Med-large size school in NC, VA, MD, SC for computer science/engineering

College Search & Lists
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My daughter is a HS sophomore, GPA 3.5, and is interested in a medium to large size college. She does sports- basketball and Track and Field (thrower) and will be joining power lifting this year. She has been in Youth and Government Club and volunteers at the Humane Society.
She wants a school in a more rural or suburban area- not inner city. Loves to be outdoors.

She is currently thinking of a career in computer science, biotechnology, or engineering.

No budget (she is enrolled tribal member and her tribe gives her a full-ride)

Biggest thing is type of vibe or student body. She is a down to earth girl, she stands up for others and tries to make everyone feel included. She doesnt like dealing with drama and finds being friends with guys easier than girls.

Any recommendations? She is sending me some reach schools at the moment and I want to have a list of schools that more align with her GPA as I dont see it going up that much.

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East Carolina might be a target for her. Large university in a nice college town.

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I’d wait another year before focusing on specific colleges.

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The first school that came to mind for me was UNC Charlotte.

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I bet she’d like the vibe at Appalachian State, and it should be a safety or match for her - it’s got computer science but not engineering, so if she starts going in that direction, then not a good choice. But it’s in Western NC in the mountains and just seems absolutely lovely for nature lovers and it’s a good size school with sports if that is what she’s looking for.

JMU, in VA, has biotech, engineering and computer science. It does have a major road running right through campus, dividing into a West and East campus, but it’s in a small town, has good outdoor opportunities, and the students we know who go there are all down to earth people who seem to generally be very happy with their experience. It’s also got some solid athletics and fun vibe.

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University of Delaware.

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I think you are a bit too early - and we know nothing about her rigor - for example, what levels of English, Science, Math, Foreign Language, Social Science - will she have. Then there’s the test score.

And it will matter what she studies.

When I read this - she wants a school in a more rural or suburban area- not inner city. Loves to be outdoors. - I thought of Virginia Tech.

But it doesn’t mean it will be an option.

You can study CS and Biotech most anywhere - but not engineering. And the engineering discipline matters.

So if you were to say bio engineering and look at these four states, you have 13 schools:

Clemson - fits - if you get in

Duke - not really a fit for what you describe - but not a fit

GMU - likely not a fit but maybe easier to get in

Johns Hopkins - not a fit

UMD - not a fit

NC A&T - can get in, HBCU but in city

UNC - unlikely a fit

NC State - not a fit

U of SC - not a fit

VCU - not a fit

Va Tech - what I thought of.

But then I wonder - why just these four states - because there are other close schools to them that might fit - Bucknell, Delaware, Marshall, Penn State, WVU

There are small schools too - so I listed bigger names.

But the big major with a lot of schools will be Mechanical Engineering - so more schools like U of SC Aiken, Francis Marian in SC and UVA.

But again, it’s too early - if she’s not engineering many more open up. And then there’s the grade thing…and test score. A 3.5 isn’t necessarily where she needs to be for many - and then there’s rigor.

But my kid changed desired majors four times junior year in HS - and it’s early. Yours might too.

Good luck.

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Is this weighted or unweighted? If weighted, what is her unweighted GPA in core courses only (Eng, math, soc studies, foreign lang, science)?

I also think it’s early to be targeting colleges, since she has only completed one year of HS.

I would encourage her to take a class in each of the five core areas each year, at a rigor that is challenging, but not too challenging, for her. I would also make sure she takes bio, chem, and physics during HS.

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I understand the desire to exploring the college landscape early, and I think it’s a great idea to find some likely schools that your D would be happy to attend, even if things change (and they likely will).

Although CS is offered pretty much everywhere, engineering is not. So since that’s a more limiting factor, I looked at schools that were ABET-accredited, and have specified which fields the schools below are accredited in (and though ABET accreditation is very important for fields like civil and mechanical engineering, it’s not as important for some others).

  • Appalachian State (NC): ABET-accredited for CS

  • Christopher Newport (VA): ABET-accredited for computer engineering and electrical engineering (uncertain if it’s too urban).

  • Coastal Carolina (SC): ABET-accredited for CS, Information Systems, and Engineering Science (general)

  • East Carolina (NC): ABET-accredited for CS and engineering (general)

  • Elon (NC): ABET-accredited for engineering (general)

  • James Madison (VA): ABET-accredited for Computer Information Systems, Engineering (general), and Integrated Science and Technology

  • North Carolina A&T: ABET-accredited for architectural, biological, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, industrial & systems, and mechanical engineering as well as applied engineering technology, bioengineering, CS, electronics technology, environmental health & safety, geomatics, and information technology.

  • U. of North Carolina – Charlotte: ABET-accredited for civil, computer, electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering as well as civil engineering technology, construction management, electromechanical engineering technology, and mechanical engineering technology.

