Senior at a top midwest school seeks help on final college list.
Going to major in Econ and/or Finance likely. Wanted to ED Wharton, but not sure he has the service, extras, “special” sauce to get in. Considering ED Michigan and EA UNC Chapel Hill, applying to Wharton and Cornell as reaches. Rice and UVA are on list but holding spaces more than a drive to go to either.
Safeties are Ohio State, SMU, Texas A&M, Baylor, Indiana, Miami of Ohio, U of AZ, ASU and they have been selected for either major choice, quality of life or likely scholarship reasons.
What schools would you recommend taking off or adding?
Background if it matters:
4.0 unweighted, 4.67 weighted. 34 ACT, AP US Govt 5, AP Macro 5, AP Micro 5, AP Physics 1 5, APUSH 5, Calc BC 4, and taking AP Psych AP Stats AP English LIt AP Physics 2 and IB Business. National Economics Challenge state champ, FBLA State Econ 4th, All Suburban Drummer. 1 of 2 Boys State selections from school. Rensselaer Medal nominee for best math and science student. Symphonic Band and Jazz 1 for 3 years. Rose Bowl marching band participant. Suburban and State Music Festivals. DECA, FBLA minor offices. NHS, Rho Kappa.
Take a peek at Fordham. Great business school with a direct feed to Wall Street. Your son would likely get plenty of merit money and with his stats, could be near top of his class at Fordham.
However, it takes a special kind of kid to appreciate the campus - its a beautiful ‘gated’ gem surrounded by a hardcore urban neighborhood. Manhattan is a 20 minute train ride away and recruiters are at the business school regularly.
I recommend he look into the University of Richmond, which registers a student profile similar to that of UNC, but which also would be less restrictive with respect to admission for an out-of-state applicant. Finance and economics are among UR’s academic strengths.
Good recommendations so far re: Fordham and U Richmond. What about UIUC?
Is he planning to ED anywhere? (UMich does not have ED, only EA and RD)
Aside from automatic merit at Miami Ohio, merit $ will be highly competitive at many of the OOS public schools on the list…are they affordable without merit aid? Have you run each school’s net price calculators?
Would classify tOSU, SMU as targets, not safeties. What does Naviance show for classification of schools? TAMU probably a reach for OOS, similar to UMich, UNC-Chapel Hill and UVA.
Fordham recently reached out and did the, let’s waive the app fee and have you look at the school, so it’s interesting you bring it up. What distinguishes the undergraduate business school?
NYC sells itself. Access to businesses. The new LC campus is nice. Small but in a great location. We visited this summer. Son applied with fee waiver. I liked Rose Hill but kids liked LC. Our student guide was great.
Very expensive so we’ll see if he gets any/enough merit.
Boston College would be a great match option. Finance is one of Carroll’s strongest programs. I know of several students with similar or slightly lesser stats to your student who were all accepted. With a 27ish% acceptance rate, it is not a slam dunk for anyone, but would be worth adding to the list if a catholic school works for your student.
xyz123a, thanks for the idea. It’s one I thought about but passed on, but perhaps should reconsider. We’re not Catholic but son’s Uncle is a Priest:) I haven’t heard anyone ever regret going to BC. Maybe I am struggling with that idea because I am a UND and U of MN which are BC hockey rivals:)
Would you pay full OOS rate for TAMU? It isn’t a reach for admission but there are too many great NMFs and top kids that get OOS tuition waivers for him to compete with for scant OOS money. Safe only at full pay (maybe with a tiny little scholarship)
Son looked at TAMU. If you fall into the auto admit category you’re fine. If not, you go into review. By the time they get to review applicants some of the most popular majors/schools are filled. It also seemed they made it much more difficult for OOS to get the in-state tuition rate by making scholarships lower/more competitive so you most likely would be paying OOS rates.
USC has good merit for kids with his numbers, and they have a really good business/econ program. Neet to apply by December 1st to be considered for merit scholarships. Also, a great marching band that anyone can be a part of.
Astute12…I thought about USC. My brother did a masters there and has been adjunct faculty for 9 years. It occurred to me that the admissions scandals might decrease apps and increase chances as well. The neighborhood scares the tar out of me. As such, USC goes on hte list and off the list weekly. Good call…my son is a drummer too!
chmcnm, thanks for the feedback on A&M. It looks good from afar but that makes a ton of sense. We’re going to have him go for it but you are raising great things to think about…thanks for taking the time to help
Sybylla, I think you are right. I’m betting son will get it but skeptical he’ll get in-state. If he doesn’t, won’t likely proceed with TAMU. If he does, will be highly considered, IF he doesn’t get in his reaches.
chmcnm, I was referring to University of Southern Cal. If he was going to study international business, South Carolina would have been a high choice. Kiddo has some food sensory issues so I don’t think he’s going to be an international business guy any time soon:)