Help My Daughter Edit her College List! (LAC and Polytech - no ivies on this list!) [KS resident, 3.8 GPA, <$25k, biology, biotechnology, or biomedical engineering]

College Search & Lists
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My daughter is doing an early college list – can we get some feedback!

Current info: 3.8 GPA Unweighted/ 4.5 weighted at public high school in Kansas, Multiple honors classes (>12), CC classes or APs (2-4)

In special High School STEM program - will have lab workplace certifications and 2 years of Research with Professor (and independent project) prior to graduation. (Not a ‘pay to research program’ - part of Academic Program)

EC: Selected for competitive volunteer program – over >100 hours year for all 4 years of high school, some leadership elements, increasing responsibility over time. Other volunteering: Volunteer STEM teacher for middle schoolers, part-time job

Major: Biology/Biotechnology (small possibility of Biomedical Engineering -but most of this list will still work)

Looking for: High quality school with SMALL class sizes ideally with lots of hands on and experiential learning, interactions with Professors, collaborative and friendly students -teamwork a plus. Not a big drinking school but lots of clubs/activities/things to do. Mid to small size school.

Location: Coastal or Great Lakes --something on the water (No Midwest or Rocky Mountains), Schools in states where abortion is legal (so blue to purple states) ; Suburban or Urban - NOT rural

Finances – it needs to be a school that meets financial need. We are middle class so we won’t get tons of aid, but we can’t afford $60K in tuition either. (No luck with that money tree unfortunately.) Ideally should be same price (or less than University of Kansas (25K for housing and tuition). Many of these schools have MUCH higher sticker prices -but have nearly 90-100% financial need met which puts the price at very similar level. For the polytechs (RPI, WPI, RPI) will need to get some good levels of aid. I don’t know if any of them give additional financial support to female students anymore.)

List so far:

Safety

University of Kansas - probably the only REAL safety - I imagine JCCC transfers here!

Rochester Institute of Technology (strong ASL program)

Worcester Polytech Institute (WPI) – I doubt this is really a safety but a very solid target (they need more female attendees)

Target

Rensselar Poytech Institute (RPI)

Mount Holyoke College

Lehigh University

University of Rochester (strong ASL program)

Brandeis University

Bucknell University

Reaches

Scripps College

Smith College

Vassar College

Bates College

Boston University (?) -may be too large

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What year in HS is she? Will she take the ACT and/or the SAT?

You could run a few net price calculators to see estimates…but they are not current set up for future years. You would need $50,000 in aid or more at some of these colleges to get to a net cost of $25,000.

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If you are counting Minnesota as Great Lakes (and I imagine that if Lake Superior could vote, it would vote that you should!) you might consider both Carleton and St. Olaf. Carleton and St. Olaf are both located in the cute town of Northfield, home of the lovely Cannon River that winds through town. Both have excellent biology departments, and have launched multiple grads to terrific careers in biology and biotech. Both have small classes and a rigorous but nurturing and collaborative vibe. Students can cross enroll at the 2 schools, effectively doubling the size of the department. Carleton is a reach and meets need. St. Olaf is a match and gives merit. Both have an ASL club.

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She’s a sophomore -taking the ACT this summer and repeating if needed. Some of these are test optional or test blind.
I have run calculators on all of these – and EXCEPT for the polytechs – they are in the 25K range. (We are middle class NOW with little to no assets as we used to be poor. This combo makes it nearly impossible to have a good FAFSA number --but it works well for the CSS.)

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Thanks!! Forgot to mention she is taking ASL -but I see you picked up on that from the list notes. She is looking to do interpreter certification at college.

I’ll add both to the list. Thanks!

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I would suggest you look for some places where she would qualify for merit aid. A full tuition merit award would get you to the price point you want. But really…need an 11th grade GPA, and in some cases a standardized test score to qualify.

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Agreed - this is very much a preliminary list. Next year she has Research which counts for 3 courses -so that should help her GPA. The other classes are Pre-Calc (Honors) ASL (College) and a required history class.

She would probably get merit aid at our state schools but she is desperate to leave the area. I promise she does not hate me - -she’s just an explorer and this state is boring and flat. :slight_smile: She wants to live by the water --or at least close to it.
I’m not sure how else to figure out where she would get merit aid though.

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@AustenNut any ideas?

@ali-ice your daughter might have to compromise something to get to your price point.

