So the last of my decisions came in today and here’s what I have to work with
Brandeis-20,500
Northeastern-16,000 (maybe a 2500-5000 music scholarship)
RPI-22,500
UConn-25,000
WPI-14,000
UMass Amherst-2,000 (my state school)
Especially since I will not be able to visit RPI, WPI, and Northeastern I would appreciate your thoughts on these colleges overall.
Based on your list of applications and prior comments (e.g., “Am I screwed?”) it appears to me that you really do not know what you are looking for in higher education aside from a major.
Are you focused on a name that will impress your friends?
Do you care if the philosophy/environment meet your personality?
Where/how much academic flexibility do you need
Any one of those universities have the academic HP to challenge you, but will you respond well in their setting?
If you are looking for challenging academics, you start with average GPA of the student body. You do not use weighted GPA because the weighting systems vary widely between secondary schools. Unweighted GPA systems are used with greater confidence in the actual college admissions process.
Smaller universities are not as well known to the layperson because they do not make the sports page and not many of your neighbors attended. By definition, Ivy does not necessarily mean better academics.
Eliminate those you really cannot afford and match the remainder to your top three possible majors. What would your minor be? Find out if you can move around academically once you are there.
Do you want to attend the big football games? What do you really enjoy doing when not studying?
If Robotics or engineering are your choices of major, you will need some real release and you may be surprised by the caliber of students in these departments. Your A’s may become C’s in that first year… What happens in the second year depends on how you respond to that first year challenge.
It is too bad that you cannot visit campuses. You might be surprised by how nice many of these non-ivies are.
Best of luck,
WPI '67
Net costs would be helpful. What major?