Starting to look at schools, wanting to do a couple of spring break tours to get a feel for what is of interest and wanting to make sure we’ve captured what are likely to be good fits for my son.
Current stats.
HS Junior
3.4 unweighted
3.5 weighted
24 ACT (Practice tests would indicate he is capable of 26-28, will be retaking).
AP and Honors course load
Strong ECs with Theater and Drama (theater tech/sound/lights)
500+ hours community service
3rd degree black belt lol.
While Environmental Engineering is of interest, the grades aren’t quite there (though the math is strong and the work ethic/interest is there), I suspect a strong ES program at a school that has options should he change his mind, is a better fit to set him up for sucess. True PNW bleeding heart liberal, drawn to the LAC type of environment but I’d personally like to avoid even considering a 3/2 program.
We do have a list but would love to see suggestions! Thanks.
Willamette if he can get in. Evergreen if he is self-directed. WWU has about 15,000 - too big?
There are ways to make a big school feel smaller. If he is open to it, it opens up a lot of programs.
WSU. Auto-admit if he can get it to 3.5 UW, and scholarship potential for a 27 ACT. They have a well-respected ES program that draws kids from all over.
OSU also, same deal. Montana State if he is white. U Idaho if he doesn’t mind the heavily Republican student body.
@Magnetron Thanks for the input! I thought Willamette was only a BA program, it would seem a BS would be more marketable? We were focusing on BS programs. It’s also pretty pricey Great school though. I’m concerned that Evergreen might not be the best for post college career options, versus the others, locally it’s definitely viewed as a CC transfer school. It’s on the list but reluctantly on my end, though he is self directed. I wouldn’t worry at all about that part. I just (selfishly maybe) think he can do better. Western is on the list, fairly high up for both of us.
WSU I am working on getting him to consider, he has Cougar issues that need to be overcome as it would be a solid option. It does look like there are scholarship monies at his current scores, just not as good as if he bumps up. Similar conversation with OSU but he is more open to that one (though WSU would be a lot easier on my wallet as we are in Seattle). It is possible that he will be able to get it up to a 3.5, it’s going to be close. Montana State is on the list, but he’d have issues at U of Idaho.
@oneofthosemoms Thank you. I do have both of those on the list, Humboldt is very attractive for the WUE. USF is likely out of my price range but if we do go tour Humboldt, could make sense to consider at least looking at.
We’re Eastside suburbs. My D highly considered Humboldt, but their enrollment rate is so low they do not do financial aid awards until after you accept an offer. Our CA nephew has some friends there, satisfied but not thrilled, but you would get way better info from someone with closer knowledge.
I mentioned Willamette because of the “drawn to LAC” comment. Their sciences are well-respected. My D got merit awards that brought it down to around $30k/yr, heard similar numbers from many others. Some people we talked to thought the BA vs. BS was important, others not at all.
If he is worried about a social conservative vibe, MT State might not be the best either. My neighbor finishes up in May from there but has a pickup and kind of blends right in.
For schools where his stats are a little low but still worth a try- Willamette, Lewis and Clark, Puget Sound.
For a little larger school (and farther south) consider University of Redlands and possibly Chapman.
For smaller LACs where his stats are pretty on par and he has a great chance of acceptance- Pacific University (forest Grove, Oregon), College of Idaho (Caldwell, ID).
@Magnetron that’s great info. For Humboldt, even without any merit, with the WUE it is affordable. Good to know though that they don’t do awards till after acceptance. We don’t know anyone there, which always helps. We would definitely tour but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Of course I know lots of kids that are that way, satisfied but not thrilled. I think that describes our oldest, the next one in the rarer category of overjoyed.
He is drawn to LAC’s. Basically he wants out of Seattle, but in the PNW/West (no SoCal or Desert…needs his rain and trees) and really doesn’t want the PAC 12 college football vibe and would prefer a non religious affiliated school. Which of course limits his options for his desired area. We would need to tour MT State for sure, my very liberal brother went there and adores Bozeman but that was a long time ago. Good point on the BA versus BS, we’ve heard similar. My husband is pushing hard on the BS, but I’d be happy if he were at a school that had both as options. Is your D at Willamette now?
@lr4550 Thanks. Lewis and Clark is on his list. Willamettte was off due to not having a BS program but I think still may come into play. PSU is a little too close to home lol. I’ve tried suggesting Redlands, haven’t gotten a bit yet but I think it’s a valid option. Chapman, unfortunately, is too southern California for him to consider, we just chatted again tonight and he is pretty firm on what he wants. Which is good I guess, it’s just a bit limiting. I hadn’t looked at College of Idaho.
