What state universities would be considered good choices for top students?

Parent Cafe
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<p>Just saying I’m oos going to Rutgers and I know people who are going oos. I think it depends on the program and what you want if it has a draw to oos students</p>

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<p>There are 17 UNC campuses. All must adhere to the 18% OOS cap. Which makes the selectivity change for OOS students vs. in-state. And there are some programs within each school that are difficult to gain admittance, much more so for OOS because the slots become filled with in-state students first. UNC Wilmington’s marine biology program. NCSU’s engineering programs, and their business school. UNC-Chapel Hill…for OOS you need the stats you would need for HYP, in-state this is NO one’s safety. UNC Asheville is a public LAC nestled in the hills, there are several HBCUs that are changing dramatically from what they used to be, NCAT’s engineering program is ABET accredited just like NCSU but with much smaller INTRO class sizes, and many research opportunities that just don’t exist elsewhere for freshman or sophomores. ECU just opened a new dental school giving UNC-CH fits about not having the only one any more! NC school of Fine and Performing Arts provides opportunities leading to NYC for many of the graduates.</p>

<p>Each campus is very unique, most started out privately and became absorbed within the system over time. But retaining their own unique characteristics, missions, goals, groups they service…each has different tuition. Some have majors no other has…so within the 17 campus system there are some great gems. I would suggest it would be worthwhile if you looking for something unique at an OOS school with reasonable OOS tuition.</p>

<p>Kat </p>

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<p>cardinal fang-
If they are going to LA then they need to visit USC too. Its Engineering College-Vertibi- is very good, and there is the option of him possibly getting merit $$ [ that is IF he applies by Dec 1]
USC would probably be a match for a talented hi stats kid. This kid needs matches and safeties. Anyone can fall in love with Stanford or any of the Lottery schools [HYPSMC] but the chances of acceptance at any of them are not even worth contemplating- unless the kid is a URM athlete with top grades / or has alumni parents who have buildings named after them [ this may not be strictly true but sure feels that way for a lot of rejected students…]</p>

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<p>A word about the U of Washington; good stats may get a OSS admitted but you likely won’t get any money. UW-Seattle admission is quite competitive and like elsewhere, the state contribution to the school’s budget has been shrinking a lot. Increasing numbers of OSSers are gaining admission but they are full pay. </p>

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<p>However, doesn’t USC have different levels of selectivity for different divisions and perhaps majors (similar to UCLA and many other public universities)? This can make using the overall admissions stats an inaccurate guide to chances if the student applies to a particularly popular division or major (engineering majors are supposedly among these more popular and more selective majors at USC). Of course, USC is private, so perhaps it strictly does not fit into this thread, although it may be worth considering as a slightly less selective school by a student applying to super-selective schools.</p>

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<p>Menloparkmom, I agree that this boy should not waste time falling in love with Stanford or Caltech, and should instead be looking for matches and safeties. His family is naive about the admissions landscape.</p>

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<p>“This can make using the overall admissions stats an inaccurate guide to chances if the student applies to a particularly popular division or major”
A USC student is first admitted to the university . If they have noted their choice of a preferred college as well, they may in addition be admitted to that college[ Vertibi, Thorton, CSA, etc] Or not. In that case they are accepted to the college of Science and Arts.
Applying to a specific college will not exclude them from overall acceptance to USC. The acceptance rates are for USC regardless of major. And once at USC they may change their major, as is the case at most private U’s. . </p>

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<p>Changing major is not unique to private universities, and it is unwise to assume that being private or public makes changing major easier or harder. Each school is different.</p>

<p>USC’s policy on changing major to an engineering major means that a student needs to take the first year engineering courses and apply:

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<p>I also read the Rutgers thread and continue to be surprised by those who seem to think poorly of it. But I think it’s largely wanting to “go” somewhere. UTexas has been mentioned on here as a great school, and it is, but to local kids who are high achievers, it feels like a letdown because they want to leave the state. I know kids this year who are balking at going into Plan II, McCombs and the excellent engineering school – options other kids would love to have.</p>

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<p>I remember a while back, speaking about college with a relative in New Jersey, and mentioning the NJ has lots of great colleges. He said “Yeah? Name two.” </p>

<p>Might be unfair, but In the NY/NJ area, Rutgers is simply not highly regarded. There are many colleges across the country that have better reputations outside their own area. Even around here, NYU was mostly considered a mediocre school for city-wannabes and rich B students, yet for some reason it was a dream school for non-NYers. To this day, perhaps unfairly, I can’t fathom why someone would want to drop a quarter mil to go to NYU.</p>

