Oh look, another "Suggest some colleges for me!" thread.

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello everyone! I just found this website, and am happy to finally find a forum with people actually discussing topics about college and school!</p>

<p>One thing I have to get out of my system before I begin is that I feel very lost and confused about college. I'm not totally clueless, I just don't really have anyone to discuss it with or bounce ideas off of.</p>

<p>I am told I am an intelligent kid, although I take that with a grain of salt. I'm not so much book-smart (I can't memorize and recite dozens of precise numbers and theories at any given moment) but I am a quick-learner who understands the "big picture", and I get A's and B's in pretty much all of my classes (most of which are honors and AP) without much effort. </p>

<p>This is a screenshot of my classes and grades through junior year:

<a href="http://i49.tinypic.com/xds7qa.jpg%5B/IMG%5D"&gt;http://i49.tinypic.com/xds7qa.jpg

</a></p>

<p>The three years are each separated by a black line. My classes for my senior year aren't near me unfortunately, I'll try to get it up as soon as possible (probably tomorrow). If I recall correctly, approximately 2/3rds are AP, with CIS Writing & CIS Lit., Hons Trig, and 3 electives.</p>

<p>I know I am lacking in Extra-Curricular activities, the only one I can name is playing basketball for four years; I also played in my school's band for 3 year (I am not taking band senior year), but I'm not sure that counts. I can't recall anything else that would be considered EC. </p>

<p>I have virtually no community service hours (2-3 at Feed My Starving Children). I don't know anything about such events near me, or even how to find out about stuff like that, although I guess Google would be my friend in this situation. </p>

<p>I don't know if an admissions officer would look at this, but I have worked at the same job consistently for almost two years, I will continue through my senior year, and will maybe keep working there during summers if I have nothing else going on during college.</p>

<p>I live in the mid-west and have a strong interest in engineering. I am currently considering the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, North Dakota State University, Ohio State, and Iowa State. I am not sure what schools are "Good" engineering colleges and "OK" engineering colleges, although I have heard good things about Iowa State and have taken an interest in them. I would love to hear stories of what these schools are like and the experiences of those who have attended them. </p>

<p>I would also greatly appreciate any suggestions as to what are some good engineering schools in the midwest. My family set up a college fund for me and I am told that I don't have to worry about cost (I can supposedly pay all four years up-front, and anything extra can easily be dealt with). My parents haven't really been proactive about talking about college with me. My dad has simply said pick the best college that I can for my chosen career path, and my mom asked two of her engineering friends who recommended NDSU and Iowa State. I intend to start talking with them about it more actively.</p>

<p>I am lacking in my freshman- and sophmore year, but I feel like I've done better my junior year, and I intend to get the most out of my senior year. My grades and "High School Career" aren't outstanding, which is kinda making me stress about my ability to even be accepted to some "good" colleges. I would appreciate any help I can get!</p>

2

<p>For engineering in the Midwest, I would recommend:</p>

<p>University of Michigan
University of Illinois
Purdue University
Case Western Reserve University
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Ohio State University</p>

3

<p>Ohio State is awesome, but it could be tough to get accepted.</p>

4

<p>

</p>

<p>Meaning that they know that the most expensive private and out of state public schools can be $220,000 to $240,000 for four years and have assured you that such cost can be covered without more loans than the Stafford loan limits?</p>

<p>Anyway, you do have some relatively low cost schools already on your list (Minnesota, NDSU, Iowa State). If you live in Minnesota, you also get some neighboring state schools at low cost, like those in Wisconsin, as well as making the ND and SD schools (SD State and SD Mines) even cheaper. There are some other lower cost schools in other regions, like Virginia Tech, NCSU, NM Mines, and Cal Poly SLO.</p>

<p>The flagships of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana (i.e. Purdue for engineering), and Wisconsin have top notch reputations, with Minnesota, Ohio State, Iowa State, and Michigan State not far behind (there is some variation in different types of engineering, of course). But any [url=<a href=“http://www.abet.org%5DABET%5B/url”>http://www.abet.org]ABET[/url</a>] accredited engineering degree program does meet a decent minimum standard. The “better” schools will likely attract more non-local recruiters to their career centers. But note that Illinois and Michigan are quite expensive for out of state students.</p>

<p>There are also some respectable private schools in the region like Northwestern and Case Western Reserve, though they may be expensive if you do not get financial aid or scholarships.</p>

5

<p>One thing you don’t mention are scores on the SAT/ACT. Those are important for admission. BTW, your job counts as an EC and continuity there is good.</p>

