What schools would you recommend

College Search & Selection
1

<p>My son is applying to schools now - but sometimes I wonder if there are some schools that he's simply not aware of that would be a good fit for him. If I tell you a bit about him and give you his stats, could you let me know if you can think of a school that might be a good match.</p>

<p>He's a nice kid, but somewhat shy. He doesn't care much for sports - although he doesn't dislike them either (but I can't see him at a school where sports are worshipped). He'd like to stay toward the eastern portion of the US - anwhere from New England to Virgina.
He wants to study mechanical engineering.</p>

<p>Here are his stats:</p>

<p>3.65 unweighted GPA (He's taken all honors and AP classes throughout school, an only now, in senior year is he taking one non-AP class in English, since English is his weakest subject)</p>

<p>33/560 (top 6% of his class)</p>

<p>SATs 730 Verbal 710 Math 720 writing
SATII: Physics 790, Math Level 2 740</p>

<p>ECs:
Eagle Scout
National Honor society
Congressional Award Gold Medalist
Marching Band Officer
1st Trombone
Also performs in school ensembles on on Trumpet, Bass Trombone, Baritone, Guitar and Piano
School Jazz Band 3 Years
School Dixie Band 4 years
Over 800 Hours of Community Service since Freshman Year (not including his Eagle Project)
Winner of some local robotics competitions</p>

2

<p>Perhaps Carnegie Mellon?</p>

3

<p>do you think his gpa is too low for carnegie mellon?</p>

4

<p>I can’t really comment, I don’t know enough about Carnegie Mellon admissions.</p>

5

<p>These schools are off the beaten path, but very good:</p>

<p>[Colleges</a> That Change Lives](<a href=“http://www.ctcl.com%5DColleges”>http://www.ctcl.com)</p>

6

<p>English his his weaknest subject and yet he did better on the CR portion of the SAT than on the Math portion! ;)</p>

<p>At any rate, there are many schools that would for your son, including reaches such as Carnegie Mellon, Cornell and Johns Hopkins.</p>

7

<p>Thank you for your answer. I hadn’t even thought of schools like that. Although maybe he should consider them. His high school is considered to be a very fine school, and even though I think his GPA is low, I have to remind myself that he’s taking tough courses at a well regarded high school. </p>

<p>Maybe we should look at CM or JH. These are the schools that he’s thinking of or has already applied to. Do you think these are a reasonable fit for him? Which of these do you think would be a stretch?</p>

<p>Elizabethtown C
Grove City C
Lehigh U
Polytechnic I of NYU
Rowan U
C New Jersey
U Delaware
U Maryland Balt Co
U Maryland Coll Park
Villanova U
Virginia Tech
York C Penn</p>

8

<p>HI,</p>

<p>I just wanted to say that many kids who didn’t care much for watching sports in high school can really get “into it,” when their college has a strong sports program. So, altho you may not be able to picture your son at a rah rah school, he may surprise you if he ends up at one and become a big fan. </p>

<p>This is just my opinion, but sometimes in high school there is such a separation between the jocks and non-jocks that the non-jocks sometimes avoid having anything to do with high school sports - including watching them. However, in college, that distinction no longer exists since so few college students actually play a sport.</p>

<p>BTW… is money no object for your son’s choice of schools?</p>

9

<p>I agree with mom2collegekids. I personally wasn’t a fan of sports when I enrolled into college, but by the time I graduated, I was a rabid fan! hehe!</p>

10

<p>I can’t do $50,000 per year - so the school has to either cost less or offer a decent scholarship</p>

11

<p>His GPA isn’t low at all if he’s ranked in the top 6% of the class. It’s all relative. That’s why most schools ask for class rank.</p>

<p>Absolutely look at Carnegie Mellon. Just be aware that their financial aid can be disappointing. But is doesn’t hurt to try.</p>

<p>Also, Rensselaer (RPI) and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) are well worth consideration.</p>

12

<p>University at Buffalo has great engineering programs and low tuition
RPI- awesome engineering, pricey though
Syracuse University- good engineering, good scholarships
University of Pittsburgh- low tuition, great school
plus the schools mentioned above</p>

13

<p>Definately look at Lafayette. Not sure if it offers MechEngg though.</p>

14

<p>I second University of Pittsburgh. Its right next door to Carnegie Mellon but not so pricey.</p>

<p>Also look at Case Western. I know that is going west but probably not any farther than going south to Virginia</p>

15

<p>Add:
Clarkson
Drexel
Northeastern
Temple
TCNJ
Union
UConn
University of Hartford
UMass Amherst
University of Rochester</p>

16

<p>I second Cornell; out of all the schools mentioned they have the best engineering. Also Rochester; 1/3 of the students attending receive merit (not need-based) aid and his SATs may place him in that top third.</p>

17

<p>Looking just a little bit farther west, Case Western offers merit aid.</p>

18

<p>Lehigh looks to be the toughest of the bunch to get into to but has a great mech. engineering program. The 50k price is steep but they offer FA to about half.</p>

19

<p><<definately look=“” at=“” lafayette.=“” not=“” sure=“” if=“” it=“” offers=“” mechengg=“” though.=“”>></definately></p>

<p>They do.</p>