Chance Me: What colleges do I have a good shot at? [MS resident, 3.73 GPA, top 33% rank, CS + business/finance/economics, <$20k]

Chance Me / Match Me
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Nice, congrats! When you say “each year,” it means that your outside scholarships are renewable for 4 years? If so, that does indeed bring Purdue within budget (at least the “stretch” budget if not the “works perfectly” budget).

You may already know this, but we see students encounter unpleasant surprises on this front so forewarned is forearmed: While you can absolutely take that 10K right off the top at schools like Purdue where you aren’t relying on need-based aid, you cannot do the same at schools where you’re getting need-based grants. In those cases, the schools will require you to report any/all outside scholarships, and then they will recalculate your aid accordingly. Sometimes that means that the outside scholarships are completely absorbed into the aid package, with no benefit to you at all. Sometimes schools will use outside scholarship money to replace loans, so that your out-of-pocket is the same but you avoid debt. Sometimes they’ll replace work-study. It depends on the policies of the individual school, but you have to report the scholarships and let them give you the new bottom line.

Your UMich package is great! I knew that they’d given need-based aid to Pell-eligible OOS students in the past, but wasn’t sure what the current status of that was.

USC isn’t known for being super-generous to lower-income students, but run the numbers and see if it works - could be great for your interests if the money adds up.

I assume Nebraska hasn’t loomed large on your list of dream destinations, but do check out Raikes - it’s a very high-achieving cohort (not even a slam-dunk that you’d be accepted) and a fantastic, innovative program with great internship/employment connections. I’ve heard good things about Lincoln as a student city too.

I assume NU is Northwestern, but Northeastern has a great CS+Business combined major too. (But definitely a school that will swallow your outside scholarships, burp happily, and keep your expected contribution exactly the same, lol.)

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Yes, 4 years renewal. They are strong scholarships from many programs combined. Oh wow, didn’t know that some schools did that! And yep, NU is Northwestern. I love the campus, and it’s in a very nice residence that offers good internships and experiences in Chicago. I have heard of Northeastern and am thinking about applying, BUT I did see that their RD acceptance rate is 5.6 percent, while ED is like 30. I am going to do Northwestern ED since the boost and programs of CS + Business is perfect there. I just want to get accepted to NU lol.

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USC is 32k. So it is decent/affordable. But with the programs and place it’s at (LA), I think it weighs more than a lot of these schools.

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Yes, it seems like it could be a nice option for you! I wouldn’t count on the outside scholarships lowering that 32K number, but USC isn’t a no-loan school and the scholarships might well cancel out loans which is nothing to sneeze at!

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USC is very picky about their students. My sister attended there but her statistics were a bit higher than yours. They tend to like top 5% of the class. The reason I mentioned it is that you need to cover yourself by adding more safeties. You never know what the schools will do. A number of schools are losing government funding, so you have to hope that where you are admitted is affordable for your family.

Our son was offered full tuition at USC for being a national merit winner, but only tuition. Housing/board was not included. We could have afforded it, but he got better offers from other top 10 schools (test scores and grade point average, Eagle Scout, athlete and musician helped.) Sister was also an athlete, musician, and environmental activist along with high academics and test scores.

I wanted to mention that your letters from classroom teachers will be the ones that really count. It’s nice that you have extra letters from community members but the Universities want to know how you perform in the classroom, and that comes from teachers.

Good luck!

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We talked about this before. Talk to your guidance counselors as you’re at a private school and they’ll have a better assessment.

If you were at a public with a 3.73 and 33 ACT, for CS, I’d guess yes to Rutgers and Va Tech + Ole Miss and Ms. State. FSU - borderline leaning toward no.

If it were business, I’d make the same assessment but a yes into Purdue, Va Tech, Rutgers too - and FSU and UMass a toss up.

If it were econ, it’d be the same - Purdue, Va Tech, Rutgers, and UMASS as in - and FSU and UMD as a toss up.

But you don’t go to public school - so talk to your counselor.

But forget where you get in - because you can’t afford most any of them.

NU - ok

Ga Tech - you can’t afford but they have the full ride Stamps so expect nothing but if you’re ok with a 1% chance.

UMD, UCSD, UCI, UIUC, UF, Purdue, Michigan, Va Tech, Rutgers, Umass - you can’t afford.

UVA, UNC - meets need so maybe.

When you have a budget, you need to build the list for the budget - so not for prestige.

So you have Ole Miss and MSU as safeties.

We talked on the other thread - NU - add Rice, Vandy, Emory. Look at the NPCs first…and add Richmond, Wake, Lehigh, Case Western, etc - if the NPCs work

Lose the UFs, UIUCs and add Bama and UAH as other publics. FSU is ok - if you get the OOS waiver which you might. U of Kansas will be high 20s if you can afford that. U New Mexico and U Louisville also “might” hit.

But applying to schools you can’t afford makes zero sense.

But if you’re ok with Ole Miss and Ms State, then reach for all the high ones. On the other thread, I gave you the list of schools that meet need - run the NPCs and if they work, it’s worth a try if you like them.

Good luck.

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Just to be clear: No college offers internships. What top colleges do offer is rigorous coursework, career preparation resources, and strong alumni networks. But ultimately, it’s up to you to succeed in interviews and secure those internships yourself.

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I’d qualify this - succeed in “obtaining” interviews - because they’re not giving them to you. Plenty of NU kids likely strike out in regards to internships, no different than anywhere else.

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I’ll take Ole Miss, MSU, and UA. I like WUSTL, Emory, etc. you mentioned. Will replace the UCs with them.

