Witty Title! But I need some help..

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I've got good test scores right now (31 ACT!) and my EC's arent too great..clubs, sports, work, some volunteer and leadership stuff </p>

<p>Hey.
I'm kinda lost in this college search and I would like some help. I'm only a sophomore but I'm looking anyways.</p>

<p>Mid-sized school
Strong undergrad engineering program (probably MechEng...not definite)
Looking at doing co-op, internship, or research during college
No schools doing the 3/2 Dual Degree Engineering!
Financial Aid will be needed
No "party schools"
School where conservative views are respected
Good engineering school, but a school where I can get a well-rounded education </p>

<p>About me:
White male
Catholic
I live in Oklahoma
I'm hopefully going to a competitive math and science school junior and senior years (Oklahoma School of Science and Math)
31 ACT in October 2009 (33-English, 30-Math, 28-Reading, 31-Science)..taking again in a few weeks
Took March 2010 SAT..getting scores in a few days..predicting 1800-2000</p>

<p>Not great EC's:
Academic Team both years
FIRST Robotics Team both years (won a regional and went to World Competition freshman year) (also a member of the Drive Team on my team)
Youth Alive both years
Varsity Swimming both years
JV Tennis and Varsity Alternate both years</p>

<p>Some volunteer and work experience</p>

<p>Please help me!
Thank you!</p>

2

<p>Have you looked at Carnegie Mellon or Case Western?</p>

3

<p>Yeah…those are two on my huge list of colleges</p>

4

<p>

You need to look at OSU and OU for in-state costs. Only two public colleges, UNC and UVA, give good aid to OOS students and most engineering schools are large public Universities.</p>

5

<p>IF you’ll need lots of financial aid, then you’ll need to know if you’ll qualify. many families find out that their EFC is much higher than they can afford. <a href=“http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml[/url]”>http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>If that is the case, then you’ll need to look for schools that will give you big merit for your stats.</p>

<p>(BTW…you need to talk to your parents and find out how much they think they can pay each year towards your education. IF that is lower than their EFC, then you definitely need to find schools that will give you big merit for your stats.)</p>

<p>Also…take the SAT this June. That will be good practice for the PSAT that you’ll take next fall. If you make National Merit, then you’ll have more options for scholarships. </p>

<p>When you sign up for the SAT, pay the extra for the detailed score report. Use that info over the summer to work on any weak areas.</p>

<p>Don’t worry about whether some schools are “party schools”. The way it works is this…the kids who are in engineering and other hard science courses are usually not big partiers. If the school has an honors college/honors program with honors dorms can also help. </p>

<p>My kids go to a “party school,” but they aren’t affected by it. One is a math major and the other is an engineering major. They’re both in honors housing.</p>

6

<p>Northeastern University has a good engineering program; can get internships through co-ops. (MA) - very practical education</p>

<p>Rensselaer polytechnic institute (NY)</p>

<p>Worcester polytechnic institute (MA)</p>

<p>Lehigh University ¶ - reputation for being a party school but you’ll get an excellent education</p>

<p>^All good engineering schools. Don’t worry too much about the partying issue. It goes on at all schools.</p>

7

<p>I know Case gives great merit aid</p>