What midwest U should son apply at?

Parent Cafe
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<p>I think there is a lot of good information on this thread if the OP and her son are willing to expand the search beyond the parameters outlined in the original post of this thread. </p>

<p>However, if the son, rather than just the parent, is the one who prefers a smaller campus and wishes to be within a 7 hour driving distance, then many of the suggestions, as valuable as they may be to others, may not fit the bill here.</p>

<p>I will reiterate that I think Truman State University, commonly referred to as “public LAC”, located in Kirksville, MO is worth considering. In the midwest, this school has an excellent reputation. Enrollment just over 6K, mid 50s ACT spread is 25-30, females 60%/males 40%. It isn’t a national draw, but 25% of students are from OOS or international. From Janesville, WI (I don’t know where the OP lives, but that is a town in southern WI) to Kirksville, MO is a bit over 6 hours driving time, assuming a 50 mph average–or so says some site on the internet. That sounds about right to me.</p>

<p>The ACT score and other academic qualifications, the fact that the student is male, the OOS residence, all indicate that this student will be a top candidate for very significant merit money. </p>

<p>Again, if the OP and her son are not wedded to the original parameters, there are many very fine options further away in the midwest, or in other regions.</p>

<p>I am familiar with WI-Madison, as I have a B.A from there and H has a PhD. It is a very fine university, but it is <em>big</em>. Some young people don’t care, some prefer it that way, but some find it daunting. The OP and her son are the best judges of whether or not this particular student will flourish at a very large university.</p>

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<p>I had two sons who dug there heels and in refused to go to a “big” school…they would have chosen one of the directionals over the big schools so if it is the kiddo who doesn’t want 30-40,000 students I get that, it gets tougher because then you have the budget to consider but fortunately we are abundant in the midwest with good places to get an undergraduate degree and if the kids are willing you can expand outside the regions and find options to fit the budget.</p>

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<p>Midmo, I just looked at Truman’s website and it looks like a wonderful school, and S1 should get decent scholarships to make it affordable. However, while he isn’t sure of his majore (STEM based) he is considering possibly engineering and this school doesn’t offer this. I see him more in Computer Science/math, which is does offer, but I don’t think their CS department is ABET accredited. I really appreciate your help though, and if you know of another midwestern school that might fit the bill, let me know. Thanks!</p>

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<p>There are many very good CS programs that are not ABET accredited so you should not necessarily look for that. For example, in my state, U Iowa has a very good CS department that is not ABET accredited.</p>

<p>Others have listed other top CS programs without ABET accreditation in other posts.</p>

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<p>Case and Miami (OH) gave my D. awesome Merit packages. We would have paid only $5k/year, if D. went to Case, and we paid no tuition and reduced R&B at Miami (where D. ended up going). we are OH residents though. Miami was beyond any expectations for UG, D. had incredible 4 years, both academically and otherwise, and was accepted at several Med. Schools. She has graduated #1 from private prep. HS and was lots of valedictorians from private schools in Honors at Miami (Honors was only 200 spots 4 years ago).</p>

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<p>^^^You are right, for engineering Truman State is not the place. </p>

<p>Computer science is often not ABET accredited. MIT computer science, Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science, the last I checked, are not ABET accredited. Computer engineering is another story.</p>

<p>In my mind, the bigger problem with CS at a place like Truman State would be the relative lack of research experience. My son, by the way, was a CS and math major, and he preferred to go to a CS program that resided within an engineering school, because that is where the research money and, hence, research experience, was to be found. Like your son, he was looking for big merit money. In his case, he found it at Vanderbilt (full tuition plus NMF stipend). I haven’t mentioned it in this thread because you specified midwest. Vanderbilt overall is about 12K students, I think, but about 6500 undergrads. The engineering school (VUSE) is about 1500 and has a smaller feel. He did very well (grad. 2011), had a very high paying job offer before his senior year began, and is working in San Francisco as a software engineer. The CS program is not ABET, as far as I know–it was not a consideration for CS. The merit awards are very competitive, but your son’s record puts him in the pool. While need-based aid at Vanderbilt is good, and it is a no-loan program, it still may not cover what you need. Take a look at the Cornelius Vanderbilt scholarship, as well as the other two full tuition awards, if you are interested in a school that is a bit farther than 7 hours. (I think I made it from Nashville to Chicago in about 8 hours, so it isn’t <em>too</em> much over your limit.)</p>

<p>Good luck. FWIW, in my opinion, very top students can make a lot of different kinds of programs work well for them, as long as they are focused, take advantage of all opportunities, get to know faculty who have connections, make a point of networking and seek out research and internship opportunities. That is not to say that every single college will work, but that there are a lot of potential good fits.</p>

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<p>As an IT proffessional, I do not see any difference where you go for CS. I have been in IT for over 30 years, worked for many companies in un-related industries on may computer platforms writing software in several languages and I am also coming from EE, which I did not like and decided to switch after 11 years of experience. From my experience, CS has nothing to do with engineering at all.</p>