<p>My S is beginning his Common App and I am worried he does not have a well-rounded enough list. Would love some opinions on whether we need to add more and what kind of school. He prefers larger schools and nothing too isolated.</p>
<p>Stats: 33 ACT, 4.1 W GPA, 3.9 UW, 8 APs by graduation (all 4s and 5s so far)
ECs: mostly music (lots of it), Scouts, a couple leadership positions</p>
<p>Have you considered the University of Washington? It’s not a common app school, but their engineering program is top notch and there’s some seriously interesting research available to undergrads.</p>
<p>I’m guessing that you’re instate for his safeties and you know that you can pay all costs? If so, and he’d happily go to either of those schools, then maybe you don’t have to add any more. </p>
<p>What is your budget? how much do you want to pay each year?</p>
<p>I agree that merit at UMich is unlikely. I think he might get about $9k per year from Purdue.</p>
<p>Mom2, we can afford full pay at OSU and UC, and he would be happy to go to OSU, so was even thinking of dropping Cincy off the list if he prefers one safety to the other.</p>
<p>He likes schools that have a strong focus on engineering but are not overly techy. He did not want to look at schools like RPI, RIT, WPI even Georgia Tech. He is also hoping to continue participating in marching band so that is also a factor albeit not a deciding one.</p>
<p>I hope you are right about Purdue and merit, that’s what we are counting on. If he can get $10K about, we can afford it. I am said about Michigan as it has all he wants and it’s my alma mater to boot!</p>
<p>An just an fyi, he considered Bama as a safety but decided did not want to go that far and OSU could offer the same if not more opportunities, although it will still cost a bit more than UA.</p>
<p>If he retests and gets a higher score, then maybe Umich might give him some merit. Still not known because some here have reported getting no money from UMich even with a high test score. </p>
<p>I haven’t looked at Purdue’s scholarship website in awhile, so look to see if they still have that merit scholarship (about $9k) for those stats. </p>
<p>Yes, Bama would be an inexpensive safety for your son. With free tuition plus 2500 per year, your costs would be about $13k per year and that would be with the best dorms with private bedrooms. The apps are very easy and quick…no essays, no LORs.</p>
<p>Mom2ck, two seniors from last year are down there now from our school. May wait and check in with both of them after a couple months and perhaps they can persuade him to reconsider! It is an awesome offer.</p>
<p>Yes, it is. if your son applies, just make sure he submits the apps before Dec 15th…that’s the scholarship deadline. It’s an awesome deal. About $110k in scholarship money. Gorgeous campus and new Science and Engineering Complex.</p>
<p>What about University of Illinois? Strong engineering and may be 5-8k cheaper than Mich. I would say the two schools are fairly similar outside of academics, too.</p>
<p>Pat, he prefers Purdue to UIUC, and it’s cheaper! Interestingly, he was working on his Common App tonight and he informed me after I’d written the OP that he wants to drop CWRU and add Stanford and Cornell as reaches and Maryland and Clemson. I guess we have a full list now!</p>
<p>You need to apply to at least 7 - 10 schools. My kid had similar stats to yours and he applied to 9 schools and was accepted at 7. My kid was a band geek too.</p>
<p>Great engineering schools with fantastic marching bands and good sports teams include Virginia Tech, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, Texas A&M, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign etc. Good luck!!</p>
<p>Actually, the only minimum is one school that is an absolute certain safety for admission, net price, and suitable academics (though some recommend having more than one in case the school’s safety-ness is mis-estimated). Any other schools beyond that are optional.</p>
<p>noimagination, thank you for the U of Minn suggestion. My feeling is though that he can get an equal education without going so far at OSU and he doesn’t have a burning desire to check out another part of the country. </p>
<p>ucb, my S did visit CWRU twice, once for general info and once for engineering dept. info so I think he has met the “level of interest” requirement. Point is moot now though because he has told me he does not want to go there anymore after seeing a few more of the bigger schools on his list.</p>