Help shaping my college list

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I’m only a Junior, so I know that I am a not early, but I’m currently working on creating a list of schools to apply to next year. I want to make sure I am prepared and informed, and I already know I am slightly crazy--no need to confirm this haha. This will also help to plan visits for the future.</p>

<p>I want to make sure I have enough matches and safeties. My list is super top-heavy. Hopefully I can knock some schools off my list by visiting and researching them more in-dept but it seems like the more I look into schools, the more I am interested in and end up adding on to my list…</p>

<p>Just some general stats and preferences to aid suggestions/advice: First-gen hispanic (multiracial) male attending a public HS in CA. 2180 SAT (730 CR, 670 M, 780 W) on first try and plan on retaking, especially to raise my math score. I still need to take subject tests and I'm planning on taking Math 2 and Chem (might also take Physics and/or USH). 4.0 UW GPA with challenging courseload (5 APs this year, and will complete 10 total). ECs and awards are not strong though (ECs: choir, volunteer clubs, NHS, CSF, awards: NM Commended, NHRP Scholar, Venture Scholar). I have a few leadership positions in my ECs, but nothing major.</p>

<p>School-wise, I would prefer a medium to large school on either the east or west coast. I would like the school to be in an urban area, or a suburban area with access to a large city. I want a school that is well-rounded since I am not sure exactly what I want to major in. Right now I am thinking ChemE or BME, but I am also considering Econ/Business, and I am open to anything really. Options would be nice. Please note though, all of these preferences are not must-haves and I will consider schools that may not fit ever criteria. </p>

<p>My current list of schools: UCB, UCLA, UCSD, UCD, UCSB, Stanford, Princeton, Columbia, UPenn, Cornell, Duke, Northwestern, JHU, CMU, USC, Case Western, Santa Clara, Northeastern, BU. That’s already 19 schools. (5 UCs and 14 privates) </p>

<p>Other schools I’m also seriously looking at: Brown, Vanderbilt, Tufts, Rice, WashU, Syracuse, UCI, Cal Poly SLO. </p>

<p>Other schools I am interested in, but have some reservations: MIT (not sure I would like the STEM-dominated environment, and I am not dead-set on a STEM major), NYU-Poly (may be a good safety, but similar issue to MIT), U of Michigan (not sure if OOS tuition is worth it). </p>

<p>I like these schools, but they don’t offer engineering or aren’t strong in engineering so I would probably apply as a different major: Harvard, Yale, UChicago, Dartmouth, NYU, BC, Fordham. </p>

<p>I would appreciate suggestions and advice on other schools to consider, schools you think would be a good fit (either ones on my list or not), whether or not I have too many schools on my list, ideas on how to trim down my list, schools that stick out as not seeming like a good fit, whether or not a have enough matches/safeties, etc. Thanks so much for bearing with me LOL.</p>

2

<p>Have you talked to your parents about cost constraints, and to get the information needed to run the net price calculators on college web sites?</p>

<p>Are you a California resident?</p>

<p>Other good schools for engineering that are not super expensive include Virginia Tech, NCSU, and Minnesota.</p>

<p>MIT has well regarded economics and business departments.</p>

<p>Some of the <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-12.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-12.html&lt;/a&gt; schools could be worth considering as safeties. For example, University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa has automatic full out-of-state tuition + $2,500 for engineering majors with your stats, leaving remaining cost around $15,000 per year.</p>

<p>Note that Cal Poly SLO does not have chemical engineering; only Pomona and San Jose among the CSUs have chemical engineering.</p>

3

<p>ucbalumnus:

