<p>This is one of the most valuable threads I’ve read yet. Thanks to jennigarden for journaling her experience! One piece missing from this thread is merit/financial aid. I wonder which of the schools offered the best financial package. It didn’t seem a factor for her but it is for us. Does Oberlin, Macalaster, Tufts or Carlton offer decent aid packages, be they merit or need-based? They’re all pretty high end so I imagine getting merit aid is more competitive.</p>
<p>The book and website that I found the most resources for merit/need resources is The College Solution [The</a> College Solution | The College Solution](<a href=“http://www.thecollegesolution.com/]The”>http://www.thecollegesolution.com/). Some schools give a brochure listing a range of family financial situations and the scholarships, loans, work study, and grants that they have available for merit and need.</p>
<p>I know Carleton offers great financial aid; I personally was offered 55k for a family of 4 with an income of 60k. If you need merit, I think Grinnell would be a good choice though they also have fantastic aid.</p>
<p>collegedadnh - Tufts is NEED-based only, but they are pretty generous I think. Acceptance rate dipped to 18% last year, so it is very hard to get in.</p>
<p>This really is a useful thread. Gave me some new ideas. My S is in the same boat - not a great GPA (3.63 weighted) but 35 on ACT (also took SAT but not as high). He has a close group of friends in HS centered around his FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) team and has a definite interest in more applied technology. (Has his computer A+ certification and is Microsoft certified - through classes at his HS). Has struggled with math the past couple of years (C+ in AP Calculus A/B), so he’s not sure that engineering is his future.</p>
<p>I think he’s thinking about looking for an Applied IT-type major that focuses more on hardware - less on programming. Visited some of our local schools in Virginia - George Mason, VT, Christopher Newport, VCU, ODU, U of Richmond and seems drawn to a more mid-sized school. We’ll be looking for merit/financial aid because he’s the first of 4 to go in the next few years!</p>
<p>Any suggestions?</p>
<p>Following this thread with great interest. My daughter is much the same as OP’s son. We live in Michigan and the college she was most interested in looking at was Michigan Technological University, which we visited last week. GREAT CS department, but I would like to see her at a LAS in case she changes her mind. Anyone with input/experience with Michigan Tech?</p>
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<p>IT-type majors (IT, MIS, CIS(ystems), etc.) are usually business-oriented majors that involve managing computers and their software. CS (or CIS(cience)) is more about designing computers and their software.</p>
<p>For more of a computer hardware design emphasis (which interest in robotics seems to indicate), take a look at majors in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or even mechanical engineering (in terms of robotics). Some computer science or electrical engineering degree programs have enough elective latitude to allow the student to customize them into a computer engineering degree even if that is not the official title of the degree.</p>
<p>CS and the engineering majors will typically require frosh calculus, multivariable calculus (sometimes not required for CS), linear algebra, differential equations, and discrete math (for CS). IT-type majors may only require frosh calculus, and may allow for an easier version of calculus for business majors.</p>
<p>Just another school to add to the mix is University of Tulsa - Slightly larger, but good faculty and well respected school.</p>
<p>Hello! I’m looking for much the same thing too, in a student body: “smart, relaxed, big-hearted, liberal, off-beat. Deep thinkers, challenging, and very, very friendly” (what
jennigarden said about Oberlin’s students). </p>
<p>The thing is, Oberlin does not have an engineering programme :(</p>
<p>Other than Macalaster and Carleton, which jennigarden mentioned, does anyone have other ideas for similar schools that would be a good match for an international student with 2340 SAT, 800 SAT II Math II, Physics and Literature, and decent ECs and all that? Plus point would be a good engineering/industrial design programme? </p>
<p>Olin sounds kinda perfect, but is so killer to get into. I probably won’t make the cut (but I’ll try anyway).</p>
<p>Tomatoed, look at Harvey Mudd College. I think Mudders might describe themselves in some of your terms. It takes a liberal arts approach to science and engineering, plus it is in the claremont consortium, other excellent liberal arts colleges.</p>
<p>My son is a computer science major at Trinity University. I have posted several times regarding Trinity (search on my posts). I highly recommend it. Very good students / great professors / beautiful campus / great success placing their CS students. I think for serious students the best CS education comes from those schools with small classes and a liberal arts core curriculum. My son definitely feels that he made the right choice compared to studying CS at UT or A&M.</p>
<p>In latest 2013-2014 Payscale salary report for schools with highest salaries for respective grads, Colgate and Holy Cross were in the top 12 of all LAC’S. HC offers computer science major and is need-blind for admissions-meets 100% demonstrated financial aid. Not sure about Colgate.</p>
<p>Glad i found this thread. My son is currently a junior so we’ve just started our search more seriously. He is interested in studying computer science, business/economics, and/or pre-law. His first choice at this point is computer science so strength in that area is important. We have been looking at the ‘Colleges That Change Lives’ list and visited with a few at the Chicago college fair yesterday. Most of these (in the midwest area, at least) don’t seem strong for computer science. Some of the above suggestions sound great but we are looking for a ‘best value’ school, liberal arts small to mid-size. Would prefer midwest area. His unweighted GPA is around 3.5 - just wrote an ACT which he thinks will be around 32. We won’t qualify for financial aid most likely.</p>
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<p>You have to be careful about interpreting that data and not leaping to conclusions that it does not support. It doesn’t tell you anything about the quality of their CS programs. Lots has been written about this on CC.</p>
<p>Among other things, Payscale overall school averages do not adjust for the mix of majors. Of course South Dakota Mines (heavy with engineering majors) is going to have a higher average pay for graduates than Sarah Lawrence College (a school focused on arts and a few of the humanities).</p>
<p>University of Rochester would be a great match! Curricular freedom, all kinds of kids (including quirky, geek types who are fun to hang around with), not a dominating Greek scene, great Sciences, LAC feel with benefits of Tier 1 research university. The city is not as bad as people say, there are many interesting restaurants, good shopping, culture , museums, concerts , etc. I am an alum (obvious, I know!) of the Eastman Sch. of Music, and now my son will be applying for chemistry and CS; he is on the more quirky quiet side and I know he’ll fit in if he goes. Good luck in your search :):):)</p>