In terms of chances of admission, I agree with your classifications. But in terms of getting the schools within budget, the safeties should also be moved to the reach category.
You definitely should apply to U. of Rhode Island. I’ve heard positive things about URI’s engineering program, and I think they may even have an international engineering component, if you’re interested in using your Spanish. Perhaps @aquapt can share more?
If U. of Maine is coming up as affordable, that’s super. Have you looked into Cooper Union? Historically it’s been very generous financially, and is another super strong program.
My dad has actually been encouraging me to pursue cooper u. as he looked into it when he was applying, but didn’t end up going. I’m a fan of the school on paper, but for anywhere in a large metropolitan area, I’m going to need to tour it first since I’m not a fan of cities. Even with Cooper’s automatic “half off” I would still need to earn considerable merit and need based aid for it to make sense.
URI’s International Engineering program is great, but it does require a fifth year (the fourth year is spent abroad, with a semester of coursework in the target country and a semester of intership).
If international programs are of interest, U of Tulsa has a similar program, which includes some non-engineering STEM majors also… and they give full-ride merit to NMSF (who comprise about a quarter of undergraduates, if I remember correctly). International Engineering/Science & Language - The University of Tulsa
It’s been mentioned a lot in this thread, but I want to also suggest U Maine. I think it may be a true standout for having the right combo of stuff that OP wants, at the right price.
Hi @aeron38 ! It is hard to match you without standardized scores. The thing is you say your budget is <$20K. Are you willing to take loans? I assume you will work. In which case, federal loan plus work can make your realistic budget about $28K.
If you want the absolute cheapest deal, you have to consider “unremarkable” engineering schools. Some options mentioned are pretty good. For high cost of living urban options, you need to make sure you are thinking about accommodations in year 2 if the school does not guarantee housing. Cooper Union is great but you will need to find NYC housing in year 2. Another thing to consider is transportation back to RI 4 times per year.
Now to the good part, schools in FL and NM might be your best bet. Perhaps a few in TX. I would look at public schools that are not flagships. Visit ABET, make a list and go from there.
A lot of mentions of U Maine Orono which has a reciprocal tuition agreement with URI. But, so does UConn main campus in Storrs.
Google the New England Land Grant Reciprocal Dependent Tuition Agreement
Also, atmospheric/climate science is really a grad program so undergrad in engineering, environmental science, or even math/physics might be good. So maybe go for an affordable school undergrad then go to a top climate school for the PhD which is usually paid for by grants. As long as you like to eat Ramen and PB&J, you can avoid loans for science PhDs generally. Then you can “have your cake and eat it too”. Maybe end up with an advanced degree for a top climate school versus worrying about acceptance/affording an Ivy, Duke, UMd, etc undergrad.
Re: the mention of a physics major as a possibility - some schools (such as Tulsa as mentioned above - free for NMSF even if they don’t make NMF!) have Engineering Physics, which can be a great combination. You get an ABET-accredited degree, with a concentration in a chosen engineering discipline, but with more emphasis on the foundational science, which keeps the more pure-sciency option open for grad school if that’s of interest. (CWRU is also great for engineering physics, and its “open door” policy re: majors in general makes it easy to fine-tune one’s focus once there. Could be a good one to run the NPC for.)
At that budget, as a potential NMF for engineering, you really should look at Washington State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Alabama. Their current NMF scholarship packages cannot be beat (Alabama’s especially).
Thanks for the input! I definitely will be exploring student jobs wherever I go. Also for the SAT, I’m taking it in April. I don’t plan to apply anywhere with anything significantly less than 1500.
I have actually looked at Embry-Riddle, as I have family very close who may be willing to let me stay with them while studying. The school is very interesting but I know little about its programs. Travel is a present but not enormous concern, that is something that my family are more willing to help with, especially extended family if I end up going to E-R.
Wow. I have never heard about this land grant agreement, very interesting. On the undergrad degree note, URI has a ocean engineering program. This might be perfect to study simultaneously with environmental science or engineering.
It’s based on which majors your home state’s flagship doesn’t offer.
But the flagship-match rate won’t be affordable without additional aid, so I don’t know if this program will help. I’m skeptical about there being a way to fill the gap at UConn. Maine is much more generous.
The vast majority of NMSF do make NMF - what makes you think you wouldn’t? But if you do make NMSF, Tulsa is a good school to have in the mix, because the full ride aid does not depend on progressing to Finalist. Also, it’s a really nice mid-sized school whose engineering majors would give you the “small, project-based engineering school” vibe that you seem to like.
I’m totally on the verge of making sf, someone from my school made sf this year with a 1470. It entirely depends on the cutoff, as I got a 1450 with the worst possible selection index (perfect math, all mistakes in English). It’s possible, but my plans can’t hinge on it.
Mmm, yeah, it’s possible, but possibly more likely that the RI selection index tips to 215 or 216, and you get Commended. As you say, you can’t count on it; but if it does come through, you may want to have a handful of schools in mind to add for the Big Merit.
Ocean Engineering could be a very cool major for you, and URI is not a bad place for this at all! Lots of different concentrations within the major, to fine-tune it to your interests. There’s even an Ocean Renewable Energy track, which sounds very promising. (And if you did want to consider the International Engineering Program, there’s a strong Marine Engineering department at the coastal University of Cantabria partner school.)
I believe max Embry Riddle scholarship is 50% of tuition. You should ask every school you are interested in what their max merit scholarship amount is and make sure the rest is affordable.
Look at engineering schools in TX. Schools like Texas Tech are solid and give decent aid. If you are a NMF, there will be many options.
In TX, you pay instate if you get some scholarship money. Some schools will give it for $1000. But if you are paying instate and get merit money, COA should be in the $20K ball park or less. TTU will give you $8K based on your stats now and in state.
You will get full tuition at New Mexico State, I believe.
We are also looking at a 214 index in RI 760e 620m.
Luckily the Class 2025 RICAS and PSAT10 were dismal and lower than 2024 with a 215 cut-off. Since there are other factors, I’d say 50% chance. The NMSF won’t be that helpful in most regional schools. Northeastern and bu will still likely be cost-inhibitive
unh, uvm, also have solid merit for out-of-state.
I presume that you are not interested in the Military Academies since you didn’t mention them. That said, you may want to check out the Coast Guard Academy. It is a good school, free to attend, and in New London. Unlike the other Academies, USCGA does not require a nomination by a member of Congress. Moreover, the post-graduation obligation might be more appealing to you if you are put off by the other Academies since the CG has a strong non-military mission. If you are not hesitant about military service, but don’t want to attend an Academy, check out ROTC to bridge the financial gap.