Good to know about the cognitive science, but what I was trying to figure out was if any of the majors I had found appealed to your daughter. I know that she wants to have options and is undecided, but if a particular major sounded interesting (but she wasn’t as interested in the school), then that could help to focus the school search somewhat.
For instance, in post #43 I linked info on the following majors
Agricultural Technology Management
Construction Science & Management
Environmental Science
Food Science and Industry
Industrial Engineering
Milling Science and Management
In post #45 I linked up to Agricultural Systems Management
In post #52 I mentioned
Engineering technology, especially engineering technology
Integrated Energy Management
Craft Brewing
Wine Studies
In reviewing majors for someone who likes design, physics, business, the outdoors, and has an analytical mind (i.e. liking stats), but not wanting to go deep into calc, these all seemed like they could potentially strike a chord.
Not talking about CSUF, but if you’re looking for some Cal States that are more of a residential focus, has she considered Chico, Monterey Bay, or Sonoma?
For some other slightly more unusual majors that she might fancy:
More in-depth statistics / data science courses tend to require some calculus, though for the purposes of many majors that use statistics, not as much as for a statistics major.
Yes, I had looked into a Stats or Applied Stats major and saw that those were much more math-heavy than OP’s D is probably interested in. The other majors I mentioned do not have heavy math requirements.
ACT score came back today. 34 Composite 31 Math 34 Science 36 English 36 Reading
Current choice of major is Industrial Design. She has ceramics and drawing classes next semester, based on how much she enjoys three hours of studio time each day that could solidify or change. She thought some of the majors suggested up thread by @AustenNut looked interesting but I don’t think she would commit until at a school and takes a few classes. Also looking much more into ASU as suggested by @tsbna44 . With the ACT score the ASU cost will likely slot in between the UC’s and CSU options, has a great honors college and numerous design options.
Definitely will have her look into Whitman as suggested by @Wjs1107. Utah State has a similar major called Human experience design and interaction that she liked the sound of. But the cultural fit at Utah State may not be as good a fit as University of Utah which is on the short list.
CSU’s : CSULB, SJSU, CPP, Chico
UC’s : Davis and maybe UCSC
WUE/Solid Merit: Univ of Utah, ASU, UNR
Not ruled out: Wyoming, Oregon State, Washington State, Utah State
Still loves the idea of a large and well supported makerspace. She’s just now getting around to finishing some of the applications. Her EC’s and essays will be okay to good making holistic merit awards tougher. But the ones like UNR presidential, Utah State Dean’s and ASU’s estimated scholarships great options now with the solid ACT score.
There is no perfect college, University of Utah sounds closest so far. Plan is to finish applications and then tour. She is touring CSULB and CPP early next month. Based on honors acceptances we will tour others during this coming spring.
Thanks for the update! It’s always nice to be able to follow along with the full college search process. It’d be great if you continue to provide updates as decisions come out and your D narrows in on a choice.
Remember to send scores to Utah (they are counted when assessing eligibility for scholarships, including WUE) and apply by Dec 1 to be eligible for merit.
Yeah, UC application was quite a bit of work, and it was mostly done last minute. But UC Davis might feel like her best fit in 5 months, so she went ahead and completed it. Their Design major seems so comprehensive, just doesn’t focus on Industrial or Product design as much as she would like (at least today.)
Scores have been sent to Utah for free when she took the test in October. She got the Utah application in time for WUE, I hope.
Utah state and Arizona State also completed. Working on Barretts and UNR honors over winter break.
Still no college that has her excited. Hearing the class of 24 ED decisions and stress associated with that is such a different process then here.
Heard back already with ASU acceptance and New American University President’s Scholarship. This brings tuition inline with the UC’s. Would still be great to have Barretts as an option, but even without it, it’s a great design program.
I still look around for a smaller school that has a design program that might be a good fit and meet budget. Unfortunately, no luck. I think she is done with the list and just has to finish off a few more RD applications and a bit of waiting. Will schedule tours for ASU and Utah sometime in March/April for a final decision.
S23 and I drove from SLC to Tempe (overnighting in Page, AZ) to combine the two admissions events last March. It’s a long way but incredibly beautiful at that time of year: we stopped in at Bryce Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and Grand Canyon.
“I still look around for a smaller school that has a design program that might be a good fit and meet budget.”
I’m not familiar with the ID program at the universities your D applied to, but I am an advocate of large universities for ID majors, esp if there is a large STEM program. Our D studied ID at our flagship and she was involved in a couple of research projects with the engineering students (one with mechanical engineering grad students). She sought out opportunities wherever she could. She has a very solid drawing foundation so her ability to listen to the ideas/concepts of engineering pitches and sketch out the ideas in drawings was value added for others STEM students.
