Do mean a little less expensive? They are, plus CSU has WUE so it can be a lot less expensive for a student from California. All three schools have different strengths in engineering.
I tutor the verbal sections of the tests, but I know a lot about the math sections of both. The two tests are NOT the same. In particular, SAT math is nowhere nearly as straightforward as ACT math, and has a non-calculator section. The SAT is, however, much more generous on time. The ACT math section definitely goes to a higher level of math, but the time constraint is a killer. Many kids prefer ACT math to SAT math because it’s easier to understand.
My son got good scores in the math section on both tests, with a 790 on SAT math, but a 31 in ACT math. He thought SAT math was a lot easier. He rushed to complete ACT math. This is the complaint I most often hear about ACT math. Again though, a lot of kids find SAT math tricky because much of it is word-based.
I don’t hold much store by Pre ACT results. They are taken when kids are still sophomores and haven’t had the level of math the actual ACT goes to, though that’s probably taken into account on the pre ACT, but not on a practice test. For the Pre ACT in general, I find that it rarely gives an indication of an actual ACT taken as a junior. The PSAT does a little better as an indicator.
The vast majority of students take the pre tests with no preparation at all. Any kid who does a little prep beforehand is going to get a better result on an actual test. I never recommend kids take an official test as a practice. Do a practice test of each at home (or better, go to the library), for free, without the stress, money, and time commitment.
In my experience, kids typically don’t have equal scores on both tests. IOW, kids most often have a better score on one test or another. If the student takes a practice test of both, prefers one over the other, prepares, and gets a good score on an official test, I see no need to take the alternative. However, there is probably no harm in it, IF the parents can afford to pay, the kid has time, can handle the stress, and perhaps isn’t applying to a college that requires all test scores.
To those who inquired: yes, we have another child (class of 2024) who is a gifted, excellent student with anxiety and a love of musical theater - an excellent vocalist. A real wildcard at this point as far as college destination goes. She has roughly the same amount in her 529.
My son is interested in leaving CA, though he could always do it after college. He wants to go somewhere cooler - so we weren’t really thinking about NM or AZ. In case I didn’t say it above his preferences lean toward small school (or an honors college in a big school) with internships. He also thinks he wants a big name school.
We all liked UC Boulder for a number of reasons. The tour was very well done, the campus was consistently nice and well kept - luxurious by aging CA campus standards - and we can see my son living there (and possibly following him in retirement.) It’s an easy flight directly home out of Denver. We have friends in Colorado and love it. Seems like he would be a high performing kid there - so big in a little pond.
Again, I want to thank everyone for their input and food for thought. I’m so much less focused on merit aid and more focused on fit. I’m still having a hard time cutting schools off the list but just started looking at the Fiske book write ups and it does help you get some perspective about fit for sure.
The fact is that OOS publics can cost $50,000 without merit aid.
For CS in CO, I’d also look at Colorado School of Mines.
CU is perfectly fine for CS, but be aware that it is not a bigger name in the field than UCSD, UCSB, or even Utah.
Boulder will likely be full OOS cost of attendance. The school is very popular and attracts tons of applicants from CA who are willing to pay the whole cost of attendance.
If your son wants something similar but probably less costly, look at Utah, Montana, Wyoming. South Dakota too.
New Mexico is hot in the summer, but they have chilly winters. Worth a look see.
OP- I bet that half the kids in your town think they are majoring in CS. One- because it’s a hot industry right now, and two- you’re in California. I’ve seen this show before- in 2001, with anything CS or E-commerce related, in '97 with aerospace engineering, in 2008/2009 in finance and petroleum engineering, and back in ancient times- 1987- when the stock market crashed right before recruiting of undergrads kicked off (it was in October) and companies cut their recruiting targets to the bone. There was a recession in the late '70’s and early 80’s as well- and if you have older friends who graduated from great colleges summa cum laude and ended up baking oatmeal cookies for a year afterwards, it’s because NOBODY was hiring new grads.
Do NOT pick a college based on the ROI that you believe to be true today- that CS is hot, and that therefore your son wants to major in it, and that therefore in 6 years it will still be hot and that your ROI will be fantastic. There were cab drivers across the country with PhD’s in math back in 1987 who could tell you how “in demand” math was when they were in high school, in the “post sputnik but before Google” era.
Your son’s choice needs to be something you can afford. Period. And that is not unknowable like predicting the labor market in six years. Start there. What you can afford. The contribution from the grandparents, plus any contribution from you, plus the federal loan for your kid.
@blossom I hear you. He has taken a few courses and I think knows as well as a high schooler can know at this point that he’s interested and has some capability in CS. He is attracted to the $. He is concerned about getting a job pursuing his other interest - biology or marine science. I’d like to see him have the option to switch out to that major or maybe find a way to wed the interests. So another thing to consider when looking at making up the list.
I was in business school in the late '80s and witnessed how the job market can change.
Big names tend to be more expensive, since they have higher student demand. Less well known schools may be more generous with scholarships (merit and/or WUE).
California is a large state. He cannot find any in state public that is different from and cooler than where you live now?
@ucbalumnus yes, we have UCSC on the list as hopefully a safety school - if his test scores are good, plus SJSU CS. He’ll apply here in SB and to SD even though the climate is the same. Then, we will examine the options. Probably will apply to 10-12 schools (perhaps not including multiple UCs.)
A couple of smaller schools to look at in Ohio that grant merit and have good CS departments: Miami University (often called Miami of Ohio), which is medium-sized, and Denison University, which is a small LAC.
If he gets the ACT or SAT up, he’d be in range for the higher end of Miami’s guaranteed merit scholarships: https://miamioh.edu/admission/merit-guarantee/
Case Western in Cleveland, as someone mentioned, is another good option. However, it’s urban rather than suburban as he mentioned he wanted, and they use the CSS rather than FAFSA, so your home equity (as you live in an expensive area) would likely raise your EFC more than at a FAFSA school.
To clarify what @Genevieve18 wrote, Denison is good for merit. However, on the need based side they also use the CSS.
He might like to study statistics, or biostatistics.
I would have him look at some of the Western Undergraduate Exchange schools (WUE). While academic quality of in-state CA schools is hard to beat, if he is determined to go OOS, he might quality for WUE tuition at various schools in the Northwest. If he likes outdoor recreation, maybe look to Western Washington (fantastic mid-sized school north of Seattle), Washington State, or the WUE publics in Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming. They are not T-25s but there are probably some that he might like.
There are some WUE options in Colorado, too, but Boulder is not among them, AFAIK.
Good luck!
For SJSU, past admission thresholds are at http://www.sjsu.edu/admissions/impaction/ . For frosh, they are based on the eligibility index of GPA * 800 + SATRW + SATM. GPA is recalculated like the UC weighted capped recalculation (handy calculator at https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/ ). CS has been the most competitive major at SJSU for the last few years.
UC past admission rates by weighted capped GPA are listed at http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-general/2127392-faq-uc-historical-frosh-admit-rates-by-hs-gpa-2018.html . But note that CS is often a more competitive major.