Suggestions for Upper Level, Non Reach Computer Engineering/Science Schools

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I'm interested in majoring in Computer Science or Computer Engineering (not exactly sure which one, hopefully I'll be able to make the final decision in college after taking a few courses).</p>

<p>It's easy to find top notch school to apply to. Reach schools include MIT, Stanford, Cornell, UC Berkeley.</p>

<p>What I'm really looking for now is the more modest, but still high level universities. I've been looking at RPI and RIT. I live in New York, but I don't really mind going to college in other regions as well.</p>

<p>Can I have suggestions on colleges in the level below MIT, where admissions rates are slightly more predictable yet reputation and opportunities remain high? Special interest in colleges with good honors programs.</p>

2

<p>Stony Brook and University of Massachusetts - Amherst are fairly obvious ones in your region.</p>

<p>Virginia Tech, NCSU, and Minnesota are also worth a look.</p>

<p>All of the above have lower list prices compared to most out of state public schools (and Stony Brook is in state for you). But if you need financial aid beyond that, note that most public schools are not that generous with out of state financial aid. Check the net price calculators.</p>

3

<p>Georgia Tech (Great school)
Texas Tech (~31k OOS)</p>

4

<p>University of Michigan</p>

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<p>carnegie melon
U Southern Calif</p>

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<p>Case Western, Rose Hulman</p>

7

<p>There are engineering schools all over the country, many of which are state schools and easier to get into (and I would NOT include University of Michigan in this category!) . . . examples would be Michigan State, Michigan Tech. University, University of Wyoming, or any of the three University of Alabama schools (each of which have a different focus in engineering). But which of the many possible schools are options for YOU depends on finances. State schools might be easier to get into . . . but affordability varies dramatically from one school to another! The merit aid offered to out-of-state applicants at the Alabama schools can make them very affordable . . . but if you apply to U. Mich as an out-of-state candidate, you’re like to be paying as much as at many private schools. (Alabama, like several other state schools, guarantees a certain level of merit aid to candidates with qualifying GPS/test scores.)</p>

<p>Be aware also, than none of the lower-tier private engineering schools (RPI, RIT, WPI, Stevens, Rose Hulman, etc.) guarantees to meet full need . . . so you might be able to consider one or more of them as an admissions safety, but none of them is a financial safety. You might get an award close to what you need . . . or you might end up with almost nothing!</p>

<p>So, your finances make a big difference, as do your stat’s. The higher your stat’s (compared to a given school’s average applicant pool), the better your chances of getting the aid you need at the lower-tier schools.</p>

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<p>where admissions rates are slightly more predictable yet reputation and opportunities remain high? Special interest in colleges with good honors programs.</p>

<p>Since there are hundreds of engineering programs in this country, there are many that fit that description. Engineering is very good at a lot of schools. It really has to be…the few top schools can’t produce enough engineers and the other state and privates do a good job educating future engineers. They also have good reps and offer good opportunities…job placement, internships, co-ops, etc.</p>

<p>Any engineering program ranked within the Top 120 or so will be a very good program with opportunities, etc. </p>

<p>What is your budget? That will likely determine where you should apply? </p>

<p>What are your test scores and GPA?</p>

<p>many of the OOS publics like GT are too costly for students with financial need since those schools do not give lots of aid to OOS students and merit scholarships are hard to get. There are some OOS publics that do award merit, if that’s desired. </p>

<p>As mentioned above by Dodgersmom, Alabama awards large merit for stats and awards more merit to eng’g students. it has a brand new mega-sized Science and Engineering Complex…state of the art labs, classrooms, equipment, etc. Amazing and gorgeous…actually the entire campus is gorgeous, it was originally patterned after UVA and that standard has been maintained. </p>

<p>Bama has a very good engineering program as well, with internship, co-op, and job placement opportunities. Cummings Research Park, the second largest research park in the nation, is located in Alabama, so opportunities are there. </p>

