<p>I go to a public high school in rhode island</p>
<p>GPA UW- 3.9/4
SAT I - 1850 (630 CR, 620 M, 600 W (10 essay))
took it my first time in march without prep., I should definitely be able to get a score of ~2100 or higher if i study which I didnt the first time I took it, I am retaking in October
Rank - 2/188
i also plan on taking Math II and Chemistry subject tests in November
school doesn't offer AP classes but I took as many honors classes as I could
my only B's were in geometry freshman year and in english last year, all the rest have been A- or better</p>
<p>EC's:
National Honors Society 11,12
Tri-M Music Honor Society 10,11,12
4 years of baseball (3 years varsity)
2 years of basketball
4 years of saxophone, 1st chair 4 years, section leader for 3 years, band prez senior yr, and probable all-state band selection this year since last year I was one spot from being selected
student council representative for 2 years
active member of SADD(Students Against Danderous Decisions) for 3 years
member of the big brother/ big sister program for 2 years</p>
<p>Major: Mechanical Engineering </p>
<p>Colleges:
-MIT(top choice but its a lot of people's top choice)
-Cornell
-Michigan
-UVA
-Virginia Tech
-Villanova
-Boston U
-UConn
-URI(in state safety)</p>
<p>Any other colleges that I should look into? Obviously Im looking for a school that has a solid engineering program, but also one that isn't really any farther than Michigan is in relation to rhode island, and a college that either has good need or merit based financial aid for someone with my stats. I know I definitely want to apply to the first five schools on my list but im not exactly sure about the others. Any advice or other college suggestions?</p>
<p>As you’ve mentioned, you will need to bring your scores up. :)</p>
<p>Are you also taking the ACT…some do better on that.</p>
<p>Will your parents pay for whichever school you get into? If not, then take off the OOS publics because they don’t give much financial aid or merit scholarships. Only UVA meets need for OOS students. Other OOS publics will gap you big time if you have a decent amount of need…unless your stats are high for the school and they give you merit.</p>
<p>If your parents won’t pay for all costs of college, how much will they pay each year? If you don’t know, ask. There’s no point in creating a list that won’t work out financially for you.</p>
<p>But…if your parents will pay full freight…then great!!! :)</p>
<p>Which schools are your financial safety schools? (These are schools that you KNOW FOR SURE that you can cover all costs thru assured scholarships, assured grants, small fed loans, and/or family funds. And, of course, they are schools that you know you’ll get accepted to.) </p>
<p>If your family can’t pay all of URI’s costs, then it’s not a financial safety for you. URI has a Cost of Attendance of about $23k per year for residents - not counting misc costs.</p>
<p>If you broaden your range a little more (distance from home) you might consider North Carolina State, Clemson, and Georgia Tech. All very good engineering schools and lower sticker price than the private schools on your list, but final cost after financial aid is what you will really need to compare.</p>
<p>^ yes, it is important to know whether your parents can pay $55k for private school, or $46k for OOS public school… that’s sort of a starting point in refining a college list.</p>
<p>Assuming you get your SATs above 700 on Math and CR, many schools will give you a full scholarship, including some Flagships like Alabama. Some people think SATs are not critical, but for scholarships they absolutely are. Consider studying for the SAT as you would for a 7th class this fall. Take the SATs in October, and again in December if you haven’t cracked 1400.</p>
<p>If money is no object, completely different conversation…</p>
<p>1) money isn’t a factor and your family will pay $55k+ per year for any school that you want?</p>
<p>or.</p>
<p>2) you don’t want to consider whether a school is affordable - you just want suggestions?</p>
<p>Because if it’s #2, that’s not a good strategy. You need a list of schools that will work with your stats, your major, and your financial situation. Those 3 things are the 3 major parameters that typically determine which schools a student should put on their list of reaches, matches, and financial safety schols. There’s no point in “falling in love” with schools that won’t work for you financially. It’s a distraction and a waste of time and emotions.</p>
<p>Once you come up with a bunch of reaches, matches and financial safeties that fit those 3 parameters, then you can pare down your list by taking away schools that you don’t like or aren’t a good fit…</p>
<p>Do you know how much your parents will pay each year? If you don’t, ask. </p>
<p>A rough estimate of FAFSA EFC is often about 22% of family income before taxes (if the family doesn’t have a lot of assets, savings, investments). </p>
<p>So, if your family earns about $100k per year (and has few assets), your EFC is going to be about $22,000. Now, that’s not the maximum a family often has to pay. Often you have to pay more than your EFC since most schools do not meet need.</p>
It sounds like money IS a factor for you. UMich and UConn should come off your list (only federal FA from them). Cornell and MIT are huge reaches. You can leave them but I don’t think you’ll get in. Try looking at SUNY Buffalo. Not too far from you and relatively affordable.</p>
<p>Rose-Hulman and Case Western Reserve. Rose-Hulman is like a liberal arts college for scientists, and people are happy and well-educated there. They’re not into weed-out classes, but they help the people who get in to get through. Case Western is a small science-focused full university. Both have merit aid for people with excellent stats.</p>
<p>But everyone talking about finances above is right. Don’t go into $100K debt. Do know what financial stuff you’re looking at.</p>