I do not recall if Case had a “why us” essay; I think our son applied via the common app.
I second your recommendation to register for major specific info sessions. The key is to create a record of your student working to learn about the school and differentiate themselves from the students who use the shotgun approach to applications. If the Case AO reviews the applications of two very similar students where one visited the campus, attended multiple Zoom sessions, etc., and the other made no effort at all, who do you think they will accept?
This covers a lot of schools - and this is a good list.
Unless you have need, CMU and Tufts will 100% not meet your cost.
UMASS, SB, UCONN will. Rochester potentially will. The first three are safe. Rochester likely. UIUC, major dependent, is likely and will hit cost.
Lots of great schools out there - but Duke, NW, Rochester are midsize. Umass, UCONN are larger. If you like large, look at Ohio State and UMD - strong in these majors. Ohio State is safe and UMD is likely.
It’s outside your zone, by a lot, but if you are looking at info systems, the ultimate safet elite school is U of Arizona = #2 after CMU in US News. UMN and IU would be two other strong schools - specifically in your region. Both are safe.
I wouldn’t worry about filling the buckets (target, safety). I’d worry about finding the right home.
For smaller, maybe consider RPI (safety) and while it’s a business focused school, look at the majors at Babson - it might fit. @Bill_Marsh speaks highly of it. It’s more a target as it’s a tough get - but focused (but part of consortium where you can take classes at Olin College of Engineering, Wellesley College, Brandeis University, and Regis College.
I checked on google maps and actually looks like Case is a little more than 3.5 hours away from CMU, from what you say, though, I’ll definitely try to get a campus visit in.
They do not. We are in CA and unable to visit schools so distant before application time. My S23 was admitted; he demonstrated interest by meeting with the college reps at his HS, doing an interview with them (I think), and submitting a music supplement.
By the shortest route, it is 137 miles, which Google estimates as 2:17, which is exactly 60 MPH (I would mention I know for a fact it is possible to do it faster, but then I would be getting myself into trouble):
In terms of CMU and Tufts, I think the resources and opportunities will be more worth the cost (correct me if I’m wrong). The budget of $70K I set mostly for target/safety schools, since I wouldn’t want my parents excessively spending on a school that isn’t necessarily worth that much.
I’ve visited RPI and I just didn’t particularly like the way they structured academics and classes there from what I heard in the information session and on the tour, but I’m still open to considering it, so I’ll look into it more.
Not a problem, this just happens to be a route I know pretty well.
By the way, if you catch it at the right time of year, it is actually a pretty scenic drive from around the state border to Pittsburgh (or vice-versa). It happens 76 is crossing over pretty close to where the main glacier line got to, so after that you start hitting some nice rolling hills and valleys and such.
The Ohio part, well, it doesn’t last too long . . . .
This is an inherently personal question and definitely family finances (and values) are going to be a factor.
That said, both of those are popular colleges in my circles (although not necessarily with the same kids, but that doesn’t mean that combination is impossible). And there are definitely people who could be paying less who choose to pay for them anyway.
So I would suggest not making any assumptions yet about what individual colleges might be worth to you as an individual. But if after visiting (even if just post-offer, which is another option), you really click somewhere, and your family can comfortably afford it, then it is not irrational to consider it.
Check out the QSS major at Emory. It might be a bit on the softer side, but of that’s the case you can do a harder major and take courses from QSS that interest you. (Even the master’s level QTM courses are fairly mathematically accessible)
Emory gives merit aid through Emory scholars, which is very selective