College list thoughts for "average excellent" S24 [$11k parent contribution, 4.0 GPA, 36 ACT]

[Metawampe]

@green1724

We can’t really afford to do many admitted student days (if any) so I’m not sure how he will decide.

Some schools provide travel funding for a student and a parent to attend admitted student days. Could be worth a phone call.

Congrats!

[ucbalumnus]

@green1724

I think they would all be fine because he still doesn’t know what he wants to study.

If any of his possible majors are popular ones that may be overloaded at some of the schools (the common ones include computer science, economics, engineering majors, but some others may also be overloaded), check on how difficult it is to declare or change into those majors at each school under consideration.

[MMRose]

That’s good idea.

I can speak for Brown—there are no restrictions on majors (Brown calls them concentrations). Students declare at the end of sophomore year and can choose any concentration they are interested in, including CS and Engineering.

[ucbalumnus]

@MMRose

I can speak for Brown—there are no restrictions on majors (Brown calls them concentrations). Students declare at the end of sophomore year and can choose any concentration they are interested in, including CS and Engineering.

But note that some majors do require sequences of prerequisites, so an undecided student with those majors as possibilities must start on the prerequisites to those majors (as well as any other majors of interest), so that the student is not behind on whatever major they eventually decide on.

[Mashinations]

Same deal at Tulane. No one goes in with a declared major - expectation being by end of Sophomore year. Completely agree with @ucbalumnus though that even though you might not declare, you need to be working prerequisites within intended major.

[happy1]

Please let us know the final choice. So many wonderful options. Congrats!

[green1724]

If anyone is still reading, his final choice is Northwestern!
He was sold after getting into the Mathematical Methods in Social Science program.

Thanks all!

Edited to add: It was also the second best price after WashU

[Publisher]

@green1724

If anyone is still reading, his final choice is Northwestern!
He was sold after getting into the Mathematical Methods in Social Science program.

Congratulations !

For other readers & posters:

Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences - Northwestern University

Program Overview: Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences - Northwestern...

Most important:

Employment Placements: Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences -...

If, in the future, your son wants specific career prep courses for IB, I will be happy to make suggestions which others have found quite helpful in the past. The programs that I suggest do require high math aptitude–just as your son has shown. These programs are not necessary as a Northwestern degree with MMSS should yield MBB (McKinsey, Bain & Co., and Boston Consulting Group) as well as multiple IB (investment banking) opportunities.

For example:

Recruiting, Career Development, and Job Placements - Bendheim Center for Finance

Other programs are less formal and can be done on-demand or in-person (in NYC) and do not require a college degree, yet they offer outstanding instruction for those serious about placement in IB/hedge funds/VC, etc.

[green1724]

Thanks for this information and any suggestions. I have will him look into this program.

This is helpful because both our professions (teacher/social worker type jobs) and our social circles are far from this world so I don’t have much information to share with him.

He loves math so much but has also really loved history/social studies so the MMSS program and career paths really seem perfect. He was so excited reading through the past MMSS students’ thesis and saying, “this is the mathematical modeling I’ve always been trying to learn on my own!” He is very excited for the classes to begin!