<p>Of course NYU is not a state university, so I have veered off topic. Sorry about that. </p>

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<p>^^It has something to do with the many excellent choices in the expanded area (i.e. east coast). The kids/families are spoiled, so to speak.</p>

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<p>What was the reaction when you said “Rutgers” and some other school in NJ?</p>

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<p>The only two NJ schools people really know are Rutgers and Princeton. Maybe Rutgers suffers by comparison? No one ever mentions Drew (private) or Ramapo (public)</p>

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<p>I wanted to throw in my two cents for U. Maryland, College Park (S2 went there). I would say that the large state schools can be terrific for students who are motivated enough to find their way through the larger system and who are energized by what a large school offers. My son loved being a big sport spectator and fan.</p>

<p>As for honors programs, my son was in the excellent U,Md. one, but he didn’t care for it – but one reason we chose U.Md. was because the honors offerings were terrific, but optional. For students looking for a LAC experience in a large school, the honors program can make all the difference. But make sure it is a real PROGRAM, not just a label they tack onto the students or a special section or two or a dorm.</p>

<p>And it saved us TONS of money. He did not get scholarships at the top LACs he got into, but he got merit aid at College Park, and whatever we had saved was in the form of prepaid tuition (again, we are talking now 7 years ago, and we know things have changed). </p>

<p>(PS, I was one of those past generation moms who pinched her nose at sending her son to a state university, and now am so very glad I did. The real post script is he also got his masters/teaching certification there in an accelerated program, and is now teaching math at the HS he attended, and for now is super happy. Employed and happy.)</p>

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<p>I went to a prestigious private college. My wife went to Boulder. She’s smarter than I am, better looking, has more friends, dresses better, and the cat prefers her lap. I tried showing kittie my diploma, but she was not moved.</p>

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<p>Rutgers grad and NJ resident here. Graduated from Rutgers Engineering in the 80s and eventually went on to Carnegie Mellon for my MBA. Rutgers University provides a solid education and prepared me well to compete at Business School. If your student is motivated and proactive, Rutgers is a solid choice for an in-state student and occasionally an OOS student. Always believed other than your very top schools, reputation is more important at the graduate level.
Anyone speaking negatively about Rutgers does not have an objective point of view. Many NJ residents, as well as, their children attended OOS schools and/or private schools. In addition, NJ has a major newspaper that is highly critical of Rutgers Athletic program’s ambitions over the years. It’s caused bad press for the locals to read.
My daughter will be attending college this fall and decided not to apply to Rutgers due to her intended program. </p>

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<p>I know there was an attitude of some at my high school that Michigan wasn’t good enough either, seemingly because a lot of kids from my high school went to Michigan, and that they were better than most of them. </p>

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<p>^ Definitely. My D goes to the top feeder school for UMich. Many top students are treating UMich as safety (although it is not really a safety for most people these days) as >1/3 of the senior class ended up going there. The top 10% are all aiming at Ivies and alike although half of them could not make it.</p>

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<p>I may have said this before, but I think some NJ HS students feel like there was no need to work incredibly hard in lots of AP and honors classes to “only” go to Rutgers, because a less ambitious course schedule would have worked just as well. There is the size of the school as well - it is very big and the lower level courses can be huge. I really can understand (and am currently grappling with) that concern. Also, in a competitive major it can be hard to stand out and do well. Thus, going to a LACor a smaller research U can be a good decision. </p>

<p>It is harder for me to understand, however, kids going to a Big State U in a neighboring state that isn’t higher ranked and paying a lot more to be with pretty much the same types of students from a different NE-Mid Atlantic state. Not to say Penn State, UMich, UVA, which are signicantly higher ranked, are worth the OOS, but not so sure about going to an OOS just for the sake of getting out of NJ (or similarly in states like MD or Conn). </p>

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<p>About UT: I also see local kids who apply elsewhere and talk about leaving the state. What amazes me is that when push comes to shove, many of those kids stay, even the ones who got into top OOS programs. Some of it is financial, some of it is realizing how good UT is compared to some big name OOS schools. Put those two factors together, and a good number of kids stay in Texas.</p>

<p>And then there is that Texas pride. UCB, people really love Texas (and A&M).</p>