<p>I agree with an earlier suggestion to look into a 3-2 program. You would need to research LACs that offer good merit aid and also have to consider the aid available at the schools with the affiliated engineering programs. My impression is that engineering/math is the one area where women are underrepresented in colleges so I wonder if there might not be more merit aid and/or outside scholarships available for women.
My S will be completing a 3-2 program in 2011 with dual degrees in physics/aerospace engineering. The LAC degree for 3-2 programs is often in chemistry or physics, but when my son was looking he talked to one graduate of a well-regarded instate LAC with degrees in economics and engineering.</p>
<p>3-2 programs are great in theory, but in actualtiy, not that many actually follow through with it</p>
<p>I would take a look at Fordham University (has a 5 year engineering program with Columbia), Northeastern, University of Rochester and Drexel. All of them offer merit money for NMFs, although in some cases, it is a competitive process.</p>
<p>The University of Florida is right under your nose and has better programs than many of the schools mentioned in this thread. It should be your primary focus followed by the better privates that may be able to give you significant financial aid.</p>
<p>Columbia SEAS centers itself around creating engineers with a strong liberal arts backgrounds. Other schools to consider:</p>
<p>upenn, duke, princeton, perhaps cornell, northwestern. </p>
<p>Schools like Harvard and Dartmouth have good liberal arts on offer, but have tiny engineering populations with high drop out rates (esp Harvard where something like 50% of students who start of in engineering end up graduating in another discipline).</p>
<p>mom2collegekids, thank you for trying to redirect suggestions to ones that will be affordable. I started looking around for colleges that offer big merit aid, and will keep looking.</p>
<p>I noticed that a lot of people have reccomended LACs that have a 3/2 program for engineering. I don’t really want to do a 3/2 program because I’m afraid I would be one of the ones who wouldn’t follow through with it.</p>
<p>I want to focus on engineering. Outside the classroom, though, I prefer the arts over sciences. Mostly, I don’t want to end up at a school where science and math-based majors are my only options, and I want to be with people who would share my interest in books, drama, etc.</p>
<p>What my parents are able to contribute towards college is about $4,000 a year. The EFC is significantly higher.</p>
<p>ismailcc, I do have some extra curricular activities, but not as many as I’d like to have. Currently, I volunteer regulary at a barn that does therapeutic horseback riding for physically and/or mentally disabled kids and adults. I also am taking guitar lessons, and participated in a competition based on book trivia through school. Last year was my first year going to math competitions, although I don’t do very well.</p>
<p>(EDIT: I forgot to mention that next year, I’ll be the VP of Service for NHS at my school. I’m also in Spanish Honors Society and the math honors society)</p>
<p>In the past, I have played clarinet in band, and worked on the set-buliding crew at school. However, these were both before I moved 2 years ago. I also participated on a science olympiad team (we went to nationals and ranked in the top 10 two years).</p>
<p>I hope to start volunteering at a local performing arts center and to become more involved in the youth group at my church.</p>
<p>Thank you for helping me with my college search. I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>Alright, thanks for confirming that. I’m not an expert, but that sounds like a solid lineup of ECs for many colleges.</p>
<p>*mom2collegekids, thank you for trying to redirect suggestions to ones that will be affordable. I started looking around for colleges that offer big merit aid, and will keep looking.
…</p>
<p>I want to focus on engineering. Outside the classroom, though, I prefer the arts over sciences. Mostly, I don’t want to end up at a school where science and math-based majors are my only options, and I want to be with people who would share my interest in books, drama, etc.</p>
<p>What my parents are able to contribute towards college is about $4,000 a year. The EFC is significantly higher.*</p>
<p>Well, it’s good that you know what you’re dealing with financially with your parents. Since you’re certain that their EFC will be significantly higher, then the only way to essentially reduce their EFC is to get merit that is much larger than need.</p>
<p>Since you’re a likely NMF, you have some options that can pay for tuition plus other costs and leave with little that you and your parents would have to pay.</p>
<p>The problem with many of the suggested schools is that you’d get a FA package that will have a large uncovered EFC that your parents can’t pay.</p>
<p>Well, if UIUC is too pricey, Iowa has strong LAC (social science, english, etc) and not-top-rated-but strong Engineering…also lowest cost Big Ten and better than most for OOS merit aid with decent stats.</p>