<p>We live out in Southern California and my son will be named a semi-finalist in October I guess. The issue regarding taking a full ride or full tuition scholarship has been heavily weighing on us. We have some very fine public universities here. I think he would be accepted to UC Berkeley if he applied, but the tuition, room, board, and fees would be around 31K/yr.(which there is no way we can afford). We live near UC Irvine, which is still a good school and would cost around 15-16k/yr. It is so tempting to want to take a full ride, especially since he wants to pursue a graduate degree or med school. He is interested in chemical engineering and biotechnology. It is a shame that no schools that offer his interests here in California will give him any merit money. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>If he fully advances look at ASU and UA next door. They have nice packages available for NM students. However, keep in mind-- none of this is guaranteed. Last year there were several or many (depends on your definition) reports from families that did not advance to finalist status. Do a lot of research, calculate travel costs, etc. Alabama just changed their package (for the better), so double-check other schools–close to you–Idaho, New Mexico, etc have had good packages, but they can be subject to change and have specific deadlines for application to the respective universities.</p>
<p>surfcitymom, Long Beach State has guaranteed full rides for NMF and offers Chem E. That’s worth looking at for a safety.</p>
<p>surf–you might look at Tulsa or UT-Dallas, in addition to those mentioned.</p>
<p>@Surf Atomom mentioned 2 good schools with full rides for NMF. University of Tulsa is Not automatic; however, UT Dallas is. Also, look into University of Houston and University of Alabama.</p>
<p>Thanks CBatarseh, atomom, and Bob. I looked up the Chem E. department at U of Tulsa and it is a little concerning that there are only a little over 100 undergrads in this major, most engineering students seem to be in Petroleum E. Does anyone know about their Chem E. program? Also, if my son decided to pursue med school would he have a lesser chance of getting in if he went to Cal State Long Beach vs. a University of California school? It is amazing what Cal State Long Beach is offering.</p>
<p>Aggie-Sorry I neglected to mention you in my thank you. You gave good advice. There is so much to consider. By subject to change, does this mean that they might take away your package after being enrolled for a year or two?</p>
<p>@Surf I am not quite sure how well respected the Chem E department is; however, I do know that their main engineering focus is on petroleum because of the enormous petroleum focus in Oklahoma. </p>
<p>If your son wants to get his undergraduate degree in anything medical related, Baylor would be a good school to look into. They offer full tuition to any NMF!</p>
<p>SurfCity, no the package should not change from year to year. I just wanted to point that it could change from what you might have seen last Spring.</p>
<p>Aggie, at what time of year should these schools know of their offerings for fall 2014? Will he receive mail from all/most of the schools that offer big scholarships? What was your experience?</p>
<p>Keep in mind the expense of sending a student further than a car ride. If you go to parents weekend, summer storage, etc etc. It’s more than you might think.</p>
<p>Texas A&M University has an incredible alumni network, strong Chem E, and lots of love for NMS. It is not the instant full ride that some state schools offer, but the financial aid package is substantial and would cover the majority of the cost of attendance.</p>
<p>OP, have you been running the net price calculator at the schools you have mentioned? Just want to confirm that you are looking at your actual potential cost, not just the “retail” price. Also, are you aware that if your son pursues a graduate degree in the sciences (other than med school) he likely will be able to do that fully funded (at no cost)? Maybe you already know this, and maybe he is leaning med school anyway, but just a thought.</p>
<p>SurfCity–based on our experience most should have their packages together now. He will be getting mailings, but get ahead of the game. Mater advice is good–travel costs are real. Also–the net price etc all comes into play. If you have the resources get some trips planned for the Fall and look at applying to some rolling admissions schools like Alabama, etc. Good luck.</p>
<p>By subject to change, does this mean that they might take away your package after being enrolled for a year or two</p>
<p>Oh no, that would never happen. your offer is a contract.</p>
<p>If your child is a senior NOW, then whatever the colleges are listing for this year’s applicants is safe.</p>
<p>What people are referring to is that during the summer BEFORE senior year, colleges will change what they’re offering so you need to look at the CURRENT offer when applying.</p>
<p>At Bama, where my son just graduated with a Chemical Engineering degree, your NMF son would get:</p>
<p>Free tuition for up to 5 years…including grad school classes…and can be used for a summer abroad.</p>
<p>Honors housing for one year (private bedrooms)</p>
<p>3500 stipend for 4 years</p>
<p>2000 for a study abroad</p>
<p>iPad</p>
<p>PLUS…as an eng’g student, he’d get an ADD’L $2500 per year. So, that combined $6000 per year is really nice in addition to free tuition.</p>
<p>*Also, if my son decided to pursue med school *</p>
<p>My ChemE son is now in med school.</p>
<p>*if he went to Cal State Long Beach vs. a University of California school? *</p>
<p>Traditionally, in Calif, the UC’s are the “premed” schools vs the CSU’s. However, that’s not set in stone.</p>
<p>Mom2 great info. I didn’t realize the $2,500 addtl for engineering was available. Is there a simple way to figure out if a poly sci and/or econ major would get any additional guaranteed money at Bama? Thanks</p>
<p>^^^
Engineering and Comp Sci are unique. There are no other additional guaranteed awards at Bama for other majors. </p>
<p>Engineering and comp sci are unique because of the add’l funding the Col of Eng’g gets and has gotten to recruit the best and brightest and build brand new STEM facilities. The goal of Bama Engineering is to become a top ranked eng’g program. </p>
<p>In recent years, the federal gov’t has invested hundreds of millions into Bama’s CoE, which funded the build of the new 900,000 square feet mega-sized Science and Engineering Complex. The last phase (phase IV) just completed. This Complex brings the total STEM academic space to over 1.3 million square feet.</p>
<p><a href=“Titanium Chef | Home”>Titanium Chef | Home;
<p>Pics of the new Science & Engineering Complex begin on page 6, Student housing pics begin on page 12.</p>
