Suggest match schools?

<p>I'm a rising junior in Texas looking into colleges a bit early (see paranoia and anxiety) and I'd like some help with match schools. Here are my stats:</p>

<p>SAT: not taken
ACT: 30 (taken in June '11, retaking in December, projected 36)
GPA: W 105.39, UW n/a
Class rank: 2/250ish students
ECs: UIL academics, theatre, CX debate, soon founder and head of first LGBTA group</p>

<p>I don't have a geographic preference, but I'd like a liberal and urban setting. I'm also planning to major in biomedical engineering (possible double major with mech or electric), so good engineering programs would be appreciated, too. Here is my current list of schools:</p>

<p>Yale-high reach
Rice-reach
Carnegie Mellon-reach
A&M-safety
UT-safety/match</p>

<p>I’ve never been keen on Duke or Georgia Tech (this in particular because I have family there, and I’m not on good terms with them), and for some reason, JHU never interested me greatly. I’ll definitely look into it now, though.</p>

<p>As for Yale, I’d like to try my hand at applying, anyway. It really appeals to me. I’m aware of my slim chances of acceptance (but then again, they’re slim for everybody, aren’t they?).</p>

<p>yeah I really think you should look into JHU’s biomedical engineering program! my next door neighbor got into JHU but wasn’t accepted to the BME major and he was really upset about it, saying how great it was and everything. your stats are a lot better than his, so you could probably get in.
JHU was actually one of the very few schools I’ve visited so far and honestly it didn’t really interest me either but I think I would’ve loved it if I wanted to major in BME because they presented a lot impressive stuff about the program</p>

<p>Case Western (OH) and Boston University. Best of luck!</p>

<p>I’ve done some research on JHU (its BME department in particular) and man, it seems absolutely brutal. I wonder if it’d be a good fit for me in the long run; I mean, I don’t hold any objections toward hard work, but apparently the UG program is geared toward weeding the ‘lower’ students in order to bring top students to the threshold of the engineering field. I don’t agree with that kind of cutthroat education, and if that’s the sort of atmosphere that JHU will offer, then I’d rather attend an engineering college of a ‘lower’ caliber.</p>

<p>As for Boston and Case Western, they interest me a great deal and I’d like to add them to my list (which is still under personal scrutiny, considering my critical eye for every involved factor). I’ve also discovered Olin College, which seems absolutely wonderful, although they don’t offer a BME major. The Engineering major with bioengineering concentration seems fit, though.</p>

<p>I’m clearly unbalanced in my collegiate interests…I appreciate the help given so far! :)</p>

<p>UT is a public ivy flagship with a strong engineering program. I don’t think BU or CWRU are worth applying to if you think you have a good shot at UT. Apply to UT and A&M and then shoot for the stars (Yale included). There are very few schools that would be worth applying to over your flagship. </p>

<p>According to USNWR rankings…</p>

<h1>11 Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs</h1>

<pre><code>#8 Aerospace / Aeronautical / Astronautical
#13 Biomedical
#5 Chemical
#4 Civil
#7 Computer
#11 Electrical / Electronic / Communications
#4 Environmental / Environmental health
#9 Mechanical
</code></pre>

<h1>13 Top Public School</h1>

<p>You should also add USC to your list</p>

<p>[USC</a> - Viterbi School of Engineering - Academic Departments](<a href=“http://viterbi.usc.edu/academics/departments/]USC”>http://viterbi.usc.edu/academics/departments/)
[USC</a> Department of Biomedical Engineering: Site Home](<a href=“http://bme.usc.edu/]USC”>http://bme.usc.edu/)

overall, USC’s UG engineering dept ranks #10
and USC has an incredible merit scholarship program [ over 100 Full Tuition scholarships and 400 1/2 Tuition scholarships are awarded to top incoming freshman each year] as well as a extremely generous financial aid programs.</p>

<p>I’ve visited UT a couple of times, both on State finals. I loved the–for lack of a better term–chill feeling of the campus. Moreover, I adore Austin and would love to study there, but I’m not entirely sure about UT. I’ll surely visit again this school year (State finals, most likely) and hopefully something will click. I have a good feeling about it. Aside from ambivalent feelings toward UT, I’m pretty sure I have a certain chance at acceptance.</p>

<p>I’ll also check out USC, menloparkmom! Thanks a lot, you guys, for the recs! :)</p>

<p>If you’re going to look at USC, then study for the PSAT in October. </p>

<p>If you make NMF, you’ll get a good scholarship from USC.</p>

<p>Do you know what your budget is for college? Have you had the “money talk” with your parents? If not, do so.</p>

<p>I’ve started preparing for the PSAT in October and am actually apprehensive about it, considering I’m aiming for the NMS. As a sophomore, I scored a 187–totally unprepared and with only some knowledge of algebra and geometry. I’m doubling up on math this year (Pre-Calculus and College Algebra) and expect an easier time getting a better result, although not without practice, of course.</p>

<p>I haven’t had a formal discussion with my parents about paying for college, but I’ve told them time and again that I don’t want them to pay for much (which is why I’m hung up on scholarships) because…well, they can’t pay for much. They own a small business, and we get on alright, but the profits at the end of the year don’t come up to much, obviously. They can’t afford to put my brother through college full-time, so he only does part-time, and the Pell Grant he receives covers most of it (except this year, as my parents had to pay a little more than $100 due to the budget cuts in education, I presume). They’d only be able to pay around 5k a year.</p>

<p>If cost is really a big concern (I think UT is more of an option) but you might want to look at Alabama’s engineering program. Right now, I think you would qualify for full tuition + 2,500 a year. Something to look into…</p>

<p>[Scholarships</a> - Undergraduate Students - The College of Engineering - The University of Alabama](<a href=“http://eng.ua.edu/undergraduate/scholarships/]Scholarships”>Scholarships – College of Engineering | The University of Alabama)</p>

<p>That sounds like a great program and school. I’ll add it to my list. Thanks. :D</p>