<p>My son hasn't a clue and it will probably take him a year of experimenting at least to figure it out. Would it be best for him to go to a state university, and take 1 course in basic engineering (to rule out an engineering major) as well as other classes to try to figure out what he wants?
Scored 700 math, 750 reading, 750 writing on SAT. Has about 3.4 GPA after this past semester of all B's in the most challenging courses in his high school.
Any advice?</p>
<p>IMO, it depends on what state university it is. </p>
<p>Would he be happy there? Does it have good academic support? Does it offer a broad range of majors, and are the departments reasonably good? Or does he have another "dream" college that he feels he would be happier at?</p>
<p>One of the public universities in Louisiana.</p>
<p>Not such a great choice of public schools compared to other states, I suppose. It's just that he doesn't have much in the way of extracurriculars--no sports, a few years of band, nothing at all interesting, and no volunteer hours. In the summers he took a course at a school -- a science course usually. I think the lack of ECs and no focus yet on a major will just reduce his chances for admission to many colleges. I want him to keep the option for engineering open to major in if nothing else seems really appealing. It's a more difficult major, you have to start it in freshman year, and it's easier to transfer out of if it turns out to be a bad choice, but impossible to enter late without spending longer in college. And where else can you find good engineering programs along with liberal arts except a state university, esp given the lackluster ECs and no focus and his so-so GPA.</p>
<p>Any other thoughts?</p>
<p>He can get into a lot of private schools without good ECs. I think that George Washington U is worth looking at. Boston U and Northeastern may be good. If undecided, I would pick a large school with many options. It can be public, or private.</p>