bmn5154

I am currently in my senior year of high school looking to make some choices for where to apply for schools. I am ranked top 20% in my class of 260, with a weighted GPA of 3.743(which will increase slightly throughout this year). I have taken honors and AP courses throughout my high school years. My AP classes include English literature and comp, English language and comp(4), calculus AB, and statistics(3). I am currently enrolled in calculus and English lit. I have taken the ACT 3 times and plan on taking it again come October. I have received a 27 composite each time. My best scores however are as follows: English31, math27, reading 33, and science 25. I've only taken writing once but scored an 8. I am interested in pursuing a degree in the engineering field. I do not know what specific degree I would like, but I am very interested in chemistry. My residency is in Ohio, but I am also looking at out of state schools. My top choices are:
Ohio state university
University of Cincinnati
University of South Carolina
And Florida state university.
Amongst these choices where do you think I should go? Why? I enjoy the southern climate and would enjoy getting away from home. I am very interested in merit scholarships from schools and would very much like to pay as little as possible as cost is a major factor in my search. I am also open to other similar schools in the southern region. Also, do the "best engineering colleges" lists have any particular relevance or would I be okay to go to florida state? Any and all help is very appreciated!

OperaDad

If those are your top choices, and you would be happy at any of them, then pick based upon which is cheapest to attend after financial aid (you have to apply to get a financial aid package).

Note: Univ of AL is ranked about #100 for engineering colleges, but they also give out good financial aid. Might be worth looking at Vanderbilt. I hear they give out good financial aid too.

ucbalumnus

Note that Florida State shares its College of Engineering with nearby Florida A&M, which is less expensive and offers a full out-of-state tuition and fees scholarship for freshmen with a 3.5 GPA and 27 ACT or 1800 SAT CR+M+W. Your stats also get a full ride at Prairie View A&M if cheap is your main criterion.

But check the net price calculators at each school. In-state publics are likely to be the best with need-based aid (so are some wealthy super-selective privates that are probably out of reach).