiness.</p>
<p>24 colleges … Christ. My initial list was about 12 and that comprised everything I could possibly think of… Save yourself some application fee money!</p>
<p>(And Brown has arguably the best CS undergrad dept, just google Andy Van Dam/Andy from Toy Story…)</p>
<p>I don’t think 24 is too many for an initial list.</p>
<p>I think you need to look at it from a financial safety and agree with UCB to run the NPC.</p>
<p>Drexel has a great regional reputation for engineering. It becomes even more impressive if you are Natl Merit because it offers free tuition to NMF. This could make it stay on the list if you have hopes of NMF.</p>
<p>I adore Haverford, but I’d drop it from your list. It isn’t known for your major and it just looks out of place compared to the other types of schools you are considering. </p>
<p>IMHO — Keep your top 4 and round out the list based upon finances and what you really want in the community. example - Rose-H is awesome academically, but that M/F ratio could be difficult socially.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses! I know my list is way too big, and I’m hoping that I’ll narrow down colleges first by major/reputation in engineering fields, then by cost, and finally I’ll just keep the ones I really like. The only thing I’m kind of afraid of is axing so many that I end up getting into only 2 or 3 and they end up giving me unexpectedly low aid or I end up changing my mind and not liking them. My parents are unfortunately really hesitant to tell me about our finances and kind of evade the topic whenever I ask…I just know they want me to keep top tier schools on the list because they give need-based aid. And my report card says I have straight A’s, but 5% curve is already added in for that…a couple times I had a 92% but then the curve brought it to 97% so the report card says A. Transcript I’m pretty sure also says A, but will colleges take into account that the curve was added in order to get the A? This only happened this year when I started taking AP classes.</p>