<p>With an ACT 32+ or a 1400 M+CR SAT and a 3.5+ GPA, you’d get FREE tuition PLUS 2500 per year. That’s worth about $100k. </p>

<p>Actually, as an engineering major, you’d get the same award with an ACT 30+ and a 1350+ M+CR, since the College of Engineering makes up the difference.</p>

<p>If you’re a NMF, you get a LOT more…housing and other things. </p>

<p>Bama has students from all 50 states, even NY :slight_smile: This year’s fall frosh class was over 50% OOS. Forecasts predict that this fall’s frosh class will be about 60% OOS. The overall school’s OOS numbers are quickly approaching 50%. Bama has over 600 National Scholars on campus and over 2000 students with that full tuition scholarship. </p>

<p>Bama’s acceptance rate has dropped to about the 44% level, but those with good stats can still be assured of acceptance. </p>

<p>Bama also has a very good Honors College that offers LAC-like classes with limits of 15 students per class. The course offerings are an amazing mix of current events, history, fine arts, photography, common book experiences, and practical info (such as preparing med/dental/vet applications or personal financial planning). And, of course, the major depts also offer honors versions of their classes…such as Honors Calculus, Honors Bio, Honors Chem, etc.</p>

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<p>Using the College Navigator</p>

<p>[College</a> Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics](<a href=“http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/]College”>College Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics)</p>

<p>It says the following public colleges in New York have Computer Science and Computer Engineering with 25% SAT math and CR both >=460. The admission rate appears to range betwen 20% to 50%.</p>

<pre><code>CUNY Brooklyn College
CUNY Hunter College
CUNY Lehman College
CUNY Queens College
State University of New York at New Paltz
Stony Brook University
SUNY at Binghamton
SUNY College at Plattsburgh
University at Buffalo
</code></pre>

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<p>Thanks for the responses everyone. Just to give a little more perspective, I have a 1540 Math+CR SAT and 4.0 GPA so in terms of grades, I’m about as competitive as it gets. So that’s not too much of a concern for me.</p>

<p>When looking for colleges, I don’t except the premier colleges to give me scholarships (and they don’t). So if I did end up in MIT I’d get a student loan, but ideally a good job and experience would make up for it.</p>

<p>For the more safety-level and lower tier schools, I want a good college experience, education, AND a low price. I’m certainly not eligible for financial aid, but price is still a huge issue. Choosing between RIT or RPI or a SUNY would likely come down to which offers me the greatest price - since they are essentially similar in other respects. </p>

<p>A respectable honors program at a school where I’m getting a full or near-full scholarship may even be more appealing than a full priced elite school.</p>

11

<p>Wisconsin, Illinois, Washington Seattle.</p>

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<p>“I have a 1540 Math+CR SAT and 4.0 GPA”</p>

<p>Did your PSAT score put you above your states cut off # for NMSF status? If so, AND if you are accepted at USC, you would automatically receive a 1/2 tuition scholarship. </p>

<p>"A respectable honors program at a school where I’m getting a full or near-full scholarship may even be more appealing than a full priced elite school. "</p>

<p>If you apply before their Dec 1 scholarship deadline, AND show a LOT of interest, you may be considered for one of USC’s 140+ full Tuition scholarships . Those are as hard to win as an acceptance at HYPS, but applying early to USC does not prevent you from also applying SCEA, ED to other top colleges. You have nothing to lose, and potentially lots of $$ to win, by completing your USC application before Dec 1.</p>

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<p>Wisconsin (strong engineering & CS programs, ~$34K OOS, nice college town, widely considered one of the country’s best public universities)</p>

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<p>If you make National Merit Finalist, check Texas A&M.</p>

<p><a href=“https://scholarships.tamu.edu/tamu_scholarships/freshman/national_merit.aspx[/url]”>https://scholarships.tamu.edu/tamu_scholarships/freshman/national_merit.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Here is a list of automatic full tuition or full ride scholarships for stats:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;