Chance Me: VA resident, 4.0 UW, 1520 SAT, 1520 PSAT, mechanical engineering

I think your grouping are ok but a bit optimistic.

But I think UIUC is a reach and Michigan a super reach. But both could happen. UT Austin is also a super reach.

More important is budget - if the $40-50k is firm, lose U Michigan ($80k-ish), UT Austin and UIUC. UMD is highly unlikely at that price as is Pitt. There’s nothing worse than an acceptance you can’t afford.

So my first comment would be budget - how much can your parents afford ? How much are they willing to afford ?

If it’s the $50k you mentioned - your list doesn’t work.

Now if you are NMF, consider a school like Alabama. If you are not NMF, with automerit you are $20k per. With NMF, you get 5 years tuition, 4 years housing plus $4k per year scholarship. Think about that - and you’ll likely end up in a similar job.

There are others too, not quite as generous. Or Tulsa which is a full ride.

Given your major, the where likely matters little. My son turned down Purdue for Bama (just based on his preference) and interned with Ga Tech kids and works with Michigan, Purdue, and more etc.

So if you wanted other subs under $50k (potentially), look at Ohio State, Arizona / Arizona State, SUNY Schools, UGA, UTK, Michigan State, UMN and others.

But first thing first - ensure what you can pay and align your list to that figure.

And if you are NMF, consider what saving your family hundreds of thousands can do for them, especially given that in your major, short of maybe a few schools pedigree is unlikely to matter.

Good luck.

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