<p>After some discussion with my son, I think he is going to remove Allegheny (so long money) from his list, and add in MIT, Harvey Mudd, and Carleton. (thanks, Reezespieces). </p>
<p>Classicrockerdad: I think you are right about Allegheny. It was hanging in there for a while due to the pre-money offer but… He will add inn Harvey Mudd because as you and many others have said, it sounds like a great fit. It looks like the orchestra/band options are strong too.</p>
<p>jym626: That is interesting about your son. That sounds like a tiring college tour. Was it difficult for him to switch from physics to mechanical engineering or is there room in the requirements to do that? He didn’t need to track into a mechanical engineering curriculum from the get go? </p>
<p>So, his final list will be…but he thinks too long…IS:
Rice (an overnight scheduled on campus for January)
Olin (this one might be leaving…so narrow…he is checking on the music with wellesley)
University of Rochester (He really liked this school when he visited)
Lawrence University (will visit during the physics weekend, clarinet audition)
Case Western University (has not seen, will visit after)
Williams College (legacy)
Grinnell (has not seen yet)
Umass/Amherst (not sure he “loves” his safety but hasn’t toured…live near)
MIT (liked but a little intimidated)
Harvey Mudd (if gets in will visit after?)
Carleton? This one keeps popping up…will visit if accepted.</p>
<p>Yikes, that is 11 schools.</p>
<p>The only schools that offer merit are Univ. of Rochester, Grinnell, Case, Lawrence, and, though hard to get, Rice. Right? The rest would be very expensive. EFC around 50k.</p>
<p>shelldemeo-
I dont recall my DS saying that it was hard at all to switch majors. I’ll ask him Thrusday when I see him, but IIRC there were a lot of overlapping classes in his first year or so.</p>
<p>BTW, I LOVE looking at colleges!! It wasn’t tiring at all! Looked at about the same # with younger s too!</p>
<p>Just a bit of random info. One of my daughter’s best friends (he was the Val) went to Olin, some other colleges he applied to and was accepted to were Brown and Grinell. Just to point out that his overlaps are consistent with your son’s. All his other choices were LAC’s and Olin has the engineering with the Liberal Arts underpinning. In the end it was a choice between Brown and Olin and Olin won out. I don’t know what tipped his choice, sorry, but the free tuition must have been compelling (I know it is modified now.)</p>
<p>2 other close friends of theirs went to Harvey Mudd. One is a 2nd year at a PhD track top state program in ME. Mudd was the local school, Olin the away school. But these were smart quirky kids, good all around who wanted the Liberal Arts component to their undergrad educations.</p>
<p>My daughter also applied to Grinell, fyi. Her first choice was UChicago for a long time and she was EA accepted there. But when she got into Brown she really wanted to go. It was a good pick for her in hindsight. But after she had some pretty good acceptances, she groused about why ppl didn’t encourage her to do a more techical school like CalTech or MIT, she felt they didn’t believe in her. But I don’t know if that would have been the best route. She started out doing Physics but changed to Computer Science after taking a famous comprehensive intro class and was accepted (out of undergrad) and now in 2nd year PhD track program at top 10 CS research U.</p>
<p>He has a good list. It is not too many schools since so many are competitive, but he does have the right to apply to all of them. I’m kind of surprised the Carnagie-Mellon isn’t on it, though. Now he can drill down and learn a lot more about these schools, the culture, the academics, the music and have some nice diverse options. If it has to come down to financials, get realistic with him and find more safety schools and matches. Kids really start to hone in after the apps are sent. And don’t underestimate that maturation time.</p>
<p>I am surprised he is considering taking Olin off his list when he liked it so much! Even though it may ultimately prove that he finds it too narrow, he is wise to keep his options open so that he can make a fully informed decision come spring. </p>
<p>As the parent of a Grinnell first-year, I encourage your S to keep Grinnell on the list! Judging from what he felt at the Olin visit, I think he will love Grinnell, too! My S did not visit Grinnell until Accepted Students Day (it was the only school he applied to without having seen it first).</p>
<p>Consider adding Vassar to the list. Excellent music - and an option to study away at Dartmouth or Trinity for engineering courses for a semester. He could double major in physics and music there since there are so few distribution requirements.</p>
<p>I’m glad I could help! If you have any other questions about Carleton I’d be happy to answer - this past fall has probably been the happiest of my life and I’m incredibly satisfied there. However, he should go wherever fits him best - and, of course, wherever you can afford. In terms of money, have you looked into any outside scholarships (local, regional, etc.)? They can actually make a significant difference - I remember when I decided, in early September, that I wanted to probably go to a private college, I started looking early on and it was definitely helpful to have a head start.</p>
<p>Sounds like a great list! Glad he’s taking a look at Carleton, 'cause it could be a great fit. My son is back from his first term, and I’ve never seen him so happy. Can’t stop laughing. Intensely challenging academics, though, and his fellow Carls (from son’s descriptions) somewhere on the scale from quirky to completely insane (in a good way). I’d also be happy to answer any questions you have about Carleton, but from a parent’s perspective, of course. Good luck!</p>
<p>Shelldemeo-
Asked my DS about switching from physics to Mech E at Rice. If I understood, he said that one of the things he did was use his AP physics credit rather than retake at school (as many did), and he said the first year of mech E is physics anyway, so was easy to make the switch.</p>
<p>As for Vassar, as much as I Love love LOVE the school (I went there) I don’t think I agree that it would be a good fit for what your DS is looking for. Yes, they have a wonderful music dept, and he could play in a jazz band, the orchestra, etc, there is no marching band if he is looking for something like that. And there is no engineering. The Vassar-Dartmouth 3-2 program is available, but I dont know how many students actually do it. He can take a year at any of the colleges int he 12 college exchange [Domestic</a> Programs - Study Away - Vassar College](<a href=“http://studyaway.vassar.edu/domestic.html]Domestic”>http://studyaway.vassar.edu/domestic.html) and spend hois junior year at any of these 12 schools
Vassar’s physics/astronomy program is sttrong, but if he really wants engineering, its not, IMO, the best fit. If Olin is coming off the list as too narrow, a LAC that requires a 3-2 program is really, IMO , not a great substitute.</p>
<p>Rice looks like a perfect fit to me and it costs a bit less than some of the others on your list. The college life at Rice sounds very similar to what your son experienced at Olin.</p>
I’d also be happy to answer any questions you have about Carleton, but from a parent’s perspective, of course. Good luck!</p>