6

<p>By the way, a job IS an EC. If you have been working for two years, you have a very important EC so don’t sell yourself short. And the 3 years in band count even if you aren’t doing it senior year. Also, note that if you are still engaged in music in some way this year, music is still an EC. You don’t have to be signed up for a band/orchestra/classes to have “Music” or “Your Instrument” listed as an EC and in the line next to it, put “Band for 3 years, lessons for x years, etc…” They just want to know what you do with your free time - not how many clubs you managed to join, team you could sign up for and organizations you were involved in. The latter is simply resume padding and a waste of time. And volunteering is absolutely not necessary - some kids do, some don’t. Acquiring hours just to say you did it, is another waste of your time.</p>

7

<p>Whoops, I knew I forgot something… >_></p>

<p>SAT:
Reading: 650, Math: 530, Writing: 530</p>

<p>ACT: 27 Composite.</p>

<p>Thanks for the suggestions and encouragement! It means a lot, really.</p>

<p>I gave a rough outline of senior year, but here are the specific classes: AP Psych l & ll, AP US Gov&Politics, AP Econ Micro, CIS: UnivWriting, CIS Lit., Hon Spanish lll, Hon Trig, Health, Accounting I, Cad/Intro, Auto: Advanced Suspension and Steering (STEP class). Not quite 2/3rds AP, but close enough, lol. </p>

<p>“Meaning that they know that the most expensive private and out of state public schools can be $220,000 to $240,000 for four years and have assured you that such cost can be covered without more loans than the Stafford loan limits?”</p>

<p>I apologize, I think my comment came off kinda bad. The “Four-years up front” was my rough (and probably inaccurate) guess, not their words. I was told there is just below $70,000 in my fund, I was also told both my father and grandfather have extra money set aside in case it is needed. It think they mean “You only need to worry about grades and your studies, we will worry about the cost”. </p>

<p>Anyway, I appreciate your advice. I do live in Minnesota. My knowledge of what is a “costly” school vs a relatively “non-costly” one is limited because talks of cost are met with “don’t worry about it”. Your info is fresh information to me, and I appreciate it. :)</p>

<p>What should I try to be doing that will help my chances of getting into a good school besides focusing on keeping good grades?</p>

8

<p>A 530 Math SAT score is rather low for an engineering major. It looks like you haven’t taken and won’t take physics in high school. And no pre-calculus?</p>

<p>Can you change your schedule to take physics? I don’t think you can really seriously consider engineering as a major unless you’ve taken and liked physics and pre-calculus (and preferably calculus).</p>

9

<p>My SAT math score is pretty average. I can try to schedule a visit with my counselor to see what we can work out schedule-wise. </p>

<p>I will say that my math schedule has previously been a major issue. My dad chewed my counselor out because at some point my schedule got messed, either because of bad advice from a teacher or an error in the system. I was apparently supposed to take an honors math class my freshman year, but was instead in a non-honors class (I recall freshman math being extremely easy). The result is that I should be a year ahead in my math class than I currently am. Basically, I’m a year behind the rest of my classmates. >:(</p>

<p>And if I recall the issue couldn’t be rectified because I didn’t take the prerequisite for the class I should be in, and wouldn’t you know I didn’t have the prerequisite because my schedule got messed up!</p>

10

<p>

</p>

<p>Your parents and other relatives may not realize how much various schools cost, so you may want to discuss that with them. You don’t want to have the letdown next April of finding that all of the schools you got into that you like are unaffordable.</p>

<p>However, $70,000 plus Stafford loans should be just enough to cover the cost of state universities in Minnesota (as a resident) and come pretty close at least for state universities in Wisconsin (through tuition reciprocity). There should also be tuition reciprocity agreements with North Dakota and South Dakota, though the state universities there are pretty inexpensive to begin with. You may want to look for your safeties among the state universities in these states.</p>

<p>The other less expensive out-of-state state universities (e.g. Virginia Tech, Iowa State, NCSU, Cal Poly SLO, Stony Brook, New Mexico Mines) can run about $30,000 to $35,000 per year, or $120,000 to $140,000 for four years. More expensive out-of-state state universities (e.g. Michigan, Illinois) can be significantly more; the most expensive out-of-state state universities and private universities can be $50,000 to $60,000 per year, or $200,000 to $240,000 for four years.</p>

<p>Try getting enough financial information from your parents to run the net price calculators on the various schools you are considering to get financial aid estimates.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, an ACT of 27 or SAT CR+M of 1180 does not catch too many of the <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; . University of Hawaii, Prairie View A&M, and Howard seem to be the only obvious candidates of big merit for your test scores with engineering (but University of Hawaii’s GPA minimum of 3.8 is probably higher than your GPA). But you have a few more chances to try for higher test scores.</p>

<p>But also note that an SAT M of 530 is not a particularly good score for a student intending to go into a math-intensive major like engineering.</p>

11

<p>Uminnesota and Wisconsin</p>

12

<p>It’s possible that the 530 in math will keep you out of engineering programs.</p>

