@planner03 It would be easier to target meets full need from a financial POV, however, I’m not sure that it would be an admissions safety with the current GPA. I suggested a few schools that were admissions safeties like URI, UMaine and UMass Lowell. I am confident she would get in and receive merit money to get the cost within reach (though UMaine has changed things up a bit). IMHO a diverse approach seemed better. Do you really think meets full need or nothing is better? Obviously, meets full need is the optimal choice. OP asked for additional match/safeties so I provided what I could to her list.
@planner03 And just one more thing, she would be a Wow student at the three schools I listed. Meets full need schools are probably flooded with applicants. These other schools have some leeway with additional scholarships so I think it’s worth a try to at least one especially when her instate options are so expensive. With a degree her future employment opportunities in engineering are so bright.
@gearmom Good point-there really are no admission safeties amongst the schools that meet full need, plus a lot of them are LACs which for the most part don’t have engineering.
One more thing to keep in mind is the minimum GPA needed to keep your merit scholarship. A 3.3 minimum GPA is risky for engineering. 3.0 is O’k and more common. URI has a 2.8 minimum which is the lowest I’ve seen. One bad semester can trip you up.
I am 100% confident Case Western and WPI would admit her and very likely bend over backwards to entice her to attend.
U Cincinnati, applying for honors college and the co-op program, would be a great safety (regular engineering) or match (honors+Co-op).
Seconding URI.
While the GPA is a concern, it’s at a known rigorous high school, which should be made evident through the school profile.
Holistic colleges will likely be best - Bucknell, Lehigh, Lafayette, Olin, Union, Smith; for safeties: Gonzaga, Valaparaiso?
Depending how close you are to Philadelphia, you might look at Villanova with the possibility of a St. Martin de Porres scholarship. Only students from the Philadelphia metro area may be considered, but is it full tuition and geared to URMs.
I’d suggest applying to UMinnesota and UC Santa Barbara if you’re interested in pursuing Chemical Engineering. UCSB probably won’t grant scholarship, but both are within the top 4 in the nation for their Chemical Engineering program, but not too difficult to get in to.
@Alia01 — you did see the part about the budget of $10K per year? I thought I read that UC schools don’t give any need based aid to OOS kids. Isn’t that still true? Why waste an application on that?
UCSB would be a reach for admission with a 3.4 unweighted GPA, and probably out-of-reach financially (note that UCSB’s Regents’ scholarship is only $6,000 per year, far too little for an out-of-state student with a $10,000 parental contribution).
Smith college! Free to apply to with an engineering program
UPDATE!! OP here.
My daughter ended up with a 34 ACT and 3.4uw gpa and a 3.89w gpa. She applied to Case Western ED, Tulane and Northeastern EA and Temple, Alabama, and Missouri. So far was accepted to Alabama, Missouri, Tulane and Case Western all with significant merit $$. (We haven’t heard from Northeastern or Temple yet). She will be attending Case Western in the fall! Thanks to all for their advice!
Good job, @Proudmama2 !!! So exciting!