Mechanical Engineering Eastern Area?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello everyone. </p>

<p>I'm a going into senior year this fall so my decision on which colleges to apply to nearing. I plan to study mechanical engineering and I'd like some suggestions on good colleges. I live in New Jersey. My other info...</p>

<p>3.8 unweighted GPA</p>

<p>5.51 weighted. I have a couple AP's. Got a 5 on AP AB Calc. </p>

<p>700 Critical reading
670 Math
590 Writing</p>

<p>I plan to take the SAT once more this year.</p>

<p>I have plenty of community service and I am heavily involved with my schools FIRST robotics team. There are other acedemic and political clubs as well.</p>

<p>When I look at colleges, I want a solid mechanical engineering department with plenty of hands on work as early as possible. Size of the school doesn't matter too much to me, as much as location. Large town to rural is preferable. The huge cities areas are not my thing. I want to stay in the Eastern region of the US.</p>

<p>I have visited Rowan Univeristy and toured their mechanical engineering department and talked with professors and students. It is impressive and I could easily commute there. In state tuition is also nice.</p>

<p>Out of state, I was at first looking at UConn, but more and more Virginia Tech looks better (and cheaper).</p>

<p>I would like any suggestions of solid mechanical engineering schools within all that^. </p>

<p>One more parting question- as an engineering student, am I going to loathe commuting 30-40 minutes a day, should I live at home?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>Out of state, I was at first looking at UConn, but more and more Virginia Tech looks better (and cheaper).</p>

<p>Is the price that much different? What are your parents saying about how much they’ll pay?</p>

<p>As for commuting…it depends on what you want and can afford. Are you the type that wants a more “full college experience”? Will your parents pay for that? If your parents won’t pay much then your options may be commuting or finding schools that will give you enough merit that the cost would be about the same as commuting.</p>

<p>How much is Rowan?</p>

3

<p>I don’t usually suggest this but as an engineering student I think you should see
IF you can swing living at college.</p>

<p>You will be able to join study groups, do problem sets together, do group assignments easier. You might use school computers for running certain programs too big for your computer?? You can get involved in research and fit in hours here and there.</p>

<p>It would be better to get a job on campus to make a few bucks than to live home and miss these opportunities. </p>

<p>Commuting will steal your time from you…up to 2 hrs a day. Does parking cost $$$???</p>

<p>Rowen is fine. What are your other in state choices?</p>

4

<p>My parents are not in a position to be paying much. They’ll have a vehicle for me. Everything else would be loans on me, which I will try to avoid. That leaves scholarships. </p>

<p>Rowan is 12,000/yr just tuition. Another 10k for room and board (which seems oddly high).</p>

<p>My other in state choices would be NJIT and Rutgers.</p>

<p>Whats this about jobs on campus?</p>

5

<p>$10k for room and board is pretty typical…often it’s a lot more for the nicer dorms.</p>

<p>You can only borrow $5500 for your frosh year.</p>

<p>Are you low income? If so, you might qualify for some fed grant money.</p>

<p>With your 1370, Alabama would give you free tuition plus 2500 per year for an eng’g major.</p>

<p><a href=“http://eng.ua.edu/[/url]”>http://eng.ua.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Here’s a video and pics about the school…
<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube;

<p><a href=“Titanium Chef | Home”>Titanium Chef | Home;

<p>Pics of the new Science & Engineering Complex begin on page 6, Student housing pics begin on page 12</p>

<p>Alabama forum on College Confidential which is VERY active.*
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>there are jobs on campus at various schools. Some are “work study”, but no one knows if you’d be awarded some. Some aren’t work study and anyone can get those.</p>

6

<p>I would not be classified as low income at all, but due to my situation, my parents can’t put down much. </p>

<p>That note on Alabama is interesting.</p>

7

<p>Ok…this is how Alabama would give you free tuition plus 2500 per year for engineering. You’d get two scholarships that combine (stack):</p>

<p>UA SCHOLAR - from the University for any major</p>

<p>A first-time freshman student who meets the December 15 scholarship priority deadline, has a 30–31 ACT or 1330–1390 SAT score (critical reading and math scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will be selected as a UA Scholar and will receive the value of two-thirds tuition or $64,184 over four years ($16,046 per year).</p>

<p>From the College of Engineering:</p>

<p>Students who have a 30-31 ACT or 1330-1390 SAT (math and verbal scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA **will receive a tuition supplement to bring their University-level scholarship offer up to the value of tuition. In addition, they will receive $2,500 per year for four years **</p>

<p>So, with your stats, you would get both above scholarships which total to give you free tuition plus 2500 per year. And, the amounts do increase in value if tuition increases…so that’s very reassuring! :)</p>

<p>The apps are online NOW, so apply and you’ll have your acceptance and scholarship offers very soon. You do have to submit the scholarship app as well. Both but apps are very easy…no essays, no LORs…both take like 5 minutes.</p>

<p>FYI to anyone reading this…The below is for ANY major:</p>

<p>PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR</p>

<p>A first-time freshman student who meets the December 15 scholarship priority deadline, has a 32–36 ACT or 1400–1600 SAT score (critical reading and math scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will be selected as a Presidential Scholar and will receive the value of tuition or $95,800 over four years ($23,950 per year).</p>

<p>the above merit offer also increases in value as tuition rates increase, so :)</p>

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<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;