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Also, do you think I can get into at least one of these: NU, Rice, Vandy, Emory, WUSTL, UNC, UVA?

Also, i’m thinking that if i go Ole Miss Honors for one year and transfer, will i still have to pay the sticker price all three years and they don’t look at need based? My parents like the idea of transfering to a top school after the first semester or year. What do you think? I heard UNC’s acceptance rate for transfer is way higher.

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Yep, totally true. Meant opportunities.

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Emory University will be tuition free next year for students from families with household income of $200,000 or less.

Research U Texas at Dallas for combined program in CS & business for undergraduate students. UT-D is really strong in CS and has an excellent record regarding job placements.

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Merit scholarships tend to be less likely for transfer students. At some colleges, need-based financial aid may be less as well. Unless there is an articulation listing between the two colleges, you may not know what courses you take at the first college will count for subject credit at the second college.

“Top schools” vary considerably in how many transfer students they take and what profile the look for. For example, some publics take many transfer students, but mostly from in-state community colleges. Some privates take only a few, and look for specific profiles like non-traditional students. There is also typically less transparency in transfer admission than frosh admission. Also, sophomore transfer admission will still consider your high school record, since you will not have much of a college record when you apply during frosh year. Junior transfer admission focuses mostly (or only at some schools) on college record.

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By the #s, no - but again, you go to a private school.

A 50% at the right private school may be stronger than the top 10% at a public.

You noted a friend with similar stats is at Northwestern so….

It’s not a question of getting in everywhere.

The point of having a Ms State or Ole Miss is that you have an affordable home and far more solid than you give it credit for - btw. Ms State is an engineering powerhouse and I’m sure solid in CS.

Since you have those - than you can afford to apply to any other school and hope.

But knowing you have financial concerns means you should let the NPC guide as to whether you should apply to specific schools.

If you look at the list of meets need I put on the other thread, you might look at even more - the Lafayette, Union, Franklin & Marshall of the worlds…if the NPC works and I’d apply personally to W&L if small is ok.

But no one but the schools themselves can say for sure if you’ll get in.

And if they all say no - no biggy - you have the two MS publics and others like Bama if you apply….to fall back onto.

So no need to overanalyze.

Your need is to NPC so as to not waste time at the wrong schools.

Transfer - hmmmm - no. If you go to school with one foot out the door, then you won’t have a good experience. If you go to Ole Miss and crush it and make friends and all that - that’s most ideal.

You know who’s not getting jobs now - UNC CS - one person posted people are applying to hundreds of jobs and getting nothing. You know where you can study business - Ole Miss / MSU. You know where you have no assurance - it’s not direct admit? UNC.

Also, many schools are not as rich aid wise for transfers.

Finally - you have to take transfer % with a grain of salt. Some schools offer guaranteed transfers to students they turn down. Others, like an in-state public, have a guarantee with their in-state community college.

Go to the school you start - and don’t even think about transferring. It’s a horrible idea…..you have costs beyond money - i.e. social. It’s hard enough to figure out one school…you don’t need to be 3 schools ahead.

Here is the list again of meets needs schools.

Here’s Every College That Offers 100% Financial Aid · PrepScholar

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Also, I forgot to mention that i might be joining ROTC for helping money reduction. I like this type of things (hence, my Eagle Scout and Boys Nation). But i hear it helps with admissions a bit?

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I can’t say but the $$ aren’t assured. Do that because you want to - and note military commitments that come from it. That will be your job post graduation.

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I keep forgetting random things lol. I forgot to say that I am in the top 30 students in my state for leadership and academics (tho not in grades but overall). Not percent, but like ranking.

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You mean %.

Listen - go back to what I said -

Make sure you have assured / affordable and you do - Ole Miss and Miss State if you apply. UAH likely now. Bama if you get your score up.

This is all that matters - you have a home.

So - in this case, if you want to apply to the others - go ahead. If you get rejected, no problem - you have a home. If you get in but can’t afford - no problem - you have a home.

No one here is admissions. I gave an opinion about your chances but only the school knows.

Because you have Ole Miss/Ms State etc, you can take your shots. If they all say no, you still are in good shape with those publics.

So stop over thinking.

No one can assure anything - so stop obsessing.

Whatever your profile is - it’s great. Try and be done.

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My opinion and $5 will buy you a latte, but I think you’re an impressive applicant. The biggest weakness for tippy-top schools is class rank - many of these schools take virtually no applicants outside of the top 10%, and the few they do take tend to be recruited athletes. If your school is so high-powered that top-third is comparable to top 10% at a “normal” high school, and if colleges know this or can be persuaded of it by your counselor recommendation, then you may crack that most-rejective tier. If not, there’s still another layer of schools that are still “elite” and wealthy enough to meet need, but are a little more attainable. That’s the category of schools that I feel is a bit under-represented in your list. NU might happen, though, and you’re making some good refinements to your strategy.

Since you like Los Angeles, have you considered Claremont McKenna? The demographic data on College Factual indicates zero students from MS, which could enhance your attractiveness, and they’re need-blind and very holistic, and would love your EC profile. They have their own CS course sequence, plus students can major in CS through Harvey Mudd, which is a top program; and they’re excellent for econ/business/finance. The Claremont Consortium has a wealth of opportunities.

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These schools have very low acceptance rates, but you have a chance.

One thing to remember…and check…at many colleges, transfer students do not receive the same generous need based or merit based financial aid as in incoming freshmen. So do check.

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