@curiositycat333–I’ve looked at the _____ rankings for engineering, among other sources of info (I am definitely NOT an engineer and needed some sort of input!). The engineering rankings are broken down more than what you describe for comp sci–graduate, undergrad w/Ph.D offered, and undergrad w/no Ph.D offered. Maybe comp sci just isn’t that nuanced yet. In addition to considering the specific programs, my S is putting a significant emphasis on “Quality of Life” and “Student Happiness” rankings from Princeton Review, Fiske, etc… I don’t know if those are as questionable as some of the academic rankings, but I guess they’re at least some form of gauge.
@snoozn --how awful on the late graduation. I hope that teacher gave you an enormous apology!
S ultimately applied to CSU, but not OSU. I kind of wanted him to put both in, but he was just done. CSU’s mech. eng. has a higher GPA cutoff than its other programs, so we’ll see what happens there. On the other hand, S hasn’t seen CSU. He’ll see WSU as part of its Future Cougars of Distinction event in early March, which comes with a $1000 if he ends up attending WSU. He’ll try to go to the event (which means missing school)–it will be the first time to see WSU and I’m glad he’ll see it from a high achieving angle.
S was also notified he’s a candidate for US Presidential Scholar. Sometimes kids in our GPA range get few accolades, so it’s nice to see S is getting a few. Thinking this might be something for him to do an update email to schools about (even though it’s really not new info as it’s based on test scores). He hasn’t done that with anything, and he’s waiting to hear from a lot of schools.
I think for the most part the schools you are looking at, @curiositycat333, are all equal in academic strength. It doesn’t matter if a school is ranked 25th or 55th or 155th if you determine that the program works for you. In fact, the one ranked 155th might be the best for you. Once you have the schools that made the cut, and where you’ve been accepted, you just pick which one you like most because of the distance, financial package, mascot, colors, pizza, or in your case, marching band. They’ll all work, but one will just feel right.
I was thinking of you (and this thread) when I attended a CU Basketball game last week. The band was having a great time. My friend who goes all the time said the band was a little bigger than usual (Sat night), so I think for basketball they have several groups that cover the games, and that way no one has to go to all the games, and it’s only clarinets, trumpets, trombones and tubas, I think, plus a drummer on a drum set. They happen to be playing Oregon, and I must say that Nike Neon was a little harsh on the eyes.
@twoinanddone I sort-of agree with you. But I don’t think all the programs are quite equal. And I think for my son getting into the program with where he can find peers is critical. We need a place, not too hard… not too easy… But just the right amount of challenge.
But rankings probably don’t really tell me that much. At this point I’m not going to stay to my S17. Go to X school because it’s a bit higher ranked on some lists. (It’s not like he’s looking at schools in the top 20.) And looking at the course & course schedule and comparing them does help quite a bit. I’m more wanting the information to help compare & contrast. The information that makes up the list is more helpful than the list.
As for marching band… I’m sort of frustrated he’s stuck on going to a school with a marching band. Marching band made a HUGE difference for him socially and that’s why he’s interested. But he doesn’t really care about sports at all. (He’s at Engineering club this afternoon… what’s the Super Bowl?) And I think marching band is more about supporting the sports in college than it is for him in High School. (Most of the band only tolerates going to the games b.c. they get to perform.) IMO if he goes to a school with a marching band, I think he’s going to find it cramps his style too much (a LOT of time taken in the fall traveling to games) and it won’t give him time to explore other interests not really available at H.S. (Hiking club, martial arts, etc)
But it needs to be HIS decision. If I push too hard it’s not going to happen.
@curiositycat333 --USNews has the different engineering rankings, including undergraduate where Ph.D is offered, undergraduate where no Ph.D. is offered, as well as “best” by engineering discipline (aero, EE, ME, etc.–including Comp Eng). Of course all of this should be taken with a grain of salt for the many reasons that such rankings are challenged as meaningful on CC and elsewhere: http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering
My friend was a non-music major in the marching band when I was at CU (many moon ago). It did take up a lot of her time in the fall, but they don’t travel to every OOS game. Definitely took the entire Saturday on home game days. She was still very active in the sorority, with program council (the student group that arranged activities on campus), etc. I think she could choose whether to participate in the pep band for the spring (basketball) and I don’t think she did. On the plus side, she got to go to a few out of town games, and to the Orange Bowl over break, with her way paid from her home in Mich to Florida and back to Mich. We were all pretty jealous.
Now another friend’s daughter was a cheerleader at CU. Talk about a time drain! They do travel to all the games and do a lot of special events.
I think Oregon/Oregon state is like Colorado/Colo State. The ‘States’ are more western, more laid back,while Oregon and CU are more urban, more bright lights. I know many at all 4 schools and everyone just seems to adopt the flavor of the school they pick. I don’t think there is a bad choice in your options.
@curiositycat333 … re: college MB … S17 would only apply to colleges w/MB. Similar to your son, MB made a huge impact on his social life in HS & he’s hoping for the same in college. He didn’t like/watch football prior to HS (not currently watching super bowl either). The joke among MB parents was that the football game was something that happened while waiting for the half-time show to begin
If you/son haven’t already done so, research the requirements for joining & time commitments of MB @ each college where he’s accepted. You may find, as I did, that there are huge differences. Several of his accepted colleges require video or in-person auditions & others have “auditions” for spot placement during summer band camp. Some rehearse 4 x week while others only 2 x a week. Some perform only @ home games & some travel w/the team.
