EGN/SCI (questions about tech schools, USAFA, other things)

College Search & Lists
1

<p>Long post . . .
Sorry if I’m asking way too much from this forum, but I’m trying to gather as much information as possible (and I’m having a difficult time finding straight answers via Google). Basically, I want to know what my best options for everything about college-searching so that I can be pointed in the right direction and sort things out as soon as I can.</p>

<p>Self:
I am a female in Florida going into eleventh grade. Personality tests consistently type me as INTJ, but career aptitude tests put me all over the map. Science and math are the only subjects in school I enjoy (other than computer programming but I don’t think I would want to go to college for that), making engineering and science majors the ones that appeal to me. While I am mostly considering a more versatile EGN degree like MechE or ChemE, I may also want to go for something like Physics but I’m afraid that employers would prefer someone with a background in practical applications rather than theoretical ideas (if this is not true please say so). Is it a good idea to double major in a type of engineering and a type of science? (I would probably like to go beyond a 4-year degree but I suppose I have more time to think about that.)</p>

<p>Academics:

  • Unweighted GPA - 3.72
  • Weighted GPA - 4.2
  • Completed advanced courses - Alg 1 hon; Geom hon; Alg 2 hon; AnalyGeom/Trig; Earth/Space Sci hon; Bio 1 hon; English 2 hon; AP World History (3)
  • Advanced courses for upcoming year - Chem hon, AP Lang/Comp, AP Calc, AP Stats
  • Foreign language - Currently taking Spanish 1 through virtual school.</p>

<p>Extracurricular (very lacking):

  • UCF computer programming competition club.
    I’m planning to join a sport this year. I have only seven volunteer hours.</p>

<p>Schools being considered:

  • University of Florida
  • U.S. Air Force Academy
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Rutgers University
  • Syracuse University
    The list is short because I just started my search this week and the last three are some of the many schools I have gotten letters from saying they could be interested, which I’ve researched. UF is my safety net as I have a prepaid Florida college plan. My parents are urging me toward USAFA (part of the reason I’m looking for a sport) because everything would be taken care of and they’re convinced that I will “fit in,” and even though it sounds nice I’m still unsure about it. If anyone can tell me the differences between serving as an officer and just studying at a college, please do. Also, I’d like to know if anything on the list is something you wouldn’t recommend, or if you have any other recommendations, or even if I have a chance at places like MIT.</p>

<p>Advice and links to ANY resources will be great, including info about majors and double majors, finance and scholarships and grants, school comparisons, general stuff I should know, anything. Thanks.</p>

2

<p>YOu might want to reconsider computer science - you like it and it’s your EC. There are many good options from there. </p>

<p>It would be really difficult to double major in Engineering and anything else, as engineering is a pretty full curriculum.</p>

<p>It sounds like money is an issue - can your parents pay the EFC or would you need to take additional loans? </p>

<p>Do you want small, large, rural, urban…?</p>

<p>Other schools I would consider - Case Western, Rose Hulman, the other service academies (not just USAFA). There is a service academy forum on this site - check it out.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>USAFA is a great fit if you have a career goal to be an officer in the US Air Force; the same goes for the other military service academies with respect to their branches of military service. If that is your career goal, then look into ROTC scholarships at your other schools as well.</p>

<p>If being a military officer is not your goal, then the academies and ROTC would not be good choices.</p>

<p>Ask your parents what the limit of the amount they can contribute is. Then run the net price calculators on each school’s web site to get an idea of where their need-based aid will come out. If your parents are unable or unwilling to contribute the expected family contribution, then you need to look at low cost schools (including in-state publics and the military service academies if appropriate) and large merit scholarships (including ROTC if appropriate).</p>