  • Old Dominion (VA): ABET-accredited for civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering, CS, and civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering technology. Uncertain if it’s too urban.

  • Western Carolina (NC): ABET-accredited for CS, construction management, electrical engineering, engineering (general), as well as electrical & computer engineering technology and engineering technology.

And though it’s not in one of the desired states, it still seems to fit the desired region, and that’s U. of Tennessee. It’s ABET-accredited in aerospace, biomedical, biosystems, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, industrial, mechanical, and nuclear engineering as well as CS and materials science & engineering. It’s a flagship that’s not in a major city and that has a more approachable admissions rate than some other flagships that offer the fields your D is interested in.

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Unweighted. She is taking AP bio this year. She is also taking algebra2/TRIG, so I think she is a bit ahead in math. She is strong in math and science, but struggles more in English and History.

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This was incredibly helpful! I come from a health professions background, so this gives me a better direction and gives me some things to talk to her about!

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If we know engineering is the limiting factor it helps us to focus her search around that. I know nothing about the engineering field, so its good to know these things now.

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Yes. I agree. It helps to know what type of engineering but if not I’d use mechanical or engineering science as a catch all. If engineering is potentially an option, even if not ultimately studied, at least you want a school that offers it.

I’m not sure UTK (sorry @AustenNut) would work but 90 minutes farther West Tennessee Tech could. I mention this based on the rural / suburban thing. Knoxville is smack downtown.

But lots of great ideas from everyone above.

I think if you can start visiting campuses here and there you can validate what type of school she likes.

It’s easy to think what you like on paper but it’s different in reality so not sure where you live, but you can self tour some near you to see if we are on the right track.

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The suggestions of Appalachian State and Virginia Tech would meet this requirement. VT is in Blacksburg, VA which is a quintessential small college town. VT students are very outdoor-focused with many activities nearby and throughout the New River Valley.

App State is in the mountains of NC (Boone) and has a similar outdoorsy vibe. Boone is another great college town with several other small mountain towns around it - a really great area.

Both of these would meet your vibe requirement. My daughter is a VT grad and we found the vibe to be refreshingly down to earth, welcoming, come as you are and not the least bit pretentious. I don’t doubt there were VT families with big money, but you’d never know it.

We live in NC and have known MANY App State students. Each one seemed to have that laid back, App State vibe.

You are early in the search, but it never hurts to have a preliminary list.

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I definitely agree with the post above about Virginia Tech. We have several VT graduates in my family - me and my husband (we got married there!), my S/BIL, my brother, and my niece & nephew. Four of us are engineering graduates. (2 are women!) It definitely has a down-to-earth vibe, a true college-town atmosphere, love for the outdoors.

I would say that JMU has a very similar feel. My S/FDIL2 both graduated from there. Their engineering program is not as strong as Virginia Tech’s, but it is easier to get into. Google and AI searches showed that JMU graduates tend to do well in the job market, although many work in the DC area, where employers are more familiar with JMU. VT graduates OTOH tend to have stronger national name recognition.

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The only thing I would be cautious about with Virginia Tech at this point is that acceptance into the engineering college (which is also where its CS department is located) can be very challenging. I’m unsure how likely it is for a student with a 3.5 GPA to gain acceptance; I would probably consider it more of a reach. @OctoberKate may be able to speak more to this.

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100% - I built a list using the outdoorsy criteria and majors desired.

But that’s why I said it and Clemson - both highly unlikely with a 3.5 - but then look at Delaware, Marshall, Penn State and WVU.

Not in the 4 states listed but not overly far from the border and a WVU and Marshall would be near certainties for a 3.5 with Delaware, Penn State and Bucknell possible but not assured.

OP put a very narrow area…if it’s CS, schools like App State and JMU work but engineering - some will work but it depends on the discipline.

But absolutely a Va Tech or Clemson - are reaches for a 3.5.

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I would say that it depends on the area the student is from. It would be VERY tough from NOVA, but in our area, 1300s on the SAT can get you into UVA. Tech is easier. The OP also mentioned an enrolled tribal member. I would think if they could work that into the application, it would work in their favor. But it would still be a tough admit, hence my JMU suggestion.

Edit - I will also add that my niece got into Tech from a different in-state area. Hers is SLIGHTLY more competitive than ours, but not much. I don’t know if she took her SAT again, but it was lower than 1300 the first time, and she never took Calculus in HS. She made it in and wound up graduating magna cum laude from ME. So it’s worth a shot

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This year is the time, if interested, to visit some nearby large vs small schools, rural or suburban (she doesn’t want urban) , public vs private, to see what she likes/dislikes. It’s a bit early to target specific schools for a variety of reasons. Where is your son attending?

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