  • Yes, I have. My parents said they would be able to afford most of the schools on my list, though it may not be easy for them. They told me not to worry since they will make it work. I think they understand the financial aspects since they have gone through it with my brother. Plus, I am applying to quite a few schools, so I hope that will allow for more options.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Yes, I am a CA resident.</p></li>
<li><p>I will look into these, thanks.</p></li>
<li><p>True. I am just worried that it is adding yet another super-lofty reach. I’m also not sure I will thrive in a very “techy” environment. I am still considering it and I will definitely keep it in my periphery. </p></li>
<li><p>This is helpful! Alabam sounds look a good option for a true financial safety. I will look more into the school to see if I would want to attend. I’ll also check out some other schools on that list.</p></li>
<li><p>Oh, I did not notice that. I will probably drop Cal Poly SLO since it doesn’t have ChemE and I don’t like how difficult it is to switch majors since I’m not set on what I want to do. I may not apply to any CSUs then because I think UCSB and UCD are safeties for me? (and I prefer them over CSUs)</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Thank you!</p>

4

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<p>If they have not assured you that the finances will work comfortably, it would be wise to have some very low cost safeties (e.g. Alabama with the big scholarship, or even some of the full ride scholarships like Louisiana Tech and Prairie View A&M) in your application list, just in case what they can actually contribute is less than what they think they can contribute. There are a lot of sad stories in April around here about students who get into some nice colleges, but find that none are affordable because they and their parents did not discuss costs beforehand while making the application list.</p>

<p>If you can get the price limit out of your parents and some basic financial information, you can run the net price calculators at each school. For those that are too expensive, and which do not have any merit scholarships that you can try for, you can drop them from the list.</p>

<p>The mid-level UCs are pretty likely for admission, though the holistic process means that nothing is completely for sure. The fact that your lowest SAT section was math may cause admissions readers to question you for engineering. For changing majors, you need to check each campus individually to see which changes are easy or difficult (usually, changing into an engineering major is more difficult than the other way around, so it is likely better to go in as an engineering major than to try to switch in later).</p>

5

<p>Hopefully soon I will discuss with them what they would be able to realistically afford and run the NPC for schools to see which ones would be do-able. I think I will add at least one low cost safety anyways, though.</p>

<p>I am planning on retaking the SAT to raise my math score, so that should help. I will also try to score high on the Math 2 subject test. I know my parents can afford to pay for the UCs, so those would be close to a safety/low-match I think since you’re right, nothing is guaranteed. I will probably apply as an engineer so I have the flexibility to switch out, but I will further research each specific school. The only issue is I know that engineering is usually much more competitive than other majors (Esp. at UCB which I am hoping to get into…). Thanks again, though.</p>

6

<p>Note that at Berkeley, chemical engineering is in the College of Chemistry and bioengineering is in the College of Engineering, so switching between them may be difficult. Bioengineering seems to be extremely popular among freshman applicants, but the Berkeley forum seems to have a lot of new bioengineering freshmen posting about switching to a different engineering major. Good SAT subject test scores in math 2 and physics and/or chemistry may help when applying to an engineering major.</p>

<p>Switching into the College of Letters and Science at Berkeley is not difficult, but the economics major is impacted, so students need to have a high GPA in prerequisite courses to apply to declare it. The business major in the Haas School of Business is also competitive admission (students do not enter the business major as freshmen, but must apply in their sophomore year).</p>

<p>If career directions after graduation are important, you may want to check the <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/internships-careers-employment/1121619-university-graduate-career-surveys.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/internships-careers-employment/1121619-university-graduate-career-surveys.html&lt;/a&gt; .</p>

7

<p>You may want to see if NHRP will give you this scholarship at Texas A&M:</p>

<p><a href=“https://scholarships.tamu.edu/national_scholars/national_hispanic.aspx[/url]”>https://scholarships.tamu.edu/national_scholars/national_hispanic.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Although the amount is not huge ($14,000 over four years, or $3,500 per year), it looks like it may qualify to waive the non-resident tuition:</p>

<p><a href=“https://scholarships.tamu.edu/SCH_Opportunities/tamu_scholarships/international/tuition_waiver.aspx[/url]”>https://scholarships.tamu.edu/SCH_Opportunities/tamu_scholarships/international/tuition_waiver.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