<p>After doing the net price calculator at a ton of schools, I found that with our income of $120,000/yr. the only schools that we can afford are the VERY elite schools (and only 4 of them). So I think that leaves our closest state school (University of California, Irvine), those top 4 schools, or the at least full tuition + NMF schools. Taking travel cost into consideration, I am thinking it would only be worth it to take the full ride ones. UCI is ranked higher than any of the full tuition+ schools, but he wouldn’t get the boarding experience that some believe may be good for students’ growing experience. If he took a full tuition somewhere, the cost of room and board, fees, books, etc. would be the same cost that we would pay at UCI (full cost minus room and board). Which leads me to question how important the boarding experience is. I am thinking that if he got into one of those elite 4, it would cost the same or possibly less than UCI, and are higher ranking. I would love to hear some voices of experience. I know there is a treasure trove of knowledge here on CC.</p>
<p>Mom2collegekids- Does U of AL have a 5 yr. master in ChemE option? If so, that 5 year tuition sound pretty good. Do you think it would cover the cost of that?</p>
<p>Mom2collegekids- Does U of AL have a 5 yr. master in ChemE option? If so, that 5 year tuition sound pretty good. Do you think it would cover the cost of that?</p>
<p>Bama has a program called University Scholars that allows students to get their BS and MS at the same time within 4-5 years. Such students start taking grad classes during senior year or earlier. </p>
<p>I’m guessing that your D has AP credits? If so, that makes it even easier.</p>
<p>THE UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS PROGRAM</p>
<p>The University Scholars Program is intended for gifted and highly motivated candidates for BA and BS degrees at The University of Alabama whose objectives include degrees at the master’s or doctoral level. In participating University Scholars departments, with a closely integrated undergraduate and graduate program, qualified students begin graduate study in their senior year; such a program may lead to simultaneous completion of requirements for both master’s and bachelor’s degrees, each within its specified framework.</p>
<p>Students in the University Scholars Program are classified as undergraduates until they complete requirements for their undergraduate degrees and therefore may not hold graduate assistantships until their classifications are changed to graduate status. At that time, University Scholars will also become eligible for graduate fellowships and scholarships.</p>
<p>Any department that offers a graduate program may, with the approval of the dean of the Graduate School, participate in the University Scholars Program. The following programs currently are approved to participate in the University Scholars Program:</p>
<p>Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics
Applied Statistics
Finance
Biological Sciences
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Communication Studies
Computer Science
Consumer Sciences
Economics (College of Commerce and Business Administration)
Economics (College of Arts and Sciences)
English
Electrical and Computer Engineering
French
Geography
German
Health Studies (Sports Medicine Concentration)
Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management (Food and Nutrition Concentration)
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
Operations Management
Physics and Astronomy
The following are minimum requirements; divisions or departments may set higher standards:</p>
<p>Phase I: Admission to Phase I is by invitation of the department and the dean of the Graduate School. Admission is chiefly determined by the faculty’s estimate of a student’s talents, motivation and potential for graduate study. Students may also apply for admission to Phase I through their major department during the second semester of the sophomore year. Contingent upon completion of 61 semester hours of study and with a grade point average in all courses taken of not less than 3.3 (as computed without the plus/minus system), students are admitted to Phase I at the beginning of their junior year on recommendation of the departments to which they have applied. During the junior year, students will take between four and six courses in their major field, as advised by their departments, to prepare them for the work of Phase II. Students seeking admission to Phase I will be informed by their departments if their admission requirements differ from those specified here.</p>
<p>Phase II: Admission to graduate study is also by invitation and is facilitated by, but not dependent upon, participation in Phase I. On completion of no fewer than 91 hours (ordinarily at the end of the junior year), students may apply for and be accepted for admission to the Graduate School. They must have grade point averages of not less than 3.3 (as computed without the plus/minus system) in all courses. Transfer students are subject to the published residence regulations and must have completed the last 30 hours in residence. Admission to the Graduate School will be granted if the student has (a) met all the criteria above as well as other minimum requirements for graduate admission (see <a href=“http://www.graduate.ua.edu%5B/url%5D”>www.graduate.ua.edu</a>), (b) completed three-fourths of the hours required for the major and the minor, (c) met all requirements for the core curriculum, and (d) been recommended by the department to which he or she is seeking admission. (In special circumstances, departments may elect to invite an application and recommend acceptance of an applicant with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.)</p>
<p>Upon admission to the Graduate School, the student will begin a program of study leading to the master’s or doctoral degree as approved by his or her department and by the dean of the Graduate School. The program of study for prospective University Scholars must be submitted to the Graduate School prior to the student’s enrollment in graduate classes.</p>
<p>The bachelor’s degree normally will be awarded at the commencement immediately following satisfactory completion of the first year of graduate study and attainment of a total of 128 semester hours of credit or the minimum required by the college. Those courses taken in the senior year/first year of graduate study may count toward both the bachelor’s and graduate degrees. No more than 15 hours may be dual-counted toward both the bachelor’s and graduate degrees. Interested students should check with their departments for specific coursework requirements. Participants in the University Scholars Program are exempt from the degree limit of 36 hours in a single department. The master’s or doctoral degree will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the requirements for these degrees. In some cases, the bachelor’s and master’s degrees may be awarded simultaneously; the completion of the master’s degree, however, may require an additional time period.</p>