Yeah …I hear you. Last year, my son received $8k from GT as aid so I guess that’s why I’m hoping. She also applied to some scholarships she was invited to - but we have low expectations.
Without any aid, I don’t think GT will beat Purdue or UVA - making the decision easier, I guess
1 Like
This makes me feel hopeful for my son. Where were these companies located ?
He applied for specific jobs as he was looking for rotationals in manufacturing. His first internship was related and decided it’s what he wanted to pursue. Had had 5 offers plus a 6th he told he was already done. That was his internship and would not have been a rotation . A lot seemed in the Midwest.
His offers - one was Midwest - Iowa /Missouri - big grain company. They were the same day and raised the offer.
One was outside of Providence - big aero - same day offer.
One was a conglomerate - all over but I suspect mostly Carolinas.
The best paying was a chemical company but in 3 rural areas over 3 years - Georgia, Arkansas, Illinois.
The one he took is an aero based in other Midwest all over. So far he’s been in Utah and now Arizona. He wants to stay out west and they have Seattle and Irvine but also Dallas, south Florida, Long Island, Cleveland, and more.
I think you can end up anywhere you want to geographically based on the companies you target.
He targeted specific programs more than anything.
He’s a nature guy so loves being west even tho he went to school in the south.
Another poster from his school took a job in CA over a job in KC.
You can get anywhere from anywhere - especially with the proliferation of internet hiring.
1 Like
Yes. It’s the CSS Profile.
When you write about the full tuition scholarship she was denied…
She received a letter thanking her for applying, but that she was no longer under consideration for that particular scholarship?
Note that any other merit she is still under consideration for would arrive separately from the National Buckeye and Maximus. This is a frustrating part of Ohio State merit aid. The many funding opportunities run in parallel, so getting a good picture of how everything stacks up together doesn’t occur until very late. We never had a good understanding until April.
2 Likes
Indeed - she received a letter saying she is no longer considered for that scholarship.
We are not planning to commit till we see all prices - and with FAFSA mess, not sure when this will happen … but we cannot commit blindly
I would talk to UVA’s financial aid office to make sure that you understand both your daughter’s FA but also any impact on your son’s FA. You need to understand what happens in the 3 year overlap period and what would happen in year 4 in the case that she goes to UVA. Don’t assume that everything stays the same.
4 Likes
Yes - I thought about this.
I called them and they told me they are waiting for FAFSA to send out financial aid for the accepted kids. They also told me that my son’s financial aid should remain de same as last year if there are no major changes in our income.
We are not going to pick a school without receiving the official letter with the price. I’ve read about people who already committed. Not sure how this works, I guess price doesn’t matter .
First, congratulations to your daughter and your son. What great options your daughter has earned through her hard work!
Following up on ColdWombat’s comment - and I understand that it is not exactly the question that you ask - considering a broader engineering discipline may be beneficial. I was a nuclear engineering student. The education was great and it opened many options for me, however, very few in what one would identify at first glance as nuclear engineering. That degree program is often housed within broader disciplines (e.g., within a ChemE or MechE program) at some schools, but was standalone at my school. When applying for positions, the nuke degree pigeonholed me to my detriment at many employers. Rather, had I been a ChemE, MechE, or ElectricalE, I would have retained many, many opportunities within the core nuclear channel, but would have had ready access to many additional opportunities.
Further, if one decides to do ChemE or MechE, they can always take a few BioE electives to make them more appealable to companies seeking BioEs.
Regardless, well done to your daughter.
2 Likes
When will you hear about any possible funding from GT? As a CSS profile school (yes that’s the term) they may consider 2 in college, even thought FAFSA no longer does. A friend’s daughter (instate, though) just graduated with a BME from GT. She loved it. So hopefully some $ will come through that makes it an affordable option. Good luck!
1 Like
@momofboiler1 - What is happening at Purdue if the kid doesn’t make the GPA requirement for a specific engineering major ? Do they have the choice to list few majors or they will just be randomly assigned to the majors that are not filled in ?
I already spoke with my D and she said she will decide after first year in engineering. She seems more flexible than my son who wanted aerospace and nobody could make him go to a broader major such mechanical engineering.
Her concern is she likes more Biology than Chemistry and is afraid if she will pick Chemical Engineering will completely loose the biology aspect of the degree …
Anyway - that’s for later to decide - meantime she received $16k merit from Ohio. But Ohio is overall more expensive and not so prestigious as Purdue. So the short list remain: UVA, GT and Ohio.
