Reccomend Colleges for me? Engineering or LACs?

College Search & Selection
1

Wanted some opinions on where I should look at (Currently a junior) and how I can bring out stronger parts of my application for next year.

White, middle-class (~100k) male

Potential Majors: Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Political Science. (I hope to attend a liberal enough college that would be supportive of my diverging ambitions). This is somewhat off topic but I really just value learning for what it is, these specific fields interest me most right now but I’m headed to college to continue my pursuit of knowledge.

SAT: 660 CR (:frowning:), 750 M, 790 W (11 Best Essay) 2200 overall

(Big note here, and hopefully someone can answer. Taken the SAT twice so far, 1900 and 2200 respectively, 11 essay came from the first test somehow. Anyway, wanted to know if its worth it to retake just to bring up CR to a 700+, or would a 700+ on the Lit SAT2/ a 5 on the AP Eng. Lang and Comp exam qualify my score?)

GPA (Unweighted; out of 100) 98.2783 (End of Sophomore Year)
All honors classes, most rigorous course load available, will take 8 APs over the course of HS
Rank: 9 of 90 (As of end of sophomore year. Anticipating top 5 by end of year. Highly competitive class but my weighted classes will have substantial impact on my rank.)

SAT2s: Yet to take, planning on taking Physics, Chem, Math 2, possibly Lit to qualify my terrible CR score on my SAT. Anticipating mid-high 700s, probably low 700 on Lit if taken.

AP Exams: This year I’m taking AP Eng. Lang and Comp, APUSH, and AP Chemistry. Anticipating 5 on Eng., 4/5 on USH, and 4 on Chem.

ECs:

(A lotttt of music related things, seriously)
(I really love music and my common app essay will likely be strongly centered on something music oriented)
Concert Band: 4 years
Jazz Band: 4 years
Marching Band: 4 years (2 years as Drum Major)
Brass Ensemble: 4 years
Summer Community Jazz: 2 years
Instruments I play: Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone Horn, French Horn, and currently learning piano
Chorus: 3 years
Select Chorus: 2 years
Drama Club: 3 years (Lead roles all years)
Musicals: 3 years (1 supporting, 2 leading)

(Student Government)
Student Council HR Representative: 2 Years
Class President: 1 Year
Class Fundraising Chairperson: 1 Year
(Will run again next year, undecided what position)

(Community Service)
Key Club: 4 years (1 as Treasurer so far, planning to run for district office this year, would be managing 8 clubs in my county (speculative))
Interact Club: 2 years
Misc. Other Community Service Projects
Total Hours: 200+

(Other Activities)
Peer Leaders: 2 years
Mock Trial: 3 years (1st Prosecuting Attorney, 2nd Defense Attorney, 3rd Undecided)
Chess Club: 2 years (May exclude from app because wasn’t terribly interested, or good for matter :P)
Basketball: Freshman Year JV (Again probably wont include)
I write for fun: (Rather proud of my work too) I comment on current events when I feel I have something to add to the conversation, I’ve has two of my articles published in the largest newspaper in my County

(Work Experience)
3 years at ice cream shop
2 years dish-washing/bussing at local restaurant (current)
Just started internship at local STEM Academy (tutoring, test prep, robotics, programming, Minecraft for kids)

(Awards)
Nothing major yet
Assuming NHS
Tri-M Honor Society
Countless school level awards, depending on how you guys deem my current resume I will enter more higher-level essay competitions
Nothing I can say here will stand out but I want to know what you all have to offer as far as suggestions go.

2

Cost constraints? State of residency?

Look for schools that have your desired majors natively, not as 3-2 programs. Some LACs do have engineering majors offered natively.

3

@ucbalumnus NJ and I’m looking to not be in crippling debt when I leave college so take that as you will. I’m the oldest of 3 and my parents have told me that its in my best interest to find an affordable education. To me this means I will likely attend a private college with the best financial aid I’m offered.

4

First, look to the list of ABET-accredited schools at: http://main.abet.org/aps/Accreditedprogramsearch.aspx

If you are interested in some smaller LACs with 4 year engineering programs that are likely to offer you decent money for your stats, look to Bradley (in IL), Valparaiso (in IN), or Scranton (in PA) as a few suggestions.

Not sure what the SAT scores are for guaranteed scholarships at schools like Alabama, but if you’re interested in a larger university that would be a good place to look.

Unfortunately, many schools do not look at the SAT writing score, which is a shame since yours is stellar.

Have your parents given you an idea of what is affordable for them?

5

Some LACs do have engineering ex. Lafayette, Bucknell, Union, Trinity.
But to offer useful help we need to know any restrictions you have ex. financial, geographic etc.

6

@InigoMontoya Thanks for the suggestions, I will definitely consider those schools… Minus Alabama, I’m trying to avoid going to school in the south. As for affordability, I haven’t ever actually gotten a straight answer from them, but I’m assuming the more scholarship money I can get the better haha.

7

See what Union has to offer.

8

For need-based aid, try each school’s net price calculator on its web site. You will need your parents present to give the basic financial information. You can also see their reactions when they see the net prices.

If need based aid is not sufficient, big merit scholarships may help you:

http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
http://competitivefulltuition.yolasite.com/