Congratulations! You should probably start a new thread asking about Loyola Chicago. It’s in a great location right on Lake Michigan in a cool neighborhood (Rogers Park) that’s on the north side of the city.
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Well, for one, it’s got a 3-2 with Columbia.
#2 it’s Jesuit - BC bills itself as Jesuit and Catholic and those (BC and HC) were your top two.
#3 - you can afford it - but it will be 5 years and there’s no assurance you can get to Columbia.
#4 - it’s a nice size - about 11.5K kids and lots of diversity - which is always good.
#5 - You are an over performer vs. their average student - and those are the kids that colleges buy in - so it’s an effective “affordability” hedge vs. BC and Holy Cross.
It’s a well established university with an 81% acceptance rate - but that doesn’t mean it’s not good and frankly, if you are prepping for engineering, you’re going to be hopefully challenged anywhere.
Make no mistake - your best chance to become a Chemical Engineer is UMN or U of Arizona.
But you seemingly don’t want them - and you want a 3-2 and chance at Columbia and this provides that. You do need to check and see if chem will work (their sheet notes physics at Loyola although says ChemE is possible).
Every time your situation gets odd and dicey, you bring out something else - this is a good something else!! And would solve a lot of your problems.
Congrats!!
Physics (BS) + Engineering (BS): Department of Physics: Loyola University Chicago (luc.edu)
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I note the OP is talking about Loyola Chicago, not Loyola Maryland.
Loyola Chicago has an ABET-certified general engineering BS, it has an interesting social justice theme, and you can specialize in Biomed, Computer, or Environmental:
https://www.luc.edu/engineering/curriculum/socialjusticefocus/
But it also has a 3+2 program out of Physics:
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Yes - my message was right about the school - but I put the wrong flyer - thanks for updating with the right flyer.
Will add to my post as well.
Wow, congratulations 
!
If neither Holy Cross nor Oberlin have any reason to give more aid due to there not being a mistake on the CSS (an assumption now since you’ve studiously avoided answering this issue - but you should check your portal to see whether the FA package has been updated now that FAFSA has been processed and cross them out once&for all), then a really good choice for ChemE is UMN and a really affordable opportunity to combine Physics&Chemistry with a Jesuit Education is Loyola Chicago. A good choice to have. 
It’s a medium sized university one tier below UChicago and Northwestern in terms of reputation in Chicagoland so filled with A-students who want to study in the city (some of whom didn’t get into Northwestern or Notre Dame, some of whom for whom it’s a first choice because it balances academics and social life quite well.)
In keeping with this tradition, the Honors program balances academics and social well - Honors courses include experiential learning and field trips, Honors students live together in Honors Living Learning Communities and all have access to study abroad, intern in DC, and/or spend the summer in Rome.
Academically the requirements are reasonable and replace some of the university core. They also offer
“priority registration each semester; individualized advising; small class sizes; and faculty mentorship.”
And you get to have a nice neighborhood AND a big city at your fingertips for fun… and internships.
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Kids from my kids’ Catholic school often attend Loyola Chicago as a back up to Notre Dame. Reviews seem positive!
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Guys I just got off the waitlist at UC Irvine for Chem eng!!! Omg I’m so shocked right now.
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What is your FA package? Unlikely to see $ for OOS students.
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Congratulations!
…but you already got into UMN which is much better.
In addition, there’s no FA for OOS applicants, it’s a rather suitcase school (kids go home on weekends or every evening) and I can’t imagine paying full price there or even getting debt when you got into UMN ChemE (AND Loyola Chicago with a huge scholarship.)
This should be considered as something you can be happy about but non actionable.
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You are having quite the day @rak06. I’ll be surprised if a UC gives you anything financially, but congratulations!
I do not have a kid at Loyola. But I do have a high achieving kid at DePaul down the road in a niche program. Somehow she seems to have found every kid on campus that is making the dean’s list and had UChicago and Northwestern aspirations. I do think with the location and merit packages Loyola and DePaul can give, they do have decent contingencies of high achieving students. Loyola has an honors program as well. We do know a few students there having a great experience. That is an amazing financial offer.
But Chicago is a college student’s playground. My kid cannot say enough about it and is so happy. If you’re interested in an urban campus, there are just not enough days to explore everything. She has been to events both at Loyola and UChicago. All the students gets CTA passes.
I also love UMN and think it is underregarded, in particular for engineering/STEM. (true confessions - CSE alum and live in range). Also a fantastic urban campus with included transit pass and lots to explore. If the Loyola offer is significantly more affordable, it may be worth consideration. Congrats on your big day!
