Match Me - IL Senior, Engineering Major 3.88 HS GPA, 1410 SAT 1420 SS [<$6-8k parent contribution]

Chance Me / Match Me
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Demographics

  • US domestic Citizen
  • IL
  • Public High School

Cost Constraints / Budget

  • Parental Budget: $6,000 (willing to go up to 8)
  • Should be able to handle some living costs on my own through work
  • Overall Budget Prefer >15k

Intended Major(s)

  • MechE

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 3.882 (Calculated by my counselor)
  • Weighted HS GPA: 4.667 (HS calculates oddly)
  • Class Rank: School Doesn’t rank
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 1410, 1420 SS

List your HS coursework

(Indicate advanced level, such as AP, IB, AICE, A-level, or college, courses as well as specifics in each subject)

  • English: 4 years honors, 4 AP Lang, taking dual credit comp and AP Lit this year
  • Math: 4 years, taking AP Calc this year
  • Science: 1 year of biology, 1 year of Chem, 3 AP physics, taking Adv. physics this year
  • History and social studies: 3 AP Human Geo, 5 APUSH, taking AP APS, psychology, and Econ this year
  • Language other than English: Taking my 4th year of Spanish and will be testing for dual college credit at the end of year
  • Visual or performing arts: 4 years of Band

Extracurriculars

  • Tennis
  • Marching Band
  • Jazz Band
  • Musical Pit Orchestra
  • Chess
  • Local VBC volunteer work
  • Middle School Band Camp volunteer leader

Schools
Schools that I currently have on my list and have all been under 15k COA after running through NPC

  • Texas Tech
  • NIU
  • MSOE

Thanks in advance!

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So you have a budget problem.

Does your family qualify for need ?

What’s their family income - do you know ?

Is the budget by their choice or all they can afford. MSOE tuition is $48k alone so over $60k.

NIU is $30k with living. Will you get $20k merit ?

TTU is $40k. Low 30s with merit best I can tell.

Have them run the net price calculator. See link.

Are you retaking the SAT. If you had 1420 you’d be under $20k at Alabama.

At UAH you’ll be mid 20s.

Miss State - high teens.

So you have a cost problem everywhere.

Is there a local school you can live at home or go to community college ?

Please explain family income - wondering if you can do questbridge or other low income programs.

Click on high school estimator.

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Would UIUC, UIC, SIU-C, SIU-E, or WIU be affordable according to their NPCs?

I don’t see how TTU would be affordable as a non-Texas resident with the $7k merit it lists for your stats. If you want a school in Texas, try PVAMU with a full ride for your stats.

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Are you Pell eligible?

University of Illinois at Chicago (+Honors) and SIU (C or E or S) should definitely be on your list.

What about Case Western ? Lafayette ? Run the NPCs.

Run the NPC on University of Iowa and University of Nebraska just in case.

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Replying to all so far here. Already ran the NPCs on all three schools on the list I gave which I stated. TTU gives automatic in-state tuition to all scholarship-eligible students and the NPC came out at 15k. I already ran the MSOE NPC and I also got a 15k COA. 27k in scholarships and 24k in need brought the cost down considerably. NIU came out at 14k in the NPC. As for the budget constraint reason only 1 parent will be contributing to the cost. Also I have not looked at UofI Chicago and will do so. University of Iowa is also something I have been looking at but I have not been able to find any information on scholarship amounts that I should be expecting. Anyone with University of Iowa scholarship results/experience would be appreciated. University of Nebraska NPC gave 30k so I’d say thats probably not an option.

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Can you run the NPCs for the meets need schools? Lafayette, Rochester, etc. they will require both parents info.

I heard that about Texas scholarship schools but it didn’t say that on their merit page. I just found it. Do any other Tx schools interest you - U Houston.

Sounds like you should be the one advising !!

And that you’ve got this !!

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TTU: There is a paragraph right above the chart that mentions the in-state tuition. Perhaps I misunderstood something?

I have been inputting both parent’s information on all of the NPCs. I will run the Lafayette, Rochester, and Case NPCs, however I am doubtful due to the fact that I have to include both parent’s information. I understand why this is but it still makes things a bit more complicated.
Thanks!

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I’m sure you understood!!!

That’s a great get.

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In addition to looking at Southern Illinois (Carbondale and Edwardsville), which have ABET accredited mechanical engineering programs, you might also look at Western Kentucky University: it also has an ABET-accredited program in mechanical engineering, and you should qualify for in-state residency through the Border State Scholarship program.

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Two options to consider include:

  • U. of Louisiana - Lafayette: You would qualify for its Live Oak scholarship which would essentially pay for room & board, would get you an on-campus job, and an additional $3k/year towards in-state tuition (as you would receive a waiver on tuition) (source). So you’d end up with costs around $8k/year, and a guaranteed on-campus job.

  • Louisiana Tech: You would qualify for $8500/year in merit here and would probably receive the out-of-state waiver as well. That would leave you with costs of about $11k here.

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Louisiana Tech is also a school on my list (forgot to add it to the top)

Thanks for the UofL will add that to the list as well!!

Also for anyone looking through this I contacted the TTU scholarship office and did confirm that I would be eligible for in-state tuition.

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