Need help balancing senior son's list of schools re: sci/math & financial aid

Parents Forum
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<p>My son is a rising senior interested in biomedical engineering, living in California. He's leaning toward schools with strong engineering programs, but might also consider an LAC with an engineering program or perhaps even just strong science/math. In the latter case, he would move on to engineering in grad school. Frankly, I'd prefer he go to a school where he doesn't have to commit to a single narrow program at the outset--his interests are continually evolving.</p>

<p>My goal is to help him narrow (and also round out) his list of colleges, with finances in mind. I've read the long post on merit aid that was dated 2004 and thought it might be useful to start a thread on this subject that's more current.</p>

<p>My son needs a combination of merit/need-based aid. I'm self-employed and my income fluctuates in the 45K-90K range. Main asset is home equity. Son and daughter have had generous scholarships to attend local private high school, and we'll be still be paying our share for high school daughter. She's' going to be a freshman in high school this year. From my estimations, it's likely that our EFC will be higher than we can pay.</p>

<p>Son's stats: GPA 4.30, no class ranking at his school, PSAT=235, ACT=34, SAT=2230, SAT IIs: Math 2=800, SAT 2 Physics=800, SAT 2 Chemistry=790. APs= Chem, Bio, Calc A, Calc BC, US History and Physics=all 5's. He's NMF--won't know if he goes further until later. Extracurriculars- chamber choir, chorus, soon to be black belt in korean martial arts, student government, yearbook, school IT team. He also has an unusual artistic/mathematical talent/passion he's been developing since he was four. </p>

<p>Schools on his current list: MIT, Franklin Olin, Stanford, Princeton, Swarthmore, Brown, Harvey Mudd, Johns Hopkins (biomedical engineering program), Rice, Tufts, Washington University (St. Louis), USC, Case Western, Colorado College of Mines, Northeastern (they've been very generous with students from his high school). He is adamant about not applying to UCs and Cal State schools because of the huge budget cuts, difficulty getting classes, slashed programs, etc. He's heard too many horror stories about it taking six years to graduate, etc. and so far, I can't budge him on this. I've heard that UC Davis has a great biomed program, but he doesn't want to apply. But he still may qualify for a Cal grant if he gets into one of his three California privates.</p>

<p>He's open to a range of schools--from tiny to mid-sized, urban to rural. In general, he'd prefer a small to mid-sized school with a pretty campus and a "college feel." Though if he got into an MIT or a Princeton, he'd jump. And if he did miraculously get in, with their aid policies, we'd be fine financially. The bottom line for him is an excellent education in his interests, a good shot at grad school and financial aid. Location, etc. comes later on his list.</p>

<p>I'd like input on my son's list--right now that's a lot of schools to apply to! And obviously, many are reach schools. Does it improve his chances of getting into one to apply to so many reach schools? </p>

<p>I'd like his list to be more well-balanced, both in terms of chance of admissions and potential merit/financial aid. Would also like to add at least one school that is a true financial safety--with substantial guaranteed merit aid for his stats so I can sleep better at night. </p>

<p>Open to any and all suggestions.</p>

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<p>Are you sure you can’t talk him into UCSD (or another UC), just as a complete emergency safety in case you can’t afford the places he gets in? It’s ranked #5 in biomed by USNews, above most of the schools on his list. I think the budget cuts are serious, but may be overblown. Both the recent UC grads we hired said they had no problem graduating in 4 years and with double majors. An advantage with UCSD is that it’s pretty numbers based so he may not have to worry so much about laboring over essays, etc. </p>

<p>There’s always Georgia Tech. I know nothing first hand about it, but I think it’s pretty highly rated as well. And he should have little trouble getting in.</p>

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<p>Do some research on Regent’s scholarships at the UCs. Policies vary by campus, but may include priority course selection. And cash. It’s not that hard to complete the UC application. If he got a Regent’s at Davis, it might be an even more attractive option.</p>

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<p>The U. of Alabama would be a good choice to add to his list. Because he is a NMF, he will receive full tuition, honors housing for four years, a laptop, $2000 for study abroad or summer research and a $1000 stipend each year. He also receives $2500 from the engineering department on a yearly basis if he remains with the program. You might check it out. </p>

<p>While he has some great schools on his list, you did mention merit money. Alabama has a wonderful honors college, and the computer-based honors program has lots of NMFs who turned down some big-name schools to have the chance to work with a professor doing research. The school does not have bio-med engineering, but remember, his interests could change, too.</p>

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<p>If he’s accepted, he could possibly obtain a full-ride at MIT, Stanford, or Princeton based on your income range. He already has a range of reach, match and safety schools on the list.</p>

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<p>For an academic and financial safety - </p>

<p>He could apply to Pitt in the next month or two, and would most likely get admitted as soon as decisions are released and a merit based scholarship by early December. His stats seem about average for students from our high school who have received full-tuition (leaving just room and board), and he could try for the Chancellor’s Scholarship, which covers everything. Pitt has excellent BME, and quite a few students who earn dual degrees (engineering degree plus Arts and Science major.)</p>

<p>I do not think he is applying to an excessive number of schools, BTW.</p>

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<p>I appreciate the suggestions and will keep coming back to read more. glad to know he’s got a balance already. I’ll check out Pitt…never considered it before. I’m curious–of the schools he’s got on his list how would you categorize them in terms of Stretch, Match and Safety?</p>

