I previously had the same feelings, & I’ve realized it’s more financially responsible to state in-state. I found a local state school that I think I’ll enjoy, for only 13K with R&B. This is in NJ, which is much more expensive than SC, so I’m sure you can find even better rates! Many schools here have the “preppy northern feel”. I’m definitely northern, although I’m not preppy. Visit some local schools, and see if you feel you’d fit in. Don’t let your OOS dreams cloud your judgement! You can always transfer after a year or two.
OOS publics definitely don’t give much aid to non-residents. There’s good schools in every state, I doubt every school in SC is a “lousy party school”. How do you know you “hate” every school? I doubt you’ve visited every one!
Oh the irony! Back in the day, IIT students from India applied to Clemson comp sci hoping to be one of the lucky ones accepted into the Phd program.
OP, I get that this is just venting. It’s hard to be surrounded by kids who will be sending in applications left and right to any school they want - while you feel stuck in-state through no fault of your own. But between now and April 1, you’ll discover that a lot of the people talking trash about their state schools are going to end up in-state because, while they might get accepted OOS, they can’t afford to attend or the incremental cost is in no way justified by the qualitative differences in the programs. And don’t be so quick to write off grad school either - life takes you to unexpected places (even the people who go to school in-state.)
And although you aren’t in the mood to hear it, kudos to your dad for setting an important example of the meaning of family by supporting those back in India who need the help. I know it may feel like its being done at your expense, but it’s what good people do.
You’ve picked either ridiculously-difficult-to-get-admitted-into private schools, or public schools where you’re not going to get FA.
If u are serious about wanting to go away to college, then you need to get your SAT scores up and then target schools that you stand a reasonably good chance of being admitted and can realistically afford. Look at schools (public or private) where you stand to land decent MERIT money.
I went to college in Georgia, 20 minutes from home. I went to grad school in New York and am moving to Seattle for my first full-time job in the tech industry. (I was not a CS major; my job is semi-technical.)
You aren’t stuck in South Carolina for the rest of your life just because you go to college there. Big technology companies recruit all over the country. I suspect that you “hate” all of the colleges in SC (some of which are very good!) primarily because you have preconceived notions about them and really want to leave the state. The colleges in your home state always look less shiny than the ones that are farther away, because you’ve already been exposed to them. Also, there’s nothing lousy about USC and Clemson; they’re excellent public universities. The College of Charleston is also a pretty good public liberal arts college.
Also, it’s not completely true that there are no tech opportunities in SC - Charleston is developing a little tech corridor in town now.
Apply to USC (and Honors College if you can bring those scores up), College of Charleston( Data Science is a GREAT program), and Clemson. If you get to 1360 CR+M apply to UAlabama Honors for an automatic full tuition scholarship. This way you have all your bases covered.
THEN
apply to Out of State colleges where you have a shot at admission AND merit aid.
Start by looking at great engineering colleges where being Indian doesn’t make you an over-represented minority, such as UMN -Twin Cities.
Check out Case Western Reserve, Tulane, Umass-Amherst, where you may get merit (depending on your SAT score); Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly SLO, SJSU (no merit at the last three but costs should be about 36K); if you’re interested in smaller colleges such as LACs, see which ones have programs of interest for you, for example check out Marist, Whitman, Dickinson, St Olaf, and Lake Forest. If you’re a girl, check out the Seven Sisters, Scripps, Agnes Scott.
(Purdue is an excellent university for engineering but it’s also very high on many Indian students’ college lists, so it’s a double-edged sword depending on what you’re looking for).