No merit and no aid from Rutgers and only $8k merit from NJIT - all being in state schools - disappointing.
1 Like
If you don’t make the GPA cut off you can choose an alternate major with a lower cut off, or you can stay in FYE an additional semester to bring up the GPA. They absolutely do not randomly assign majors!
2 Likes
Given her preference for bio, it might give her the best range of options to choose Purdue, where both biomedical and biological engineering are on the menu. BioE has some really interesting-sounding focus areas! Plus, Honors College has good perks, and the merit discount off of Purdue’s already-reasonable price is terrific too.
I understand the reputational appeal of GT, but Purdue has a pretty shiny reputation too, and I think Honors at Purdue vs. non-honors at GT probably cancels out any incremental difference in prestige. And UVA, while obviously a fantastic school generally, doesn’t have quite the engineering horsepower of the other two.
How is she feeling after the GT visit?
5 Likes
Did she ever receive any merit at Ohio State?
I wanted to point out that Biological Engineering at Ohio State is in the FABE (Food, Agriculture, Biological and Ecological) Department. It is a direct admit engineering major she could switch into if she wanted (would never have to do the process of applying to major) and it’s a well funded department.
4 Likes
Hi everybody,
Happy Easter for those who celebrated Easter last weekend.
We visited GT last week and nobody was impressed.
I think my D prefers a college town vs an urban town. She didn’t like the school vibe, majority of activities are in campus and the campus is small comparing to Purdue or UVA or VT.
She didn’t hate it and agreed prices will decide - which made me hope Purdue, with the $16k merit, will take the lead. Also last week we received the financial offer from GT - it is okish - she received $8k aid and $3,500 work study.
Then - last Thursday - Out of the Blue - she got accepted, in regular admission, to UPenn and Cornell … both of them sent the financial package with the acceptance and the offer is AMAIZING. The difference between the two, price wise, is just $100, and both of them are cheaper than Rutgers, our in-state university. We are so overwhelmed, it is like a dream …
Nobody, absolutely nobody counted on these acceptances and of course on these prices -
What is going on ? Believe me - yes, she is a good student, she graduates 4th in her class out of 500 students, she has a good SAT, she has meaningful EC - but she didn’t apply to ED because we wee scared about the prices, we are not rich by any means, we have no legacy, we have no connections, we are nobody, absolutely nobody. If my D was able to score two Ivy’s being nobody, then there is a chance for anybody, absolutely anybody.
I say this because this is a change in my thinking - My S didn’t apply last year to any Ivy, as we thought is a waste of time and money, and now I think it was a mistake.
For anybody with coming seniors - do not get intimidated by the reputation or prices - if your kid has the credentials for an Ivy, just apply and forget about it - you never know.
Now - about our plans - there is no reason for her to reject one of these two offers:
- both are driving distance
- both gave us the same price
- both have a high reputation
We enrolled to the admitted students events for both of them - however I see my D is leaning towards Cornell. And Cornell has also Biological Engineering (whatever that means).
I cannot believe we are now comparing and being picky between two Ivy’s 
- looks like UPenn campus is urban and also not quite safe, housing a bit old and people say on social media that Wharton School is kept in high regard while all the other schools are kind of tolerated …again, this is what I read online on several sites, not sure if this is true.
At this moment - the final choice will be between the two so any opinions about the two will be highly appreciated.
12 Likes
She did receive some merit scholarship at Ohio - I think it was similar to Purdue one ($16k) but overall Ohio is more expensive than Purdue
Congrats! I’m glad to hear your D is going to accepted student days. Penn and Cornell are very very different and the vibe is not the same as the other schools that were on your D’s list.
Good luck to her with the decision and have fun!
4 Likes
They’re both highly thought of so don’t worry about reputation and costs are taken care of so now all that remains is figuring out the best fit!
Cornell : a college town+gorgeous outdoors, large beautiful campus bur beware: lack of sunlight/gray&cold weather.
Penn: beautiful urban campus (it IS safe), driven/preprofessional students.
High academic expectations at both.
Enjoy the visits, knowing there is no wrong choice.
1 Like
Both Penn and Cornell have had some unflattering publicity over the last few months. I don’t know whether that would factor in to your daughter’s decision.
1 Like