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<p>to add to momreads post…he should also look at UAB,(UNiversity of Alabama Birmingham) which has a bio medical engineering program…would qualify for great merit aid . There is an excellent science/technology honors program which will also cover 2 years of a phd program. UAB is an urban campus.n new honors dorm, wonderful student rec center (rock climbing wall, lazy river pool inside)</p>

<p>feel free to pm for more info…my son is currently going there, sci/tech program and chem scholars program</p>

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<p>I’m not sure he’s ready for the deep south. we live in a liberal enclave and I’m not sure if he’d be open to Alabama for fear that the student body would be much too conservative and religious for his taste and leanings.</p>

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<p>lol chai… a very common reaction to the idea of southern schools, but that would be like me saying i wouldnt want to go to california because they are all treehugging liberals… stereotypes often get in the way of great opportunities… Birmingham is a city, with people from all over the world. Its medical school programs are ranked highly, it research programs are top notch and it receives more NIH funding than places like Harvard.</p>

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<p>yes parent 56, I agree that there’s a bias against certain geographical areas. I’ll pass your words on to my son. personally, I think it’s good to get to go somewhere very different than your childhood home–expanding horizons and seeing how other people think.</p>

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<p>:) chai…if you do decide to look at alabama schools (nmf free ride with 2 years of phd covered at uab) and visit let me know and my son would be glad to show him around campus. tell him alabamians arent as weird as he thinks LOL. and that is coming from a transplanted canadian. I think there are actually a fair number of posts about the mis-perceptions on the UNiversity of AL forum…you will see alot of out of state people taking advantage of the wonderful opportunity but initially with the same reservations…they got past it after visiting. UAB does not have a forum so as i said feel free to pm.</p>

<p>forgot to add…ua and uab are rolling admission schools… the applications take just a few minutes, and once the trnscript is received you would have an answer in a few weeks… scholarships are automatic based on stats…so you would know what is being offered up front. the selective programs like sci/tech at uab and cbhp or fellows at UA all require further work/applications and interviews</p>

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<p>pretty silly to ignore the UCs. 1) He would qualify for a Regents’ at the lower campuses, and be competitive at the big three. 2) If he scores a Regents, UC replaces loans with grant money. 3) UCSD is a powerhouse in BioMed – second only to Hopkins. 4) UCs are extremely generous with AP credit, graduating on time shouldn’t be that difficult.</p>

<p>That being said: don’t forget USC, which offers automatic merit money for NMSF. Vandy is no-loan, so its a good financial option.</p>

<p>Brown? Engineering??? (Yes, it’s ranked similar to Vandy, but Vandy is an easier admit.)</p>

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<p>blue bayou, I don’t know what you mean by lower campuses and big three. Are the big three UCLA, UC Berkeley and ?</p>

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<p>one more thing about my son. he hates sports and would not be happy on a campus where greek life and/or partying were the predominant social scene.</p>

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<p>If your EFC is more than you can afford, I’m not sure how several of these schools can work out. MIT, Swat, Brown, Mudd have good aid, but nothing like HYPS. I’d be especially careful as you’re self employed, what they think your AGI is and what you think could be very different numbers as they will often not allow some of your business deductions.</p>

<p>So make sure you calculate your EFC the way Profile schools willl and know how much of your home equity they will want.</p>

<p>I also question the decision to include no UCs, UCSD has one of the best BME programs in the Country with exceptional opportunities with SD biotech firms. If it came down to Northeastern, Colorado and UCSD, the latter might look pretty good. He has good stats, but most kids with these stats, especially from an overrepresented state like CA, don’t get into the top, great aid schools. Sometimes, because of finanial realities, a parent must insist on some financial safeties.</p>

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<p>Blue Bayou, We visited Brown last spring and he really liked it–it was before he starting edging away from straight math/sci/computers toward engineering. I think the likelihood of continued interest evolution is pretty high. I don’t know anything about Vandy–can you fill me in at all?</p>

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<p>In the South but not so deep(lol) is NC State University. It offers a BS in Biomedical Engineering. The program is run in conjunction with the Medical sch. at UNC-Chapel Hill. </p>

<p>OOS costs at NC universities are lower than most and with his stats he would most likely be in line for merit money. He would also be a good candidate for the Park scholarship. It’s NC State’s equivalent to the Morehead at UNC-CH.</p>

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<p>lol chai…another vote for uab… not greek and not sports!! it is known in state as the science school</p>

<p>UA(tuscaloosa) is VERY greek and football, but a student wouldnt necessarily have a problem if they werent into that.</p>

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<p>redroses, I keep seeing HYPS on this forum, but don’t know what it means. When I ran the MIT calculator and the Stanford one it was very favorable for us, even with my highest income. I do worry about the home equity though, because living in an area with inflated home prices, it’s a substantial amount. My understanding though is that equity can only be based on a percentage of income. But what you’re saying about self-employment is what has me worried and wanting to find some some true financial safeties for my son. If you’re willing, I’d like to know which of the schools on his list might give us a better shake in terms of aid, considering the factors you raised. It’s the uncertainty of how my self-employed income will be handled that has me fretting in the middle of the night. Things would be a lot more clear cut if I was an employee with a regular W-2. any other threads you know of that deal specifically with self-employed income and how’s it’s handled in the financial aid offices?</p>