Engineering hopeful from AR looking for OOS options [3.93 GPA, 33 ACT]

Chance Me / Match Me
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Female Arkansas public high school student (that does NOT want to stay in state); wants to attend a school with a diverse student population in or near a major city anywhere except for the South

Intended Major: Electrical and/or Computer Engineering

GPA 3.93UW/4.25W
33 ACT comp
Ranked in top 4% of class of 700

Coursework:
11 AP classes (Comp Sci Principles, Comp Sci A, Physics, World History, US History, Lang, Calculus AB and BC, Statistics, Psychology, Music Theory)
IB Spanish
DE college credits in Computer Programing/Game Development
HS Engineering coursework: Intro to Eng Design, Digital Electronics, Principles of Engineering

Awards
Mu Alpha Theta (math), TSA (Tech Student Assocation), NHS, AP Scholar with Distinction, Spanish National Honor Society, Seal of Biliteracy (Spanish), All State Jazz

Extracurriculars
VEX Robotics (4 years, Robotics VP, went to World Championships), Purdue summer engineering camp, Marching, Jazz and Concert band (4 years each), Missouri S&T summer engineering camp

Essays/LORs/Other
Has experienced major health issues requiring many hospital stays throughout high school (mentioned in essays and LOR’s)

Cost Constraints / Budget: No budget constraints (older sibling got a scholarship so have that money to use)

Schools - have applied to/applying to:
Safety: MSOE, Missouri S&T (already accepted to both)
Match: Santa Clara
Reach: Case Western, Purdue, USC, UCLA, UCSB, UCSD, UCB, U Washington, Carnegie Mellon, Cal Poly SLO, Princeton

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Define “diverse” and “South” for the purposes of these preferences.

MSoE and MUS&T are only moderately SES diverse (24% and 21% Pell grant respectively) and at the lower end of racial/ethnic diversity (69% and 80% from the largest racial/ethnic group).

For an admission safety, Arizona State University is more diverse by these measures (30% Pell, 45% from the largest racial/ethnic group) and is in a major metro area (Phoenix metro), but does Arizona count as “South” that is not preferred?

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Did you apply ED/EA? That will significantly increase your chances there.

I know you said no budget constraints, but sometimes out of state students don’t realize how expensive the UCs are - it will likely cost in the $70K/year range. That’s a lot for a public university - I personally think if you’re going to pay that kind of money, you will get more bang for your buck at a private. But that is just my opinion - and maybe a bit of a reality check about the out of state costs.

That’s awesome - congrats! If you are happy with either or both of these schools, then you are in a truly enviable position. Any other acceptances will be icing on the cake.

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Agreed you need new safeties. The UCs and UW won’t see your 33.

I think Purdue can happen but it doesn’t meet your near city hope.

You might add U of A - very diverse - that’s Arizona, Pitt, and Col School of Mines for smaller - not overly diverse but somewhat.

Good luck.

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The “South” she wants to avoid is mostly Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas. We are Jewish and she wants to attend a college with an active Hillel. She is definitely liberal minded and wants to avoid very conservative areas.

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One of her older siblings went to a UC, so we are aware of the OOS cost - but also aware of the incredible opportunities attending UCB afforded him, including an amazing job offer right out of college and the opportunity to meet and interact with incredibly smart classmates and professors
.

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Was also going to suggest Pitt as a target. Stones throw from Carnegie Mellon and affords a lot of the same social/community vibe. If you are happy with the safeties, no need to add but would also recommend U of Delaware, strong Jewish community and engineering.

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Take a look at UMD - very strong engineering program with top class facilities, supportive community, and the administration has been unambiguous in their condemnation of antisemitism. About 20% of the undergraduate population is Jewish.

Stevens Institute of Technology is another school worth considering. Strong engineering program, and about 10% of undergraduates are Jewish.

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I mean and you don’t want South - but my Jewish (not that it matters) kid graduated MechE from Alabama last year and had 5 offers by Xmas and interned and lived with kids from Ga Tech.

