And any OP should decide then - do they want direct admit (which may have a different cost) or take the chance of attending but not getting their major.
Something for the student to think about.
Funny, my kid chose Alabama over Purdue because he got his own dorm room and it had palm trees vs. Purdue, which at the time, was housing freshman in triples and some in apartments a few miles away.
We had no idea about the non direct admission - it never came up - or maybe it was presented in more the - you get to experience all disciplines before making a choice.
So itās something thatās really important but could easily be overlooked. And students should decide if they want that pressure their first year.
No, it isnāt. Not all families would agree with this. OP shared that budget is not a major deciding factor so I think we should take them at their word.
In his case, he said - the value of A&M pretty much eliminates most OOS schoolsā¦but he can afford to pay for a Ga Tech (which he prefers due to lower tuition), Michigan, and then if not the $100K schools.
So it is - but in this case, he has an understanding of the different values - and he addressed.
We donāt know if heās talked to his parents yet or not.
So I would say it is A, B, and C - but he seems to have knowledge of his specific situation. But a list as originally presented, without budget, is not a useful list.
If itās his parents will pay for MIT or theyāll pay for MIT but if itās MIT or Ga Tech, heās going to Techā¦
then yes, budget is indeed the most important factorā¦but heās already got it covered.
For some, they can pay full, and that adds the greatest flexibility - but thatās still the most important and first factor needing to be decided. In this case, itās an easy one to check off.
Itās just our perspective are different which is fine.
Disagree. While it is for some, this is not true for everybody. And certainly not A, B, and C. But neither of us is going to convince the other one otherwise, so letās move on.
I would note, though, that as others have suggested, colleges can be different in ways that matter a lot to a given individual, without necessarily making one or the other ābetterā in a way that would apply to all individuals.
But for the same reason, it becomes very personal where you prefer, and indeed how much you are willing to pay even if you would have a preference.
So I also think some kids would rationally choose to pay more for WPI than TAMU, not because WPI is better for everyone, but rather because WPI would be better for them, enough to justify the cost difference.
But if you reflect on this issue and conclude that you are not such a kid, then again, that is obviously fine too.
Thatās fine, but just realize that UIUC and Purdue are unlikely to accept you in RD. It sounds like you have several schools you prefer more, so maybe donāt bother applying to either.
I think you addressed the financial side of selection quite well. I am also pleased you are not adding smaller schools, even good ones, as they clearly do not fit your criteria based upon your researched school list.
OP the budget is a personal thing so continue to talk to your parents. Sounds like your family had thought this out. Only they can inform your process.
In terms of one off anecdotes I wouldnāt give them much consideration. For instance you have now heard about a Columbia (Ivy Grad) who is making less than an Alabama alum, and I know a recent Alabama alum who canāt find a job while his Ivy grad brother is working at a top management consulting firm.
You should focus on your priorities and preferences and not get distracted by our tangents.
Iāve got nothing substantive to add, just wanted to say goodluck! As Iāve watched my engineering son (Mechanical and Civil double major) look for jobs, weāve seen a lot that sounded really interesting but that were more geared to EE or ECE. I think itās a great idea to focus on that broader picture, and maybe take classes geared to robotics, or a minor, or something like that, as it gives you lots of flexibility.
Welcome to CC, @actionthat! If you are in the enviable position of being able to be full pay if that is what is needed for the school you choose, congrats. But you are also wise to weigh schools based on what variables are important to you (eg size of school and quality of program) vs cost. One thing to be mindful of is that students often change their minds, both re: their majors and their anticipated careers, so put that in the back of your mind as you explore your school choices. As an example, one of my sās chose Rice over GT (even though we are instate for GT) because at the time he wanted to be an applied physics major and for him Rice was a better fit (and we were fine with the cost and the small scholarships he won). After a year or so he decided he was sick of math problems and decided to transfer into engineering. He would have transferred into CE or EE, but more of his credits applied towards Mech E, so thatās what he majored in. Other son started out as a History and Chemistry double major, ended up as a double major in Chemical and Biomolecular engineering and Psychology (at a different school from his sibling). And guess what-- they now work at the same FAANG.
My point in bringing these 2 examples up is that at least 1/3 (maybe many more) of undergrad students change their major, so its helpful to keep your eyes open for not just the best department, but if financially feasible, the best fit where you will thrive. When you do your internships, you may find that they show you what you donāt want to do as much as that they could show you what you do want to do. I do agree with those who mention that chances drop if you wait to apply RD rather than unrestricted EA, but if there are one or two apps that you just donāt want to have to complete by fall, that is a personal choice, recognizing the risk. Hope this helps.
OP is an NMSF and thus is guaranteed an engineering major of their choice at Texas A&M starting Fall 2025, bypassing the need to go through the ETAM process.
Donāt think they know yet but said almost guaranteed.
Then if he wanted that, of course, opens up a lot more avenues potentially - like free or close to, if the family ultimately decided to go in that direction.
At least they can be aware given that the value of A&M has come up multiple times.
I think you are an accomplished studentā¦and I love your well crafted list of colleges. You have a varied list in terms of how competitive for admissions, as well as costs.
If your parents agree to pay for college at any college to which you get accepted, please give them a HUGE thank you and a big hug. This is a wonderful gift they are giving you. Some families would not do thisā¦even if they could.
Please do let us all know how your applications go. I think you will have multiple acceptances from which to choose.
@actionthat what is your PSAT selection index score? A perfect score, IIRC, is 228. Here are the Tx scores from the past few years and the probable past cutoff score:
As Iāve watched my engineering son (Mechanical and Civil double major) look for jobs, weāve seen a lot that sounded really interesting but that were more geared to EE or ECE. I think itās a great idea to focus on that broader picture, and maybe take classes geared to robotics, or a minor, or something like that, as it gives you lots of flexibility.