https://eadvise.calpoly.edu/majors/changing-majors-within-ceng/ lists CPSLO’s criteria for changing major within engineering. Looks like computer science and software engineering would not be available to change into if you entered in industrial engineering.
https://csmadvising.calpoly.edu/mathematics-change-major describes the procedure for changing to math at CPSLO.
WPI and CPSLO offer formalized co-ops:
https://www.wpi.edu/student-experience/career-development/co-ops
https://ime.calpoly.edu/current-students/co-ops/
Thanks for the info @ucbalumnus, that’s about what I expected, I know CS is insanely competitive to get into at SLO. I thought it was basically impossible not literally impossible though, so that’s good to know.
To be clear, I’m not trying to sneak into cal poly CS by applying into IE first or anything. Right now, IE is what I want to do. But I’m 18 years old so that could very well change lol. High schools don’t exactly offer IE classes so I haven’t gotten to try it out. Not sure if the possibility I’ll want to do CS is worth ruling out SLO though. I’d still have the option of a minor open.
Edit: Thanks for the links to the co-op information!
I’m curious as to why Northeastern seems to have dropped so low on your list. Their coop program is extremely attractive–particularly to engineers, I would think–and Boston is without doubt one of the very best cities in which to be a student. Worcester, alas, is not, although there are several fine schools there.
@Consolation I like Northeastern a lot, but unless my scholarship gets increased it would be an another 10k/year more than WPI, and I think the culture fit of WPI is better for me. But Boston is a very cool place to live, really the main reason for me to pick NEU over WPI is the city. If I get a NHRP scholarship to bring the costs closer then maybe it’ll move up the list
I would have to check but I think my current northeastern scholarship is contingent on remaining in engineering. Also not sure what the GPA minimum is. So losing the scholarship is somewhat of a concern.
I don’t have a whole lot of advice to offer, but just out of genuine curiosity is there a reason you didn’t apply to any UC schools? Considering you got deferred from MIT I figure you would have a good shot at them, and you’re in state. Is it just an issue of fit?
@Laerai Only Berkeley offers IE and I liked SLO more than cal poly, plus the UCs require 4 more essays
@Laerai oops just noticed I messed that up, *I liked SLO more than Berkeley
I believe If you get NHRP you will get the 30k merit at Northeastern. They only reduce that amount if your FA offer (if u qualify for FA) is higher. They don’t stack. Assuming 0 FA, then you should get the 30k.
Are the cuttoffs out for NHRP? If so, and you exceeded them, then I’m pretty confident you will get that scholarship.
@suzyQ7 When I asked an AO they said that for NHRP it’s between 15k and 30k a year. Hopefully I’ll get the 30k, which I think I have a decent shot at but I’m not really sure.
NHRP is finalized pretty early unlike NMF, basically if you’re nominated all you do is have your GC fill out something, submit it, and then I think you’re automatically awarded it if there are no issues there. I was mailed a certificate awhile ago. I think I should have made commended for the normal national merit thing but I don’t think that means anything? Never got notified but I saw the cutoff for commended somewhere and scored above it.
@DogsAndMath23
Does the ROI reflect the individual’s FA package? How is it calculated? :bz
@retiredfarmer This is what I’m referencing:
https://www.payscale.com/college-roi?page=130
There are options to sort by full pay vs with average FA (or average price that you actually pay? Not sure)
OP you are well-spoken and thoughtful in your consideration of the pertinent issues, imho.
I think an extra $10K per year is worth it, for a school that is a particularly good fit and where you or your parents are not taking on extra debt. We would do that for our son, without hesitation.
It is probably a wise move to make the trek to WPI for an accepted students event, should WPI be in the top 1-2 choices!
Nothing to add to the suggestions but I did want to mention @DogsAndMath23 that it’s really nice to see a prospective engineering student who thinks like an engineer. You’re a natural.
Remember that college ROI is heavily influenced by the mix of majors that a college offers and students choose. Many of the high ranking colleges in that list have a large percentage of engineering majors.
If money is not an option, then tour the schools and talk to students. If it’s an engineering-focused school then you’ll find a lot of like-minded people there and have an easier time making friends. ASU is more of a big party school culture. Friends are made at parties, so if you hate parties, you might have a harder time making friends at a school like that. Personally, being an introvert myself, I would want to find a school with an intellectual vibe.
Agree with the prevailing opinion. The idea is to pick an affordable college that is a good fit. That does not mean picking the cheapest option. If your family can comfortably afford WPI and you feel confident it is the right fit (I would absolutely try to visit beforehand) then go for it.
As an aside, be sure to thank your parents for giving you the freedom/ability to choose.
^^^and do the same for your kids 
Im just gonna throw my two sense in and say the extra money is worth it for schools like Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, MIT. But to pay more for others will not probably be a great ROI. However, a $10K differential is not huge. My S had a full tuition ride to Tulane v. full pay to Stanford. So that was $12k v. $60K per year. For that kind of difference I would say you really need to think about it. But $10k/yr isn’t such a big deal, especially if you parents don’t mind. So I would say don’t worry to much and just really visit the schools you get into and think about where you can be your best version of yourself.
Good luck… This is a great time of your life.
@SouthFloridaMom9 @Otterma You guys are so nice! Thanks!
@ucbalumnus I’m aware, which is why I’ve looked at the pay by individual major, although that still fails to account for COL and quality of students admitted
@coolguy40 yeah I feel like I would be an outsider at ASU, although I’m sure there have to be other nerdy students there they might be harder to find. I looked at Barrett (honors college) but it seems like a lot of the extra workload is in the form of reading/writing, and being your typical STEM major I’d rather not give myself a ton of extra writing assignments. Might apply anyway.
@happy1 @rickle1 For sure! I know I’m very lucky to have a choice.
Thanks @Dungareedoll , even though it would be a good problem to have I don’t know how I’d decide if I got a full tuition scholarship from one of my schools (besides Arizona) and got into MIT. “Fortunately” I don’t think I’ll need to make that decision 
I guess even though I said 10k a year, ASU vs WPI is 20k/year. ASU vs cal poly/pitt and cal poly/pitt vs WPI are the 10k/year differences