<p>PA-C, congrats to your son on that top 25 school admit. All it takes is one good admit and he got that and more. But I’m curious, did he apply only to those 4 Ivy/Mit/Stanford schools, the one top 25 school and the rest safeties? Or were there other top schools on the list as well? What I’m getting at is that while the Harvard/Stanford/MIT schools are a crapshoot for even the best students from the best schools, have the top liberal arts colleges become similarly unobtainable? I would think that your son, coming from a top boarding school, taking rigorous classes, with great grades and scores would be a desirable candidate at many of those schools that fall just under Harvard/Stanford/MIT tier. Did he apply to only one such school or did those schools reject him as well? I ask because my kid sounds a lot like yours. She will probably apply to a couple of Ivys, 5 or 6 top LACs, and 2 or 3 safeties. I’m wondering if the LACs are becoming as much a long shot as the Ivys.</p>
<p>He wasn’t interested in LACs- only in schools highly rated for engineering/computer science. All of the schools to which he applied where in the top 60 or above for the majors he was considering- even his safeties.</p>
<p>I think it’s tough getting into top engineering/computer science schools and departments across the board. I know several public school families who were disappointed by the outcome of their children’s college search, in that their children did not get into their “first choice” school. These kids had the grades and test scores to fit comfortably in the student bodies of their dream schools. Thus, from my small sample, I don’t see a bias against boarding school applicants, nor against students of any particular race or gender. Engineering/computer sciences are really “hot” now. It’s just demand for spots outstripping supply of spots.</p>
<p>The only things I can think of which might make it harder for an applicant from boarding school are the implications of the structure of boarding school life. Students MUST play a sport or participate in ECs on campus. They MUST take a college-prep schedule–it’s much harder to build a schedule which is math/science heavy. There may or may not be a robotics team on campus. Even if there is, are they able to take part in national competitions, which align with public school schedules?</p>
<p>A public school kid is not required to spend time on the playing field. He/she has more freedom outside of the school day to spend time building stuff on his own, or in a local Makerspace. Easier to take courses at local community colleges too, and such students often outstrip their high school’s science offerings. So, it’s easier for a public school kid to show a record of independent interest in the topic.</p>
<p>I also wonder if the boarding school admissions process selects more students who are strong in the humanities as well as math/science, that is, students just as likely to be budding lawyers as budding engineers.</p>
<p>The Top 25 school is ranked 23 nationally but #1-3 (depending on the year) in his major so he is very very happy! It’s not that he didn’t have a good result- it just wasn’t a school that the public is generally super aware of or impressed with when they hear the name. Those who hire for this field though know quite well that the program is right up there with MIT/Stanford. Also recently ranked #1 for starting salary of any bachelors degree so that makes it easier to pay the high tuition! :)</p>
<p>PA-C
So many people are clueless when it comes to knowing the academically strong schools. Folks know the Ivies (or at least some of them as people constantly confuse Penn State and UPenn). Aside from that, people are aware of schools known for sports. I’m not sure if its more laughable or maddening. ;)</p>
<p>BTW hi to creative1 and Periwinkle! I believe you both were there at the start of my journey when my son was applying to boarding schools four years ago! Thank you for your help and support! :)</p>
<p>Is it Colorado School of Mines? [Colorado</a> School of Mines - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_School_of_Mines]Colorado”>Colorado School of Mines - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>Although Co S.O.M is a very good school and the starting salary is high due to petroleum engineering majors, it’s no where near top 25 schools and is not super expensive, only expensive considering it’s public. (29K in-state, 44K out-of-state).
The only school that makes top univ/colleges in CO is Colorado College.</p>
<p>He will be attending Carnegie Mellon University as a computer science major.</p>
<p>@PA-C
Wow, Carnegie Mellon is a great school! The computer science is renowned. Yes, many people have heard of it, and in particular Exeter seems to have a good connection with several students each year choosing to matriculate there.</p>
<p>I am very familiar with Pittsburgh (live within 2 hours), which has morphed recently into a FANTASTIC college town. Univ of Pittsburgh, their large medical school, Carnegie Mellon, Point Park performing arts college, and at least 4 other large private universities all share a vibrant downtown with many ethnic restaurant choices (the Greek is our favorite), great museums, renowned zoo, national level science museum, and a friendly, authentic Midwestern hospitality. The Carnegie fortune ( the Carnegies lived in Pittsburgh and set up a large charitable trust for the city) has treated Pittsburgh very well in the last 10 years. </p>
<p>Pittsburgh is safe and fun. We love to go there for weekends. There is an amazing breakfast place near the med school - rated by the food channel as best in America and always a line (yes, it was worth the wait). Along the river, walks with nightlife places abound. </p>
<p>I wish your son and family all the best!</p>
<p>Congratulations, PA-C !
Carnegie Mellon is the best school for computer science.</p>
<p>Incidentally, you should watch “the last lecture” on youtube by the late Prof. Randy Pausch unless you already watched or read the book.
That alone made me want to go back to school to CMU.</p>
<p>“It just wasn’t a school that the public is generally super aware of or impressed with when they hear the name…”</p>
<p>“So many people are clueless when it comes to knowing the academically strong schools. Folks know the Ivies (or at least some of them as people constantly confuse Penn State and UPenn)”</p>
<p>While these statements were made about colleges, I think they also apply to BS. Just substitute “HADES” for “Ivies” in the second statement.</p>
<p>I’m a CMU grad and when it comes to computer science and engineering, I don’t think there’s anything hidden about its gemmy qualities. I’ll echo 2prepmom–Pittsburgh is SUCH a great place to go to college–to live for that matter. Diverse, friendly, full of parks that you can literally lose yourself in, great ethnic food, neighborhoods full of character…it’s a hidden gem in itself.</p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon University is a great school, grats!</p>