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I promise, that schools in each category meet that price point per calculators --some better than others (Mount Holyoke is LESS than that price point per tuition calculators)

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I’ll continue to think more about your daughter’s list, but here are a few ideas:

Emmanuel (MA): About 1900 undergrads and/or Wentworth Institute of Technology (about 3700 undergrads, only if she’s sure she wants to do engineering). They are both part of the Colleges of the Fenway consortium where students from (very) nearby colleges are allowed to cross-register, participate in clubs, and have athletics together. Wentworth is ABET-accredited in many areas including biological and biomedical engineering.

Endicott (MA): About 3100 undergrads.

SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry: About 1700 undergrads and students are able to cross-register for classes at Syracuse, which is adjacent to campus. There are a variety of bio-type majors (wildlife, aquatic, conservation, etc), but I’ll highlight two here:

Of course, SUNY ESF is the smaller (less expensive) neighbor, but Syracuse might also be worth considering. I think @ColdWombat has a kid in engineering there right now and might be able to share more about the class sizes and such.

Tufts (MA): About 6800 undergrads and would be worth running the NPC on

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It’s very competitive to get in depending on the major selected, but based on location, class sizes and teaching style, Cal Poly is worth a look.

It is a larger school with around 20k students, so they have the amenities associated with larger programs. Their class sizes are small though, and the labs and discussions are taught by the professors that give the lectures. Calculus for example is capped at 32 students. Their motto is Learn by Doing. All majors get lots of hands on experience. It’s in an idyllic central coastal location.

Our son is an engineering alum (BS/MS ME ‘19). He was looking for similar schools. He was accepted to both WPI and RPI (Rensselaer Medalist).

So, certainly worth a look.

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I’ve heard great things about it, but I don’t think it has a prayer of getting anywhere near $25k.

That said, these are some other schools that are ABET-accredited for biological/biomedical engineering that I think might be able to hit your price, with either a big scholarship and/or need-based aid.

  • Duquesne (PA )

  • Fairfield (CT)

  • Gannon (PA )

  • U. of Hartford (CT)

  • Illinois Institute of Technology

  • U. of Maine

  • Marquette (WI)

  • Messiah (PA )

  • Michigan Tech

  • New Jersey Institute of Technology

  • North Carolina A&T: HBCU

  • Northern Illinois

  • U. of the Pacific (CA)

  • Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ)

  • Union (NY)

  • Western New England (MA)

  • Widener (PA )

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Yes, I think ESF and Syracuse are both options to explore. Syracuse is expensive, but they give out really nice aid packages to some people. They like to see a lot of demonstrated interest. I can confirm that the class sizes are pretty small, and the engineering program is small, given the larger size of the school. That was a big selling point for my kid and he is loving that feature.

I think Illinois Inst of Tech is another great suggestion. She could also consider Milwaukee School of Engineering. These are more tech-focused schools, but she might see some good aid at them. They’re near the lake, and reproductive care is easy to access.

I’m glad to see RIT and WPI on the list as well – the price point might be hard to reach, especially with WPI, but you never know!

Also consider that many biomedical engineers have degrees in something other than BME. In fact, a lot of folks advise a major in something like MechE or Electrical E rather than BME since the job opportunities are much more plentiful. You can always work as a BME with those more general degrees, so you don’t need to be limited to schools with BME majors. I’d suggest that you look at schools with ABET-accredited majors, since that’s an engineering “must-have”. It’s usually easier to transfer out of engineering than into engineering. So if engineering is a possibility, many would advise to apply only to ABET-accredited engineering programs.

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There are a lot of schools on this list that are not near water…maybe a river. Is that criteria negotiable

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Hope College in Holland, Michigan, perhaps? Here is a link to its profile from Colleges That Change LIves: Hope College – Colleges That Change Lives

Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan might be worth a look, also. Here is a link to merit scholarship awards there: Merit-Based Scholarships – Admission | Kalamazoo College

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You are so right! I misread $50k up thread. Dooh!

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St. Olaf meets need, too

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Since the RPI Rensselaer Medalist thing got mentioned - I’ll tell you that if she might apply there you have to apply JUNIOR YEAR for the medal and scholarship. And your guidance counselor has to do something. So if she’s interested, be thinking about it in like January of Junior year so there’s time to get the counselor stuff done and get the paperwork in. It’s a great scholarship of that’s the right school for her.

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NICE -thanks!

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I think Tufts is way too competitive. The tuition calculator shows good numbers -but I’m trying to avoid schools with <10% acceptance rate. It just seems like a setup for failure

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