Possible Decision between University of Washington and University of Alabama

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am currently a high school junior, completing my college list. After following this forum for some time (required daily reading by my parents since I was a freshman), I have compiled a short list of academic and financial safeties and a couple of very high reaches. </p>

<p>I have two questions for the expert parents on this forum:
1) I most likely will be making a choice between the University of Washington and the University of Alabama. Given my considered majors, what would be the better choice and why?
2) Are there any other schools that I should consider, given my stats and financial constraints?</p>

<p>College List:
Washington State University; Honors program (academic and financial safety)
University of Alabama; Honors program (academic and financial safety/match)
University of Washington; Honors program (academic and financial match)
University of Pennsylvania (academic super reach)
Yale (academic super reach)</p>

<p>Considered Majors:
Aerospace Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Mathematics (plus, maybe degree in secondary education)</p>

<p>Background:
Resident of Washington; public high school; Caucasian male
PSAT 228
ACT 34 (probably won’t re-take)
3 AP classes
GPA: 3.99 (rank 11)
Community college student; dual-enrolled (will graduate with 60-70 credits)</p>

<p>Note: One week before my Junior year started, AP Calculus BC and AP Physics were cancelled. There were no math courses or higher physics courses left for me in high school, this year and next. I quickly dual-enrolled in our Running Start program at the nearest community college (attend college in the morning, high school in the afternoon). College scheduling, high school scheduling, and transportation times, of course, were not compatible…messing up my forecasted junior year (and most likely my senior year) even more. Thus, a lack of APs; I will explain this on my applications.</p>

<p>ECs (predicted to senior year):
*Varsity Swim - 4 yrs; team captain 2 yrs; State Championships 4 yrs
*Club Swim (year round) - 4 yrs; State Championships 4 yrs
Knowledge Bowl - 4 yrs; District or State Championships 4 yrs
Key Club - 4 yrs active, not officer
NHS - 2 yrs active, not officer
Phi Theta Kappa (at college) - 2 yrs active, not officer
*Deeply involved with substance abuse prevention (city, county, state level) - 4 yrs
*Underage operative w/ public health department (tobacco/alcohol sales) - 2.5 yrs</p>

<p>*most important to me
I will not swim in college due to academic load/major.</p>

<p>Financial:
2010 EFC (using 2009 taxes) estimated at 50,000. My parents guaranteed my sister and I the payment of 4 years of instate tuition (University of Washington), with any excess not spent due to work/scholarships held for graduate school. I currently have 85,000 in a 529 plan. I have a sister at Juilliard (sophomore) who is paying full tuition (she’s somehow doing it on her 509’s 85,000 + being an RA + crazy work hours + Stafford loans). Only during my freshman year will we both be in college…affecting both of our EFCs that one year only (if I understand it correctly). I do not want to graduate with undergraduate debt. I plan on attending graduate school, most likely with parental and student loans.</p>

<p>Thank you to all who respond. I truly appreciate the advice.</p>

2

<p>I applaud you for your organization and foresight! You have excellent stats. I think you have a chance at Penn and even Yale, but let’s assume that you don’t get in. UW would be an excellent match for your major interests, and the honors program opens up a lot of doors for you. If you live in Seattle already, it might seem a little ho-hum, but if not, it would be a great adventure. Beautiful campus, friendly people, excellent faculty. My son’s friend who is in honors and an engineering major was doing interesting work for faculty members during his freshman year. Faculty love students who are willing to stand out from the crowd and really dive in to their major subjects. </p>

<p>I know nothing about Alabama, unfortunately, but I assume it made the list because of its generosity to National Merit kids. Aerospace program too, I believe. </p>

<p>One addition to your list should be USC, which will give you a half-tuition scholarship, plus another thousand or two, just for the NMF. The stats you currently have would probably get you an interview for the full-tuition Trustee scholarship. My son attends on the National Merit scholarship, and absolutely loves both USC and the chance to experience southern California. He has friends there who are studying aerospace engineering, and the engineering school generally is well-regarded. There’s also a wonderful honors program there called Thematic Option. Personally, I think it’s far more cohesive and impressive than UW Honors. USC was once known as a frat-happy party school, but it’s made a huge turn-around and is an excellent place for a smart, high achiever who doesn’t mind a larger campus population.</p>

<p>You know that the investment in GET is growing rapidly thanks to rising tuition, so it would make sense to spend it as late in college as possible if you end up going out of state. I.e. get the Trustee scholarship from USC, and spend down your other funds for room and board - before touching GET. That’s what our son is doing, and it has worked out well.</p>

3

<p>I would think with Boeing’s proximity to UW that the Aerospace program would be good there. You also have a very real probability of getting an excellent merit scholarship from Alabama. Things look good for you.</p>

4

<p>Why do you have to eliminate schools NOW? Why not wait to see what is offered you. You will be a NMFS and a likely NMF, so big scholarships are available.</p>

<p>As for Bama…you would be an excellent candidate for their very competitive Computer-Based Honors program. Only 40 students admitted and the avg ACT is a 33…but most range from ACT 31-36 My son is in CBHP and loves it. The director is awesome and the research opportunities are many. Of course, as a NMF you’d get free tuition, free housing, etc. If you major in engineering or Comp Sci, you’d get an additional $2500 a year on top of the NMF scholarship. </p>

<p>BTW…if you’re selected to be a finalist for CBHP, then Bama pays for your flight, hotel, meals, etc for your interview.</p>