Update -
UC Davis was a no, which was the first denial and a bit of a bummer since it was a campus she really liked.
ASU Honors application was stalled on something and D24 didn’t follow through so no answer there. They have a ‘late’ application period, so trying to get that in.
Still waiting on CPSLO (likely a no) and UCSC, but I don’t think they will crack the top 4. Removed Chico and SJSU from consideration and put CPP on the back burner. She really like the campus, especially being able to work and live with the horses without requiring an animal based major. But she is still planning to major in a Design major CPP does not have.
The March Madness final four has begun.
Univ of Utah Multi Disciplinary Design. Touring during admitted student day March 23rd and a tour of the architecture and design departument on the 22nd. Got Honors and WUE. Planning to send in LLC application and $$ even though we haven’t seen the campus.
ASU - Industrial Design. ID is her current first choice of design focus. Sun Devil Day March 25th. Waiting on Barretts decision unfortunately. This is also the most expensive option even with Presidential scholarship and a 4k Housing allowance the first year.
CSU LB - Industrial Engineering. Sending in honors application. Touring admitted students day on April 13th. This is the cheapest option, close to her grandparents and easiest travel.
OSU - Design, Innovation and Management. Got WUE, didn’t apply to honors as didn’t seem to be a large benefit over Deans option through business college. This merges her top two majors, design and marketing. Good business housing in Weatherford. Touring on April 15th.
So that’s the final four. Bummer we have to put down an enrollment and housing deposit at Utah, but that’s how it falls. Hoping something about one of the four campus or department tours will create a spark and make the decision easy.
Half the tours are complete. The U and ASU were toured and both had their plusses and minuses. Utah might have come out ahead, but not by much. It’s program was small and perfectly aligned with D24’s interests. But the food was horrible, D24 thought the campus was blah and we didn’t find any good surrounding neighborhoods. ASU was HUGE, the design program was huge, the dorms were a mile or more away from the classes but she liked the campus and food much better.
I was really hoping one of the two would stand out, but it wasn’t to be.
Anyone with kids at the U, is the dining hall food on Saturday worse than other days? I’m hoping that if she attended, it would only get better than what we ate while there.
Just over a week until we head to CSULB admitted student day and then tours at OSU. CSULB should be pretty straight forward. Look closer at housing and some of the options for later years. OSU is going to be a bit tougher. Looking closely at Design, Innovation and Management, I think it might be a bit light on the types of design she is interested in. We are also taking the engineering tour and will poke around the Mech E and Industrial Engineering options that include elements she is interested in. I believe both even have minors that could be interesting.
Were you able to get to Tucson - a much more manageable campus - and the Honors dorm is AWESOME - with a dining hall on the bottom (not sure of the food quality).
I am reading again early in the thread about rock climbing A neighbor’s son is a rock climber in college and his first post grad job after college is managing a facility in Birmingham, AL.
Where did he go to school? UT Chattanooga (so definitely rock climbing opportunities - after all, Rock City is there. They have business, engineering - and it will be less stressful (mid size school). Kids love it. And it’s inexpensive OOS.
I forget if you are looking outside the West but it likely hits budget (although you might need a test tho)
Honestly the dining hall food is pretty poor at the U. Even at graduation and parents weekend it was disappointing (for admitted students day last year they had food trucks which were much better).
D18 almost never ate in the dining hall (less than an handful of times in 4 years, despite having dining dollars include in her scholarship) although the meal transfers for food in the various cafes around campus were a lot better. At lunchtime they also have food trucks on the plaza in front of the library which are popular. She cooked for herself (that was the advantage of MHC with full kitchens) and went off campus regularly (another reason why having a car is helpful - Trader Joe’s is just down the hill). Food is cheap in SLC so she could get nice meals (eg Mod Pizza) for around $12. After freshman year there are nice neighborhoods to live in around downtown with modern apartments and an easy ride up to campus on Trax. The year D18 was off campus she lived in Block 44 almost opposite TJ’s with Trax outside the door.
Did you visit outdoor rec and see the pool, climbing wall etc? Those are areas where the U stands out, but I don’t think they included it on the short tours during admitted students day last year.
The search is over, so now we are in touring and decision phase. UofA did not make the cut, as a high (but not perfect) GPA with a very high (but not perfect) ACT doesn’t provide much merit there. Very strong preference to stay a short direct flight to northern CA.
Yes, we walked through the rec on our own, climbing wall and pool were all great. Even on a Saturday evening there were lots of students there. It’s a huge bummer about the food, especially because one of the draws for the U was the ability to live in Lassonde. Plenty of kitchen facilities there, but good food options right there would have been a huge plus. I’m sure she will find options if she attends, but it’s definitely not a selling point.