8

<ul>
<li><p>Yeah, it’s confusing how ChemE is in a separate college. I’m not sure which college I will apply to, but I guess I will have to look into that further before making my decision.</p></li>
<li><p>These postgraduate surveys are very useful and interesting. I have been looking through them and will continue to use them as a resource. Thank you.</p></li>
<li><p>The TAMU scholarship looks like that could make it an affordable option if I would also qualify for in-state tuition. It sounds like I would, but I would have to confirm. I look into that. There are quite a few other schools that offer scholarships to NHRP scholars, but most are competitive and not automatic. (I know BU and NEU both have pretty generous NHRP scholarships, and they are both on my list. :slight_smile: Hopefully I am selected for them because they would make those options much more affordable.)</p></li>
</ul>

9

<p>Bump10char.</p>

10

<p>Because of your SATs you are already a lock for an automatic 4-year full-tuition scholarship at U of Alabama and probably several other schools. Also, if you are a National Hispanic Scholar, you automatically qualify for full tuition (and sometimes more) at decent places like Northeastern, Nebraska, Florida International, and U of Arizona (maybe Fordham and others). So everybody that’s worrying about you being able to afford to go SOMEplace can just relax.</p>

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<p>Oivoic, yes and I really don’t want finances to be a huge factor/concern in this thread. ucbalumnus was helpful though because he gave some good school suggestions and wanted make sure I don’t end up in a situation where I have no affordable options. No harm there and the advice was appreciated and useful.</p>

<p>I am still looking for some more thoughts on my list and worries addressed in the OP. Especially on whether or not I have enough matches/safeties and ideas on how to trim down my list.</p>

12

<p>Some “easy” ways to trim the list:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Determine your solid (for sure admissions, for sure affordable, has your major(s), you like) safeties. Eliminate any school that you would not choose over your safeties under any circumstances.</p></li>
<li><p>After finding out the price limit and basic financial information from your parents, run net price calculators on all schools. For those not affordable on need-based aid, check for sufficient in-reach merit scholarships. Eliminate any school which cannot be affordable even with the biggest merit scholarships you can get.</p></li>
<li><p>Eliminate those schools which do not have the major(s) you are most likely to finally decide on.</p></li>
</ul>

13

<p>There seems to be a big NHRP scholarship list thread, if you have not seen it already:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/735291-colleges-offering-scholarships-national-hispanic-scholars.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/735291-colleges-offering-scholarships-national-hispanic-scholars.html&lt;/a&gt;
(look at the later posts for more up to date information)</p>

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<p>Those 3 criteria will help to knock some schools of my list. There are quite a few schools I am considering that don’t offer both of my intended majors/aren’t strong in all my interest areas, and I have been holding on to them because I like the school overall, but I guess I should just let go since my list is so long, lol. Thanks.</p>

<p>I have used the NHRP thread, and it has been very helpful.</p>

15

<p>Bump10char.</p>

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<p>Northeastern and Northwestern are both very good school, very difficult to get into though!</p>

17

<p>Yes they are, but Northeastern is significantly easier to get into. And, besides their similar names, the schools are pretty different.</p>

18

<p>Bump10char.</p>

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<p>I would consider visiting many of your schools, especially those nearby. Maybe plan a trip out east, if it works with your parents. You’d be surprised how many schools will drop from your list after visiting. That will trim many of your schools. </p>

<p>Switching between Engineering and Business once at your university may be difficult. Especially since many business programs are strict 4 year programs. That said, you still have over a year to make a college decision, and even more to choose your major/career goals.</p>

20

<p>Pat1120, thank you. I think visting will be the best way to slim down my list. I have been talking to my parents and we are seeing where we can fit some vistis into our schedule. USC, UCLA, and UCI will be easy since they are close to my home, and I could also throw in other schools nearby like Caltech, the Claremont Colleges, LMU, Chapman, and Pepperdine even though they aren’t on my list to just get on idea on what type of schools I prefer (and these schools are close enough I might as well).</p>

<p>They said we could definitely also do a trip up north to see UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UCSB, Santa Clara, and some other schools and they are seriously considering a trip to the east coast since I am interested in some many schools there.</p>