Not suggesting a school you aren’t interested in but I’m pointing out the statement you just made about Berkeley will be at many many many schools. They don’t have a monopoly on interacting with smart kids and professors and finding jobs.

btw - you’d be amazed - schools like Alabama (an anomaly in the South) because of their OOS rate of nearly 60% - Bloom Hillel and 1000 Jewish kids. Kansas is another one - surprisingly big Jewish population. Michigan State might be another safety.

But I’d recommend Arizona, also big Jewish life, great engineering program and I think you are too late for UMD if you haven’t applied. Purdue - not a strong Jewish vibe at all - much stronger at Alabama. Great school though. My son chose Bama over Purdue - but not for religious reasons but housing (he got his own room and shared a bathroom with one other kid - that’s how the Honors dorm is set up).

There’s other schools that meet your needs - CU Boulder may be another - especially if Jewish life is a factor. U Denver too for smaller. Mines not so much Jewish life - but they share with CU Boulder (which is a good trek away).

Good luck.

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UW Madison as a reach? Strong engineering, great small city, active Hillel from what I can tell. Son is a jr engineering major

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I agree that some of the schools (while great schools) aren’t the best fit for the goals of diversity, city, etc.

Pitt and Delaware are logical choices – my engineering kid got good merit offers at both. How about U Cincinnati? Drexel? I bet she’d get good merit at Syracuse (big Hillel) and U of Louisville.

All of those (except Delaware) also have huge hospital presence nearby (that was a factor for my kid).

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Hey, I love UCB. I did my PhD there and my daughter is now a freshman there, so no shade on the UC system…But…I am also under no illusion that this is something uniquely possible at UCB or any other UC. There are great schools. They are a great value for in state students. They are great schools for out of state students, but I personally do not see them as a good value and, honestly, MANY students graduating from MANY other universities will come out with great connections and job offers and will experience just as smart and hardworking classmates. The UCs definitely do not have a monopoly on any other that. And for the same money, a private will often give you smaller classes, more access to professors, easier scheduling of classes, more personalized advising, etc.

But, hey, if you can afford it and that’s the dream, then go for it. I only wish you luck :slight_smile:

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As targets you can add oregon st and ohio st as affordable options compared to UCs.

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Some schools with larger Jewish populations that your daughter may want to consider include:

  • Rutgers - New Brunswick: 18% Jewish, per Hillel (6400 Jewish students) and quite close to NYC. 28% receive Pell grants and the largest racial group is at 32%.

  • SUNY Binghamton: 26% Jewish, per Hillel (3700 Jewish students), but definitely not a city. 27% receive Pell grants and the largest racial group is at 55%.

  • Washington U. (MO): If you really meant U. of Washington in Seattle, I’d consider Wash U. 24% Jewish (1850 students) and a definite city. 16% receive Pell grants and the largest racial group is at 44%.

  • Boston U. (MA): 23% Jewish (4k students); 18% receive Pell grants and the largest racial group is at 33%.

  • Lehigh (PA ): 17% Jewish (950 students); 18% receive Pell grants and the largest racial group is at 60%

  • Tufts (MA): 15% Jewish (1k students); 12% receive Pell grants and the largest racial group is at 44%

  • SUNY New Paltz: 15% Jewish (900 students); 34% receive Pell grants and the largest racial group is at 59%

  • U. of Michigan: 15% Jewish (5k undergrads); 28% receive Pell grants and the largest racial group is at 32%

This list from Forward has Wash U., BU, Tufts, Michigan, and Rutgers as among the top 18 schools for Jewish life.

U. of Maryland would make a great option, but about 95% of seats are taken in EA. She could shoot her shot for it, though. Seconding UDel and Syracuse, and U. of Minnesota - Twin Cities would be worth a look, too. I do think that being from Arkansas will be a hook as many of these schools like geographical diversity, and there aren’t tons of strong Arkansas students who are leaving the state.

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