13

<p>Have you taken any higher level math courses? I agree that the 530 in math is low to be considered for most engineering schools especially with the level of math courses that you have taken. Some schools will accept you as an undecided major with the condition that you show ability in prerequisite math and science to be completed in freshman year. Meet with your GC after you check the prereq. for the schools you are interested in applying to. Best of luck.</p>

14

<p>The other question is that your schedule for senior year appears to only include 1/3 year of math, instead of a full year of precalculus and trigonometry that most students typically take in order to be ready for calculus as a college freshman. Being ready for calculus as a college freshman is essential if you want to graduate on time as an engineering major.</p>

<p>Also, have you taken or will you take physics in high school? Physics is the most important of the sciences for most engineering majors. You want to get an idea if you like the subject to see if engineering (designing things using principles from physics and math) is suitable for you. Also, many college physics courses recommend having high school physics as a prerequisite.</p>

15

<p>

A 530 math score is pretty average for all SAT takers, but is definitely lower than average for engineering majors, and well below the average of those who successfully graduate with an engineering major. I’m not trying to be harsh with you - just to give you a realistic assessment, to help guide you when making choices. (FYI, for perspective, I’m on CC as a parent, and am an engineering manager, with BS and MS degrees in EE.)</p>

<p>If you start college and still need to take pre-calculus, and haven’t had high school physics, it would be almost impossible to graduate in 4 years in engineering. Even among students who took AP Calc and AP physics in HS, a very large number of students who start out as engineering majors end up switching to another major. (I’ve heard a running joke that engineering is “pre-business”)</p>

<p>I suggest that you avoid attending a “tech” school, and rather one with a wide range of major offerings, so that you have other options if you end up switching majors out of engineering. Your best bet is probably your instate public flagship U, or the flagship U of neighboring states if they fit your budget.</p>

16

<p>sacchi - What is your opinion on a 3-2 engineering program for a candidate such as Qwurty? </p>

<p>For example:</p>

<ol>
<li>[College</a> Lists / 3-2 Engineering (WashU)](<a href="College Lists Wiki / College Lists Wiki News and Information)</li>
</ol>

<p>and</p>

<ol>
<li>[Dual-Degree</a> Program | Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth](<a href=“http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/academics/undergraduate/dual/]Dual-Degree”>Dartmouth Engineering | Dual-Degree)</li>
</ol>

17

<p>Sacchi – No offense taken; I appreciate your being frank.</p>

<p>I sent my counselor an email asking when we can meet, and got an automatic reply back that she won’t be in for another week. I’ll try to work out something with her. I assume pre-calculus is one trimester, and since I have Trig first and second tri I figure I can fit pre-calculus in my last Tri. I’m also willing to take night-school or summer school if need be, and if the college I choose will work with it.</p>

<p>I took Honors Physical Science freshman year, but I believe you are referring to the more advanced Physics class that I recall being able to pick for my optional senior year science class. I’ll try to work this out with my counselor as well.</p>

<p>I have also decided to retake the SAT, and I’ll study a lot harder this time. I might also retake the ACT, but I’m not sure that is really “necessary”.</p>

18

<p>Re: #16</p>

<p>3+2 programs have a number of uncertainties:</p>

<p>a. Transfer to the “2” school is not necessarily guaranteed and may require a competitive admission process.</p>

<p>b. Financial aid and scholarships at the “2” school are uncertain until one is admitted to the “2” school. Plus, it is five years worth of college costs at the minimum.</p>

<p>c. Major and curriculum choice are often restricted at the “3” school. While it may be theoretically possible to take the pre-engineering course work alongside some unrelated major, some “3” schools limit the choice of majors to those with substantial overlap with pre-engineering course work (e.g. physics, chemistry, math).</p>

<p>d. Some students, after attending the “3” school for three years, are reluctant to transfer away, especially since many “3” schools are residential schools that try to foster a tight knit student community in each class of students.</p>

19

<p>Have you looked at NY Maritime Academy? It looks like it would be a match with your stats. You would need to take pre-calc.</p>

20

<p>

</p>

<p>I’m not really a fan of 3-2 programs. My understanding is that almost nobody who starts at a LAC intending to to utilize the program ends up doing so. Engineering programs tend to have long threads of prerequisites, making it difficult to fit everything in during the final 2 years. IMHO, if you want to study engineering, go to a college that offers engineering.</p>

<p>The specific two programs you list - Dartmouth and WashU, are really too selective for the OP to consider, given his/her stats. All of the Dartmouth feeder LAC schools looked to be pretty selective. The WashU list was broader, and includes some less selective schools which the OP could get admitted to, but they are probably out of the OP’s price range. I also question how many students actually successfully complete a 3-2 program at WashU coming from the less selective schools, as WashU is a very selective and challenging school.</p>