<p>Op,
I haven’t read all of the responses, but I do think that it is important to add a few more safeties to your kid’s list. I would add UC Merced, and a FEW other “lower” CSUs, just in case.
Also, I think that UCs and CSUs also evaluate GPA taken in context of his school (e.g.“class rank” ). For instance, my nephew’s GPA was not superstellar, but he attended a public school in a rather poor area, so his GPA put him in the top 5% of the class and he got accepted to UCSD. (Chose to attend a different school, though). So not sure what type of school district you are in, but if it is an ave or good one, then the GPA of 2.5 might be a killer. But if you are in a poorer school district, then a GPA of 2.5 might not be a killer. Unfortunately, I’m not sure how many UCs or CSUs do “holistic” evaluations of apps, it tends to be all about the numbers (GPA, SAT etc) so that a computer can handle to volume of apps.</p>
<p>What about some more private schools in CA? Don’t know what the GPA/SAT cutoffs for these schools are, but they will do a more holistic eval, which will help with his URM status, the lower grades in frosh year, etc.
Loyola Marymount University, Chapman University, San Diego University, Santa Clara Univ, San Francisco Univ, Occidental, Pepperdine, Cal Lutheran, Azuza Pacific Univ, La Verne, Univ of Redlands, Univ of Pacific, Mills College.</p>
<p>It’s fine to have your tippy reaches, but you need more safeties.</p>
<p>There is more than one way to achieve your goals. The strategy I would employ in your circumstance is I would apply mostly to match schools and look to transfer a top ranked school. I would have your son work with a tutor to understand how he can improve his study habits as soon as possible. I have worked with many URMs over the last ten + years and found that there is a stigma attached with high achieving URM kids. I do not know if this is part of the problem but a tutor could help determine this. Fortunately, my son who is also an URM he could care less what others thought. </p>
<p>It would be great if your son could find a URM mentor who is a professional engineer. I would seek out the local NSBE chapter in your community. This would be highly be beneficial as I have found with my son. I am a EE and I have counseled my son who just graduated from Cornell with a B.S. in CHEME. There were many difficult conversations pertaining to some very difficult classes during his sophomore year. Since my son had no intention of becoming and engineer he did not take any computer science classes in HS and found them to be especially difficult. Together we strategized to deal with his most difficult classes (weed out) and the end result was that he performed quite well overall. </p>
<p>In our case, my son entered Cornell as a freshman majoring Chemistry (pre-med) but switched to CHEME after his freshman year because he realized medicine was not for him. If your son were to transfer to a top engineering school, he would most likely be required to take certain weed out classes to be officially admitted to COE. His grades will have to improve significantly and he has to show very strong initiative to achieve his goals. Feel free to PM me if you would like additional assistance.</p>
<p>In California, the usual starting college for this route is community college, but the OP does not consider it to be a desirable option. The UCs and CSUs emphasize transfer intake from community colleges; even Stanford take a large portion of the few transfer students it admits from community colleges.</p>
<p>Ucbalumnus, if the OP discounts cc, then the family could consider a number of schools suggested here (certainly my list is primarily matches and a few reaches with accredited engineering programs and I think most of YoHoYoHo’s list could be matches although I’m not sure which have engineering programs). If it turns out next Spring that these are not financially feasible, wouldn’t it be possible to apply last-minute to a California cc-- or do they close admissions because of the over-enrollment we’ve heard about? I suspect that most engineering colleges accept transfers, particularly from other accredited programs, because the completion rate is usually not as high as some other majors within the same universities.</p>
<p>If the student isn’t really interested in engineering, the applicant may get more traction from a liberal arts college. I say this because when I looked at 3+2 programs for my son, I found that few students actually complete them and, if I remember correctly, one had to reapply for financial aid at the second school for the last 2 years so that is a big unknown going into the process.</p>
<p>Much of it is religious schools, of varying denominations and religious intensity, so that would be another thing to consider by the OP’s son (in addition to cost and engineering availability).</p>
<p>The article you posted is exactly what I was referring to. The below quote from Roland Fryer’s article brings back many memories. My son had no Black or Hispanic and only a few cross ethnic friends in high school. Oddly enough, when he received a highly competitive scholarship he was congratulated by Black and Hispanic students who never spoke with him while in high school. </p>
<p>“Indeed, when minority students reach the very highest levels of academic performance, even the number of cross-ethnic friendships declines. Black and Hispanic students with a GPA above 3.5 actually have fewer cross-ethnic friendships than those with lower grades, a finding that seems particularly troubling.”
