<p>My status so far:
Yale - waiting
Cornell - waiting
Michigan - accepted (waiting on aid)
UVa - waiting
RPI - accepted (waiting on aid/scholarships)
Ohio State - accepted (Honors w/ $15K a year)
Penn State - accepted (Honors w/ $9K a year - In State)</p>
<p>ROTC Scholarships:
Air Force - rejected
Navy - waiting
I will do ROTC even without a scholarship (AF preferred), but I need a scholarship/good aid for the upper level schools.</p>
<p>My parents have pledged to contribute $20K a year max. I’m waiting on a big scholarship from the National Eagle Scout Association, plus a lot of scholarships from my high school.</p>
<p>This is a very tough decision for me to make. Can anyone offer any assistance?</p>
<p>Stats, btw:
35 ACT (36M, 34E, 35S, 35R, 9W)
3.902 UW GPA, 4.406/4.6 Weighted
AP: 3 x 5 (Chem, Stat, BC Calc), taking 7 exams this year (Macro+Microeconomics, USH, English Lit, Spanish Lang, Physics C Mech + E&M)
-Note: I skipped ahead a year in math, and was only one of a few in my school to take Stat in sophomore year. My school’s tough when it comes to AP availability.
ECs: Boy Scouts (Eagle Scout), Civil Air Patrol (Earhart Award), Marching Band (Student leader), NHS</p>
<p>Ranked:</p>
<ol>
<li>Ivies</li>
<li>Michigan</li>
<li>Virginia</li>
<li>Penn State honors</li>
<li>RPI, Ohio</li>
</ol>
<p>Looks like the cheapest will be Penn State honors and you won’t have to take out any loans. For Michigan you will have to pay the crazy high OOS tuition if you don’t get any aid.</p>
<p>Michigan is the strongest in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering. Cornell would come second and Penn State third. Naturally, Yale is Yale, so if admitted, it gets tricky. If you are intent on becoming an Engineer after college, I would recommend Michigan and Cornell over Yale, but Yale over the rest. Penn State would come next after Yale, and UVa and RPI would follow. </p>
<p>If you wish to study Engineering but not work as an engineer after college, Yale would be my first choice, followed by Cornell, Michigan or UVa, depending on which one offers you the best package. Penn State and RPI would come next. </p>
<p>Regardless, cost is a major factor for you, so you will have to wait for your FA packages.</p>
<p>So do you mean to say that the net price would be:</p>
<p>Penn State: $28k - $9k = $19k
Ohio State: $40k - $15k = $25k</p>
<p>in the absence of the ROTC or outside scholarships?</p>
<p>Looks like your parents can cover Penn State; you could do Ohio State if you are willing to take Stafford loans (up to $5,500) and/or earn some work earnings and/or be very frugal with costs.</p>
<p>Hey, I like the Ivies but one would be hard pressed to demonstrate that the engineering schools in the Ivy League are stronger than UMichigan or Rensalaer. Cornell engineering is great (and the best in the Ivy League) and likely is a peer of the two I mentioned.</p>
<p>Michigan’s aid might be disappointing, as it was in our case.</p>
<p>Of the schools you have been accepted to, Penn State is the clear choice. Financially it is the best option, and they are a well respected institution. Plus they have an unsurpassed alumni networking system for coops, internships, and jobs.</p>