S17’s HS MB rehearses 3 x week, performs @ home football games, & Saturday competitions or an occasional weekend parade. The college S17 decided to attend has a similar MB schedule.
If you/son end up deciding between 2 colleges you may try to “push” the one w/the least time commitment which still allows him to join MB but participate in other clubs/activities.
I just read about this school and scholarship. It’s not anything my son is interested in, but the reading I am doing here tells me that some of you have children who are interested in sustainability as an issue. Basically, Green Mountain College in Vermont is offering one 4 year scholarship worth $200K with an app deadline of 2/15. I think there is an 800 word essay.
We looked at Green Mountain. It’s super small and S17 found the niche reviews to be a deal killer given the size of the school. We generally take niche andbthemlike with a grain of salt (or 30) but he found enough that didn’t sit well with his activist equal rights soul. Had it been larger I think he’d have taken a closer look.
UMW just awarded TacoSon another $2000 in merit (one-time, not yearly). I am pretty sure TacoHusband just became the biggest pompom-saving UMW fan on the planet after reading the email since even prior to the new award COA was by far the least expensive. It’s still one of TacoSon’s favorites and I’d be happy if he lands there, but there are a few others in the pot and 3 yet-to-come admissions decisions that could complicate things.
@tacocat333 … congrats to TacoSon … $2K can go a long way toward purchasing books, travel expenses, etc. S17 received merit from several OOS colleges, but none of those COA were lower than his in-state options. S17 visited UMW early during the weeding out process but ultimately decided that colleges w/marching band were part of his “fit”. We really liked the campus, downtown historic Fredericksburg, access to I-95. If you like pizza, we stopped at a “dive” downtown that sells the “Virginia Slice” – a VERY large slice of pizza!
Allegheny just awarded S17 a 2K music scholarship! YAY!!! Hopefully this bodes well for the live audition one this weekend. It is interesting, the revised FA letter arrived before the actual scholarship letter so I have no idea what the terms are. LOL. But I am glad to see the pain of the recorded audition was worth it.
@eandesmom , that’s wonderful news about the scholarship! Very happy to hear that Allegheny wants to invest in his talent.
@MomStudent2017 , TacoSon’s worst fear (after calculus help and girls) is being forced into a marching band. He wants to play with an orchestra or small ensemble, but not march! Is your son planning on trying out at CNU?
Michigan Tech admissions seems to understand D’s psychology. They’ve sent her a USB drive and a coffee mug with their logo. One student called her to discuss the school a few days ago and today she got a very nice hand-written note from another student with a cool pun. It’s gone from “maybe we should visit MTU,” to “We should visit MTU!” They are also working on my psychology by offering the third best COA (behind CSU and WWU).
@tacocat333, congrats on the UMW award and the new low COA!
@eandesmom, congrats on the Allegheny music money and good luck to E on the upcoming audition!
Question: So what do you do about housing when it opens up Feb. 15th and early bird catches the worm? We probably won’t even hear back from half of the colleges until March and some scholarships as well. I would really like for D to stay on campus at UNCG but it is more than the tuition itself and we have not heard back from FAFSA. She missed the deadline for merit aid but has one outside scholarship we are waiting for. If we get nothing then it is hard to justify spending that much more when the school is 1/2 hour away. I am inclined to have her stay home for the first year and apply for merit next year and work to cover the room and board or at least some of it. I think the age thing is bugging me a little bit now. I wonder if another year at home would be better since she will just turn 17 right before she starts college. Of course we have to wait and see about the other offers too.
Congrats to @tacocat333 (tacoson) and @eandesmom – great news on the additional $$$!
I asked D17 point blank yesterday which schools were still under consideration for her. I could have predicted the answer, but was glad to get it straight from the horse’s mouth. I was pleased to hear that Allegheny was still on the list, but sad that College of Wooster wasn’t. She got an invite to the honor’s program at Susquehanna i the mail yesterday–have to admit that I didn’t read it very closely so not sure of what the advantages might be–but maybe I should just move on since it’s not a school that’s still on the list. The RD schools are all still on the list, so no actual decision on attendance will happen until all decisions on acceptance are in. We are in wait mode…
@mackatarinasmom, it might be worth putting the deposit down to reserve the housing and then, if it doesn’t work out, forfeit–not an ideal situation, but better than missing out if the $$ work out in the end.
@tacocat333 … Yes, S17 plans to join the Marching Captains. Not sure what other ensembles he may join. I think UMW has a pep band, if that interests TacoSon. We tried to get S17 to apply to GMU even though they don’t have a MB, but have the awesome Green Machine Pep Band – he said no. Is TacoSon in MB @ his HS? Curious … what doesn’t he like about marching band? S17 for the most part loves his HS MB. Band camp during the August heat & parades in the cold, are less desirable. He enjoys competitions; just not traveling hours to/from the events.
@eandesmom … Congrats to S17 on the music scholarship. As I said to TacoCat333 … $2K, even if only a one time amount, can pay for a lot of expenses outside of T&F / R&B.
if he ends up attending WSU. He’ll try to go to the event (which means missing school)–it will be the first time to see WSU and I’m glad he’ll see it from a high achieving angle.