I don’t think the BS/BA thing makes a bit of difference. At my school, all the sciences including environmental biology, were BA’s because they were in the school of Arts and Sciences and a foreign language was required along with other core courses. Business students, recreation, journalism and a few other colleges received BS. Many students majored in recreation rather than physical education because P.E. was in A&S and that dreaded foreign language was needed (and nutrition, another hard class).
Degree title BA versus BS should not matter by itself; the courses and curricula behind the degree (and any major-specific accreditation if applicable like ABET for engineering) are what matter.
If a school offers both BA and BS degrees in the same major, the differences are school and department specific.
OP I didn’t pay close enough attention and give enough credit to his academic stats in your original post, they seem solid and his chances for a higher ACT are very realistic. If he can increase those scores (+/- try SAT as well) I would think he would be solid for Willamette and Lewis and Clark, certainly for Redlands, and even have a chance at Whitman as well (if that interests him at all). Financial need could come into play at a school like Whitman, however, so if your family isn’t full pay that is something to keep in mind.
Other thoughts for smaller LAC types where he should be safe admissions wise even though moving away from the West Cost:
Trinity University in San Antonio, TX (has ABET accredited engineering and is not a religious school if that matters)
Westminster College in Salt Lake City (no engineering but strong LAC and a bit of an artsy vibe)
Quest in British Columbia (strong environmental sciences with a block plan similar to Colorado College)
And finally a more medium size school with many academic options including engineering:
University of Denver
Also meant to add that your financial picture will play a huge role in choosing schools- whether or not he qualifies for need based aid, whether he needs merit aid because doesn’t qualify for need based, or whether he can go full pay. Money is a huge factor when considering these schools for sure.
I agree that BA vs. BS means nothing. Some schools only award one or the other (the Service Academies a BS, Pomona College a BA). It makes no difference in how the degree is perceived in the work environment.
@eandesmom, I can’t think of a situation where it would matter if it was a BS or a BA in chemestry, bio, environmental studies. As Erin dad says, some schols just award one over the other because of the scool that depart mentioned is in if it is a university, or a college may only award BAs. Yale Law still give an LLB while most others give a JD. Legal community doesn’t look down on Yalies.
I think my BA/BS perspective comes from a fairly narrow position based on my area of work, where degrees and where that degree is from, are scrutinized and weighed heavily for our technical folks in the interview process. As I’m on the marketing side of things, this presents a bit of a skewed view I suppose and unless he goes into the engineering side of things, really not a comparison I should be making so thanks to all. For his area of interest, I imagine you all are correct. Either way, I agree, it needs to be about the curriculum itself being the best fit. On that end, Western WA/Huxley School of the Environment seems to be maintaining a top slot with lots of flexibility and options within the program. And heaven knows the price is right.
@lr4550 Some interesting thoughts, especially Quest. I had wondered if there was something in BC that would be a good fit and that is not surprising to hear, I will look into that. Full price is not really on the agenda, or at least not the preferred one so that is a bit of a deterrent though we do plan to look at some of those, especially ones that are easy to tour locally like Willamette and Lewis and Clark. If DSD goes on to grad school, which is likely, we will end up with 3 in college at the same time and need to be mindful of that. Whitman is a haul, a long shot I’d think, and pricey, but it would fit his needs.
I would suggest NAU (I’m an alum). I’ve also heard nothing but great things about Western Washington University as well. I know both these schools have been mentioned here…just wanted to endorse them again!
@natty1988 I’d love for him to consider NAU. Right now he’s anti Arizona for geography/climate reasons…I’d love to get him out there to see as I really don’t think he understands where it is located and just has a gut reaction of Arizona/Dessert/Hot lol. We will see though.
@eandesmom Might be a good idea to take a tour…you can combine it with a trip to the Grand Canyon, Vegas, or Spring Training (if you like baseball)! Flagstaff is also not that far from the Utah national parks…
@natty1988 thanks. If I can get him to consider it, I will. It does have one advantage over Western in that it also has Environmental Engineering as an option and that’s tricky to find in a school that meets his criteria. Interesting idea on Spring Training…he would love that. Hadn’t considered that aspect lol! He loves the GC but it’s been quite a while.
Great school though. I’m concerned that Evergreen might not be the best for post college career options, versus the others, locally it’s definitely viewed as a CC transfer school. It’s on the list but reluctantly on my end, though he is self directed. I wouldn’t worry at all about that part. I just (selfishly maybe) think he can do better. Western is on the list, fairly high up for both of us.