<p>This for my friend (who for some reason seems too scared to create an account/post here).
Basically, he is looking for reasonable match/safety schools. </p>
<p>Stats:
SAT:2340
GPA: 3.55-3.6
W GPA: 3.8-3.9
HS: Competitive, USNWR top 50.
EC's: Lots of rather cool software stuff. Jobs. Sports. Other "stuff", I guess.</p>
<p>I'm also assuming he will be interested in a CS major. What would be some match/safety schools? Some reach schools would probably help him make a list of schools.</p>
<p>MIT would be a good reach, I think, provided his ECs are up to par. Bad GPA, excellent scores… Not ideal, but I think he can pull through–more to the app than GPA and scores.</p>
<p>If he is looking into computer science, his GPA and SAT scores would be a match and may qualify him for merit-aid scholarships at Chapman University.</p>
<p>With his stats he’ll have lots of choices **if all other things are ok…
**</p>
<p>1) What state is he in?</p>
<p>2) What else does he want in a school outside of academics? quiet campus? Rah rah campus? Big school? small school? city setting? Rural setting?</p>
<p>3) How much will his parents pay? Will they pay whatever the school expects them to pay - even full freight? This is a biggie. </p>
<p>4) If his parents have a high EFC that they can’t pay, then he needs to carefully select schools that will work for him. If money is an issue at all, make SURE that he applies to a couple of financial safety school where he is CERTAIN to get HUGE merit.</p>
<p>5) What was his PSAT? Is he a likely NMSF?</p>
<p>6) What is his ranking…his GPA suggests that he’s not top 10%. That may hurt him at top schools.</p>
<p>Once we know more, we can recommend schools that may work.</p>
<p>Thanks to Challenged (his EC’s are pretty nice/focused for CS, I don’t remember of the top of my head), OCELITE, estan736, mom2collegekids.</p>
<p>I’ll answer mom2collegekids questions.
CA
He doesn’t mind from what I can tell.
They can afford $30K-$40K (from his estimates, so full freight could be possible, but its a pretty High EFC)
He’s should be careful with this. it’s a really good point that mom2collegekids makes. I think thats why he’s so unsure about safeties. He’s got the UC system (lucky him) , but some private schools that will give merit aid wouldn’t hurt.
A few points away from NMSF qualifying in his state
His school doesn’t report rank for that reason. Still, they could probably guess. </p>
<p>His GPA trend isn’t amazing thanks to some lower grades (all honors/AP). 3.7 -> 3.7 -> 3.5</p>
<p>*3) They can afford $30K-$40K (from his estimates, so full freight could be possible, but its a pretty High EFC) *</p>
<p>That’s not full freight at many privates that are now costing nearly $60k per year. He needs to nail this down. His family may not qualify for any aid and be presented with a $55k+ bill.</p>
<p>4) He’s should be careful with this. it’s a really good point that mom2collegekids makes. I think thats why he’s so unsure about safeties. He’s got the UC system (lucky him) , but some private schools that will give merit aid wouldn’t hurt.</p>
<p>Definitely apply to some UCs…although UCs are very GPA driven.</p>
<p>For merit…apply to…</p>
<p>URoch
RPI
Santa Clara
USC
Purdue</p>
<p>For huge merit…apply to some lower mid-tiers.</p>
<p>Besides some the UCs, Cal Poly Pomona and San Jose State may be good admissions safety candidates, with lower costs than the UCs. Cal Poly SLO freshmen have higher GPA than stated above, so it should not be considered a safety.</p>
<p>UC and CSU have their own GPA calculation method:
[CSUMentor</a> - Plan for College - High School Students - GPA Calculator](<a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>Cal State Apply | CSU)</p>
<p>For CSU, there is also an eligibility index:
[CSUMentor</a> - Plan for College - High School Students - Calculate Your Eligibility Index](<a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>Cal State Apply | CSU)</p>
<p>Note that if they can afford $30-40k, some schools’ full price, even for out of state, may be within that: Minnesota, Virginia Tech. Less well known, but very inexpensive, schools would include South Dakota, South Dakota State, Alabama with Presidential Scholarship if he can keep the GPA over 3.5.</p>
<p>Thanks to both of the above posters. He’s decided on a temporary list incorporating your suggestions, though I’m sure he’s still working on it, so any other advice would be great!</p>
<p>More likely commended, not good enough in his state, though his SAT score is pretty good. It was something like 210+ though. LOL
Thanks for that rec. That sounds interesting! I like this quote:
<p>I like this quote:
Quote:
An out-of-state first-time freshman student who meets the December 1st scholarship priority deadline, has a 32-36 ACT or 1400-1600 SAT score and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will be selected as a Presidential Scholar and will receive the value of out-of-state tuition for four years. </p>
<p>Then you’ll like this one that stacks on top for being a CS major </p>
<p>* College of Engineering Scholarship for Non-resident Students. (including Computer Science)</p>
<p>Students who have a 32-36 ACT or 1400-1600 SAT (math and verbal scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive $2,500 per year for four years.*</p>
<p>this is stacked on top of the Presidential scholarship.</p>
