@taliecharley It’s really going to depend upon what your son is most interested in. We toured multiple LACs with our son - as he was STEM interested, but we thought a LAC would best serve his needs. In the end we were wrong. We thought Swarthmore would be good match. While it is an excellent institution, it felt more rarefied than other larger schools he looked at. When our son saw some of the REAL STEM opportunities at non-LAC schools, he was sold. Also, don’t know what your son’s stats are. Many of these schools are a stretch for all students. But, I think Bucknell and Colgate are great suggestions. Some of this depends upon your son’s social interests. Both of these are a bit “jocky” and Greek friendly. Rochester will be less so. RPI is the most tech of the schools recommended. No bad choices here. But, there are very real differences in Engineering experience.
Some of the northeastern highly selective LACs have a 3+2 program with Dartmouth for engineering. So if he decided on Engineering, I think you go to Dartmouth years 4+5 (not positive so look it up).
These are both great schools for a practical, outdoorsy, STEM-oriented kid – but not if you want the option of switching to the humanities. The humanities programs are not a strength at Cal Poly, and they are basically non-existent at Mines.
Have nephew in California who is a practical, outdoorsy STEM-oriented kid. Seemed like a fit for Cal Poly, but he wanted to study outside California. He looked at Mines, but ended up at Lehigh and loves it. Lehigh does have a big Greek and party scene (as does Dartmouth, for that matter) , but he has his own tribe and does not participate.
It’s not easy. Both of these schools are more rural and isolated than Dartmouth – no interstate highways, no Amtrak, no regional airports. So if your son is serious about “rural”, then these schools might really appeal to him. On the other hand, he might decide that they go too far in that direction. While neither of these schools has engineering (apart from 3/2 programs, which very few people actually use), both are good for sciences. Williams in particular is really strong for both physics and math.
I may have missed it, but I don’t see that OP lives in California. If not, definitely check out the Cal Poly OOS price tag as well as threads on this forum about its quirky application assessment (as well as issues people have had with how to make sure that advanced middle school math is captured on the application).
thanks everyone, yes we are OOS for Cal and are struggling with the quirky requirements for Cal Poly, which is why we’re targeting schools now before he registers for courses for SR year. On paper, he has required stats (33 ACT first sitting (will retake) and high GPA, varsity sports, community service, tutor, job, good summers) but who ever knows! Trying to cast a realistic net so thanks for the tips.
Engineering & rural, outdoorsy location - Clarkson.
Can’t figure out why Middlebury and Williams if didn’t like Bates.
Sounds to me more like Colgate.
Note that Cal Poly admits by major. This is fine for students who know exactly what they want to do, but not so good for students who are still uncertain. Your son would have to commit to a specific degree program when applying; “undecided” is not an option.
If a student thinks he might like engineering, the usual advice is to apply for admission to an engineering program. This is because it is typically easy to transfer out of engineering if you don’t like it, but hard to transfer into engineering if you start somewhere else. Unfortunately, many of the majors in the engineering school at Cal Poly have extremely competitive admissions – much more competitive than the overall acceptance rate would suggest. For example, computer science had an FTF (full-time-freshman) target of 130 admits for Fall 2017, and they got 4,377 applications for those spots. Mechanical engineering got 3,123 applicants for a target enrollment of 180.
https://content-calpoly-edu.s3.amazonaws.com/ir/1/images/2017-18%20Enrollment%20Targets%20and%20Projections.pdf
If a student decides to change majors, or fail a class, or otherwise gets off track, it can be difficult to get the classes needed to finish in four years. Cal Poly’s current 4-year graduation rate is only 47% (as per College Navigator), which is far below the levels at schools like Dartmouth or Williams. At Mines, the 4-year graduation rate is only 52%. Both Cal Poly and Mines have higher 6-year graduation rates (80% and 77% respectively).
Your description made me think of Whitman in Washington but obviously wrong coast.
@Booajo, we looked at Bates for his sister, so maybe was just a different approach, but neither of them loved it. Not sure I can explain why. Thanks again, everyone!
I would second (or third?) @happy1’s suggestion of Lafayette. Know several kids who majored in engineering there, enjoyed the school, and are gainfully employed. I would not rule out Rochester or Bucknell just yet. We fell in love with Rochester when we visited. Beautiful campus. Would University of Virginia be too large or too south? It does tick off some of his other boxes. What is your home state? Any safety options there? Good luck!
Home state has a top 10 engineering program so no safety but a possibility! I would love him to look at UVA but he says “no South”-- Rochester 100% on the list. Thanks!
It’s a shame he won’t go South. I would wager he’d fall in love with Virginia Tech. It’s no Dartmouth or UVA but I think you’d be as happy with the tuition as he was with the school and culture.
Union?
Has engineering and a social feel like Dartmouth’s— lots of frats. Not rural, but close to gorgeous rural Adirondacks.