Is my college list okay? (Chem E)

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey everyone, here are my stats:
-UW GPA: 4.0
-ACT: 35
-School does not rank
-Most rigorous course load</p>

<p>-ORM (Asian female)
-No hooks, except for the fact that I come from a generally underrepresented state in the South</p>

<p>ECs/awards:
-Heavy involvement in music (flute). State/regional awards, including one competition in which I was a national finalist. Private lessons, participation in university band, chamber ensemble, etc.
-Summer research internship in physics dept at local university (8 hrs/day, 5 days/week, 7 weeks/yr)
-National French Honor Society president, National French exam gold medal, festival wins, etc. pretty strong interest in French; taking AP French next year, etc.
-tutoring/volunteering/etc. </p>

<p>Tentative college list:
Northwestern
Carnegie Mellon
Swarthmore
Rice
USC
U of Rochester
Northeastern
UMN Twin Cities
U of Alabama (probably going to be NMF, and I definitely qualify for full tuition, so this is the academic and financial safety)</p>

<p>I'm a rising senior and would like to major in chemical engineering; however, the idea of being able to take classes unrelated to engineering appeals to me. My parents are willing to contribute between $20,000-$30,000 per year toward my education (debatable depending on the school), and my EFC is about $30,000 to $35,000. Therefore, I would probably need some merit aid as well. I'm applying to a wide range of schools, including one LAC (Swarthmore), since I love the idea of a broad education, even if the school does not have specific subfields of engineering such as chemical. However, I do not want to attempt a 3+2 program. I know there are some discrepancies in my list (I claim to prefer a liberal arts education, yet Northeastern is basically the opposite), but I'm a pretty flexible person, and I think I could thrive equally at a large state school and a small private school. Also, there is the merit aid issue as well. Hopefully, applying to many different schools will give me options come next April. </p>

<p>So, if you guys could help me:
-Is my college list balanced? Do I need more financial safeties? I may apply to UMD or Ohio State but I'm not sure if I'd get enough merit at OOS publics.
-Are there any other LACs that offer engineering (NOT as a 3+2 program)? I've looked into Lafayette and Bucknell, but the student body is not as diverse as I'd like.
-Any general suggestions would also be appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Have you considered Clarkson? I think you could get a lot of money from it. It’s kind of out of the way though. </p>

3

<p>Some LACs that offer engineer include Lafayette and Bucknell (which you mentioned) as well as Trinity and Union (which likely aren’t’ more diverse). </p>

4

<p>University of Delaware offers OOS merit aid and is highly rated in Chem E. I am not sure about merit aid at other highly ranked state U’s like Wisconsin and Michigan, but they are worth a look too.</p>

<p>Harvey Mudd is a small technical school that offers liberal arts breadth through the “Claremont Consortium”. It doesn’t offer a specific major in Chem E but would be similar to Swarthmore in that regard- you would construct something akin to Chem E based on selecting a large number of chemistry courses. </p>

5

<p>Illinois and Michigan also have fantastic Engineering programs you may want to consider.</p>

6

<p>Your list is not aggressive enough. Add Stanford, possibly MIT, and 2 or 3 Ivies.</p>

7

<p>I like your list. </p>

8

<p>Thanks for the advice, everyone! Any other input is appreciated. </p>

9

<p>I disagree on adding ivies and schools such as MIT and Stanford just for the sake of adding them. If you must, add one or two, but no more. They are hard enough to get into as it is and applying to multiple will likely result in a “crpshoot” so to speak, which a college list should not be.Your list is balanced, unlike many I have seen on CC.</p>

10

<p>Don’t apply to Stanford+Ivies unless you really like them. (Besides, Ivies and engineering aren’t terrible, but I think you’d do better at a smaller school with a more focus on engineering.) Maybe just add one reach school, like MIT or Caltech–IF they offer what you want and IF you like them. I mean, if you’re interested, Purdue would be a good financial and academic safety. You’re above what they usually admit, and though contestants for merit scholarship for engineering is fierce, you’ve got a pretty good shot.
Again, though, only apply to schools you’re going to be happy at. No reason to go just for prestige, which seems to be 99.274% of the people on here…</p>

11

<p>@shawnspencer off topic, but LOVE your name/avatar!</p>

12

<p>@GB1904‌ Why thank you! I have to say, I’m just a little bit obsessed with the show. So much so that for dinner tonight we are having pineapple. I kid you not.</p>

<p>Other schools that come to mind: RPI, Lehigh, University of Illinois, and Purdue.
For some reaches strong in engineering with the atmosphere you specified: Olin and Harvey Mudd. (Although Olin’s environment is much smaller than most colleges)</p>

13

<p>Thanks! </p>

14

<p>Highly recommend Harvey Mudd College in California. It is a truly outstanding LAC which specializes in technology, science, and engineering. Is part of the Claremont Consortium, and although fewer than 1,000 students, you can take classes at the other colleges in the consortium. </p>

<p>Again, highly recommended. :>
<a href=“Engineering Curriculum FAQs | Engineering | Harvey Mudd College”>https://www.hmc.edu/engineering/curriculum/faqs/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Perhaps also consider Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana. Good merit aid, from what I hear, and an excellent engineering school. <a href=“http://www.rose-hulman.edu/”>404 | Rose-Hulman;

15

<p>UW-Madison is top-10 in ChemE. It’s a fun campus with great school spirit and a lot of highly ranked departments. OOS tuition is around $25k. </p>

16

<p>Just to let you know, if your EFC is $30,000 - $35,000, the best you can hope for is schools to offer you a financial aid and merit package (that includes loans) that results in your family paying the EFC.</p>

<p>Stated another way - you should not expect a financial aid package and then merit money on top of that so your family only has to contribute $20,000 - $30,000, when the EFC is higher.</p>

17

<p>Just thought id mention that Northwestern does not give merit based aid, so middle class to upper middle class families usually pay a lot</p>

18

<p>Fog City said “Your list is not aggressive enough.” What nonsense!</p>

<p>Investigate potential target schools and determine if they truly have assets that appeal to/attract you. One word of caution; The engineering school at U of Illinois is awfully hard to be admitted to for non-residents. Michigan is a pretty tough admissions ticket, too.</p>

19

<p>Smith is a LAC with a small but well-funded engineering program. They have limited merit aid; with your stats and ECs you might qualify for it. The merit package includes a paid research position for the first two years. Smith has a general engineering program (like Swarthmore), but several of the professors are chemical engineers, so they would be able help you focus in that area. </p>

<p>Smith has an excellent French program and have their own study-abroad programs in two French-speaking countries (France and Switzerland). They just started a new Science in Paris program to make it easier for STEM students to study abroad. </p>

<p>Smith also has a junior year engineering exchange program with Princeton that allows you to study engineering at a research university for a semester, with an optional research project the following summer. </p>

20

<p>If you’re going to apply to Carnegie Mellon, which typically does not offer great merit scholarships, consider Case Western Reserve as well. Very similar universities but Case often does offer better merit scholarships. Carnegie Mellon is in a nicer area and is a little higher ranked, however, I think the CWRU campus is prettier and is often the better value. </p>