“Finally, I examined whether high-achieving blacks and Hispanics can shield themselves from the costs of acting white by taking up extracurricular activities. There are many opportunities in schools for students to self-select into activities, including organized sports, cheerleading, student government, band, and the National Honor Society, that should put them in contact with students with similar interests.”</p>
<p>Not sure if I understand. What your write here (given that you previously mentioned that he is URM) implies that he had very few friends of any race or ethnicity, unless he is Native American with a significant number of mostly Native American friends.</p>
<p>This statement (along with your previous one that he is URM):</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>means that he has:</p>
<ul>
<li>No black friends.</li>
<li>No Hispanic friends.</li>
<li>Few non-URM (white or Asian) or Native American friends (since they would be cross ethnic friends if he is URM but not Native American).</li>
</ul>
<p>Don’t discount WSU based on the guesstimations you see on this thread. Plenty of OOS kids get great financial offers from the university. On Saturday, I was talking to a family from CA with a son at WSU. It turned out to be cheaper for them than in-state UCs, along with a reasonable expectation of graduating in 4 years.</p>
<p>I also recommend against going to an academic reach college to major in engineering. Struggling a little builds character; struggle too much and he will hate life and likely change majors or drop out. A 2100 SAT shows he is capable of competing, but, most likely, he is not prepared to compete with Cornell engineering majors.</p>
<p>Honestly, I am reading all of these posts and taking them into consideration. I certainly want a good outcome not only out of the admissions process, but through graduation and in life. There are too many posts for me to address here (I thought the thread died) but i will say a few things.</p>
<p>CSU Maritime is too limited in majors and doesn’t have enough girls. Besides the CA budget cuts making getting classes difficult, I did not consider many of the other CSU’s as they seem to be primarily commuter campuses. I’d like for him to get the full academic as well as social experience of going to college. </p>
<p>My son is AA, and although I believe HBCU’s offer a wonderful academic experience, the stigma of any earned degree as being “lesser than” weighed in the decision not to include them. My son also has always had a diverse group of friends and would appreciate a more mixed environment.</p>
<p>Cornell was listed as a reach because I wanted to have one IVY on the list just to say we tried. And because my husband (soon to be ex) is a graduate. USC because its in our backyard. ND and Rice because of the 100% financial need.</p>
<p>UCSC, and UCSB would be affordable although he would have the best chance of admittance at UCR. I did not include Merced because I figured he may get offered that anyway since he is the top 9% statewide. </p>
<p>After reading so many posts I strongly believe we should consider some LACs. Hopefully he is up for the essays.</p>
<p>And finally, engineering because he is inclined to mathematics. When all is said and done I want him to be employed.</p>
<p>OP - you seem to have real aspiration for your son and want your son to have great college experience. I may be insensitive in asking this, but did you sit down with your son when he was in 10th or 11th grade to say, “Hey, if you want to go to some of those great colleges, you’ll need to do better in school.” I kind of think by having your son applying to some of those super high reach schools you are giving him false hope and could potentially be crushing come April. I hope you will help to manage his expectations.</p>
<p>OP, reading your most recent post, I’m not getting the impression your SON is the one driving this college search. There’s a lot of “<em>I</em> want,” “<em>I</em> figure,” “<em>I</em> believe” language in your post-so much so that I’m not sure who is doing the deciding about anything here-college, major, location, etc. </p>
<p>What does your SON want? What kind of school does HE want to attend? What majors is HE interested in??</p>
<p>I also want to try one more plug for HBCU’s. D, H and I have been exploring them for the last 3 years and have met people from many of them, all gainfully employed and all of whom say companies flock to these colleges to hire new employees. These people include lawyers, bankers, yes, engineers, teachers and more. There are some excellent programs at some HBCU’s. NCAT is known for its engineers. But if you’re convinced it’s “less than” I’m sure I can’t change your mind. I’d love to know what you SON thinks, though.</p>
<p>Engineering is much narrower in terms of rigor and prestige difference between different schools, due to the requirements to meet ABET accreditation. So completing an ABET accredited engineering degree at a less selective university (HBU or otherwise) is still meaningful.</p>
<p>Regarding LACs and small schools, is South Dakota Mines affordable ($20,800 tuition/fees/room/board/books, $4,000 personal and travel for a total of $24,800 out-of-state)? His stats may give him automatic admission (2.0 HS GPA and 1130 SAT with 580 in math).</p>