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Ok well as of right now I’m highly considering the Loyola offer. I have around 5 hours left to decide. If I go it means I’m selling out for the sophomore transfer, though.
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Don’t you have till May 15?
What are your pros/cons Loyola and UMN?
No, Loyola is private so they didn’t move their deadline. No privates that I got into moved their deadline. Well the pro to Loyola is the cost is really low and I think I could have more success there, meaning a better chance at transferring.
Why would you look to transfer?
You go to a school intending to love it and be there four years - or you’ll likely be miserable.
You already are selling out - your likelihood of becoming an engineer.
It doesn’t mean it won’t happen but it’s less likely - and you’ll likely have a lesser career outcome, at least initially.
It would mean your odds of becoming an engineer will greatly decrease.
Good luck whatever you decide.
This reminds me of another thread - maybe it’s not the same - but the young man wanted to be an engineer but really wanted to go to BC who doesn’t have ABET engineering - so he went over Clemson engineering - and now is transferring out after one year - so he essentially wasted a year - of tuition, future income, and more.
You can try that route - but that’s where you’ll stand.
UMN is a wonderful opportunity as is Arizona.
So I’m still very confused but in the end, you have to follow the path you think is best for you.
You brought in Loyola out of nowhere - and it’s a fine school - but I don’t see it as a fine school given your goals.
But my opinion doesn’t matter - only yours does.
Best of luck.
PS - you could accept and deposit. If other schools have given you more time and you decide in a few weeks to flip, you’d simply deposit there and withdraw from Loyola.
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You can email Loyola and say you would need 1 more week to figure out your admission decision due to the FAFSA mess.
What does your merit scholarship cover? Was Pell factored in? Can you explain what you’d major and/or minor in? Have you checked out the honors dorm? Etc
You shouldn’t go in with the plan to transfer - it’s a risky path. So, you have to like where you attend and throw yourself into everything because odds are that you will not transfer. Would you be happy graduating from Loyola?
However, considering how interested you are in a Jesuit education, the perks, and the cost, Loyola sounds like a good choice. You’d have to let go of UMN’s ChemE prestige though. On the other hand, you could always make a case you need to transfer because tou want to major in Engineering (you ALWAYS need a reason to transfer and "I want to attend a more prestigious school"is not considered a valid reason.) On the other other hand, you will still have your financial issues.
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Yes it includes the Pell. The total cost including tuition, housing and related fees is only about 15k a year. My parents probably won’t need to pay anything since my grandparents on both sides were going to each put in 10k a year. Well, I know you need a reason to transfer and that’s what i’m already thinking about. I’m starting to plan early.
Loyola Chicago is a great school. Please go with the thought that you plan to stay there…and get yourself involved with that school community. Don’t plan transferring before you even get there. You may actually discover that this great college in a great location is great!
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I just can’t come to terms with it, when I know I’m capable of reaching somewhere higher. If I was able to get into UCI for engineering OOS and HC RD then I know I can get into places with ~ 15% acceptance rates. I might as well try my best and if I struggle, then I struggle 
I want to aim big cause I think, and I’ve been told, I’m no less smart than kids who are going to T20s.
But again, you are missing the point.
You want to be an engineer - the where just doesn’t matter - and anyone who completes an engineering degree is brutally smart.
And UMN is one of the tops.
You will be surrounded by smart people period - at any engineering school.
You are letting a magazine ranking run your life - and that’s a mistake.
What will you do when your boss went to U of Phoenix or doesn’t even have a degree? Move on?
UCI for Chem Engineering - if going by rank - doesn’t touch UMN…not in the same hemisphere.
I called you out early for chasing rank - when rank should not be what’s driving you - but affordability should be.
Guess what - whether you go to Columbia or UMN - your salary is going to be based on the company that hires you and where they place you - not where you went to school? And you can add Arizona, UCI, Alabama and any other school into that same statement.
I feel bad for your future - because you are chasing the wrong thing - and you will end up in a lower paying career that you don’t desire.
I noted this up front and others were mad for me saying so - but it’s exactly what it is.
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If you want Engineering and prestige, you have UMN, one of the top 3 cheME programs in the country.
If you favor a Jesuit education, you have Loyola Chicago (with great perks.) 2 awesome choices.
If you needed that reassurancew you know you can get into other universities (which may be lower ranked for ChemE) and that you can’t pay what they want you to pay. I’m not sure anything else is productive at this point. You got into several universities in the US AND you have 2 affordable choices, including one that’s prestigious for one major of interest - not that common from abroad. Mission accomplished!
DO ask for a 1 week delay from Loyola so you can get your FA package from all universities. You still need to think this through.
Choose whichever you choose with the idea you’ll spend 4 years there and graduate from there.
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