<p>Currently there's only 2 schools I'm applying to: Santa Clara University and University of Rochester. </p>
<p>Looking to study bioengineering, maybe biochemistry or chemistry if that's not an option. I like hands-on/research learning environments and I'm great with (small) lectures. I'd like a campus with students who enjoy being at their school and who are enthusiastic about what they're learning. Preferably medium sized with diversity. Not rural. I want the majority of my list to be California schools. WA, OR, CO, UT, AZ, ID, NY and MA okay.</p>
<p>Similar to Santa Clara: St Mary’s of California, U of San Francisco, U of San Diego, Loyola Marymount. Also in CA: Chapman, Redlands, Whittier, Occidental, Pitzer depending on your stats.
Pacific Northwest: Willamette, Southern Oregon University, Whitman, Lewis and Clark, U Puget Sound, UPortland, U Seattle.</p>
<p>Er, thanks. Does anyone else have suggestions? I don’t really have need of random lists, I can find those myself, so explanations are thoroughly appreciated.</p>
<p>Do you have a couple of financial safeties…schools that you know FOR SURE that you have all costs covered and will accept you (and you like them)??</p>
<p>Salutatorian, 2130 SAT, 3.59 UW GPA (maybe? idk) (~4.0 before 12th; compelling explanation), currently gap year working + career & personal exploration, first generation. SAT II – Chem 690, Math II 720. 9 AP courses, 8 AP tests, AP Scholar with Distinction. ECs in HS: family responsibilities, HS soccer, childcare, volunteering. I’m in the Top 10% of WA 2013 graduates.</p>
<p>Most schools in WA would be financial safeties (home state + special scholarship). I’m currently most interested in Western Washington and it’ll probably be my safety.</p>
<p>@Sdgal2 It’s mostly a matter of wanting to stay near the west coast. I’d be willing to go to NY or MA because I like the states + there’s family in both (CA and WA also have tons of family). In actuality, I’m pretty open location wise, but as I said, I prefer to stay on the west.</p>
<p>I’m a huge fan of Willamette, although I don’t know much about their engineering. They have really interesting science departments with huge emphasis on collaboration and hands-on work. Nice merit scholarships too.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, you will have to do much of the research footwork for these lists of schools for yourself. You’re the only person who can decide whether a school is a fit for your interests and desires. Books like the Fiske Guide may help in this process.</p>
<p>Santa Clara is ranked fairly high nationally for engineering. It’s a nice medium size school, it would be my first choice of the privates listed above. I think your stats might set you up for a decent merit scholarship. Good luck!</p>
<p>@warriordaughter Yeah, I guess I should’ve figured that’d be the case. Do you have some advice on how to SEE the local area of a school? The best way is obviously visiting, but before apps are due that won’t be possible. I’ve found some of the CampusVibe videos useful, while others are limited.</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus I’ve actually done this for all the schools I’ve looked at (was able to eliminate 2 I was considering actually), thanks!</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids Yes it is very low. That’s not a problem, my parents are together.</p>
<p>To see a campus or its area, use G.Map or Earth :)</p>
<p>If your EFC is very low, beware of Santa Clara, it’s got one of the worst records (with Notre Dame)with financial aid, along the lines of rnaking at the top of “worst packages for low EFC students”. Run the NPC to see if it’d apply to you.</p>