<p>I’m a HS senior from Ohio looking to major in civil engineering. As far as top-choice schools go, I’ve looked at Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Purdue, and Illinois, but I’m struggling to find Plan B schools that are somewhat close, give good merit aid, and have a solid engineering program. </p>
<p>Stats, in case they help:
ACT: 36
GPA: 4.0 UW, 4.62 W
ECs: lots, including volleyball, academic team, Youth in Government, NHS, etc.
Had a job at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base over the summer.</p>
<p>Look at the smaller <a href=“http://www.theaitu.org%5B/url%5D”>http://www.theaitu.org</a> schools. They all have accredited engineering programs and some give good merit aid or have special scholarship programs available. In addition, look into your state schools, if they have ABET accredited programs, they will give you an excellent engineering degree.</p>
<p>The ones my family visited and liked were Case Western, Carnegie Mellon, - not sure how generous CMU is with merit aid, but Case is pretty good. We also looked at Bucknell and Lafayette, neither of which are great with merit aid. Lafayette has these $20K awards but they don’t give out too many.
I suppose Clarkson would not qualify as close enough? They can be generous…
Even with merit aid, your state university will probably end up being a better deal though.</p>
<p>I’d say that your best bet is to apply to your best state university for your degree. You’re pretty much guaranteed entry with your credentials.</p>
<p>Are you looking for Plan B because of finances or because you don’t think you’ll get admitted?</p>
<p>I suspect you’ll get in to at least one of the schools you are looking at (and probably all of them). If it’s finances, consider U Alabama (not close, but nice merit aid), Clarkson (known for good aid, good engineering and maybe close enough) and Pittsburgh (not guaranteed, but likely good merit aid from them plus closer than the other two I suggested).</p>
<p>^ Alabama is beyond “nice merit aid”. OP would get full tuition scholarship to their honors college, plus additional $2500 for engineering, guaranteed. Total COA, including super suite housing (perhaps the best dorms in the country), and unlimited meal plan, would be $10K.</p>
<p>My son there would love another volleyball playing engineer.</p>
<p>^ Even with Alabama’s free tuition et al, my guy got better offers at two other schools. Many schools want the top stat kids. Alabama just guarantees their offers - making them a nice safety (not “a” safety, but a “nice” safety). The OP should apply to a few they like and consider all offers before making a final decision IMO.</p>
<p>Stats, in case they help:
ACT: 36
GPA: 4.0 UW, 4.62 W</p>
<p>What was your PSAT? Are you a likely NMSF? </p>
<p>What is your situation? are you concerned that you won’t get the merit aid that your family needs? Do you have an unaffordable EFC?</p>
<p>GT does give merit, but it’s very competitive…even for those with perfect or near-perfect scores. I was surprised when a FEMALE with an ACT 35, Val of her class, got NOTHING from GT this last application cycle. Crazy competitive awards…and you’d think they would have wanted more females!</p>
<p>Purdue does give merit for OOS students, but I think their top univ award is $10k per year…not much. But, maybe their eng’g dept has some competitive awards that might be given? Don’t know.</p>
<p>UIUC’s merit is a total crapshoot. The school isn’t known for merit awards, but may have some competitive awards. </p>
<p>Creekland…were your son’s better awards ALL merit…or were some of the awards need-based?</p>
<p>It depends on the school. Where he’s going now it’s both.</p>
<p>But I see many more kids than just my guys working in our high school. High stat kids are wanted at many schools and what they get can be unpredictable from near nothing to complete full rides. It’s worth it to apply and see, then choose. The OP has picked very good Civil Engineering schools and should apply to see what happens. The others I mention are also good, but are more likely to offer aid if his first choices don’t come through. If he’s in a need-based aid situation, then other schools can also come into play, but that hasn’t been mentioned.</p>
<pre><code>The Eminence Scholarship is Ohio State’s premier merit award, offered to just 25 stellar new first-year students admitted to the Columbus campus for autumn semester.
Award amount
</code></pre>
<p> Full cost of attendance at Ohio State for four years, plus a $3,000 enrichment stipend accessible after the first year of successful study. Note: Due to the award’s value, the Eminence Scholarship replaces all other university merit awards a student may have been offered.</p>
<pre><code>Criteria
Recipients of the Eminence Scholarship typically rank in the top three percent of their graduating classes and have an ACT composite score of 34 or higher or combined SAT Critical Reading and Math score of 1520 or higher.
</code></pre>
<p>To answer some questions:
Yes, I will probably be a NMSF with a PSAT score of 221. I am looking at OSU, but was somewhat hoping to avoid it. </p>
<p>Also, I’m looking for high merit aid because my family’s EFC is quite high, so I wouldn’t qualify for much, if any, need-based aid, but can reasonably afford, at most, 10k a year.</p>
<p>Definitely keep Alabama as a financial safety as they may end up being the best for you. Their award for NMF + Engineering is quite good. ;)</p>
<p>And, as I said before, try applications at the other schools (the three top schools you like plus Clarkson and Pitt if you like what you see on their websites - ditto that for any others people suggest as long as you like them). Your stats are high enough that awards could be just as good. You’re definitely competitive for competitive awards - strongly competitive. When spring comes, see which schools make which offers, then pick your favorite considering all factors (strength of financial package, strength of engineering program, campus, etc).</p>
<p>Lafayette - They have been making a major effort to increase the number of Marquis scholarships in recent years. It was lower even a few years ago when we visited their campus.</p>
<p>If you are a National Merit Finalist, take a look at Texas A&M; if you list it as your first choice, you get a scholarship that lowers net cost to about $12,500 per year.</p>
<p>As mentioned above, NCSU has the competitive full ride Park Scholarship. Georgia Tech has the competitive full ride or full tuition President’s Scholarships.</p>