Engineering School Fit [NY resident, 3.8 GPA, 1500 SAT, 33 ACT, <$50k]

nycasdmom
Mon, 04 May 2026 21:53:36 +0000

My son just went through the process. Pitt was the #1 for a very long time. It was his first application and acceptance (applied on 9/19 and accepted on 10/2). U Del was also in the mix. Ironically, several private schools came in with better offers. Ultimately, he chose Stevens Institute of Technology. They have a great co-op program (as does Pitt). U Del is excellent for chem e, but doesn’t have a defined co-op program.

At Pitt, all engineers go through the same first-year curriculum, exploring all types of engineering, and then declare a major. RIT has a fantastic co-op program, but given that we are from NYC, he felt the campus itself was too rural.

Stevens had the best of all worlds for him - close to NYC (ultimately, he wants to work here), co-op program, excellent program and a campus, but small enough for him to navigate socially.

You’re definitely on the right track, but add private schools to your list. With larger endowments, aid is often better, making “higher COA” schools more affordable than publics. If I had to choose for myself, I would’ve picked Pitt, and my husband would’ve picked Delaware! You’ve got a great list. Best of luck to you!

Edited to add U Buffalo also. They gave us an excellent package. Ultimately, it just wasn’t the right fit for my kid (who is also autistic).