<p>I am sorry pugmadkate. I dread car problems, mostly because H cannot handle them. It is always up to me.</p>
<p>D has gotten exited about a safety!!! Yeah!!! She did some research on Agnes Scott and it looks like she really likes it. Her grades are more than good enough to get in, and even her current SATs (which hopefully were just abnormally low) are within range. There is no naviance at D’s school on this college as no one has apparently ever applied there so my info is all general, but still it looks like a safety. Anyone know how good they are about giving money?</p>
<p>I’m glad we had the ski trip scheduled and since DS has his license, he shared some of the driving. This provided plenty of drive time opportunity to talk about stuff, although I took care not to abuse it.</p>
<p>S mentioned two items to slightly raise eyebrows. He corrected me and said it was only ELECTRICAL engineering that he wasn’t so interested in and that he might look into others. I found this both interesting and odd, since I confirmed with my husband that EE is likely the closest engineering field to physics. Well, at least he’s keeping an open mind to fields of study that match his skill set although I did tell him that sometimes engineering colleges are harder to get into, that not all colleges have them, and that the best ones often require a supplemental application. He didn’t blink at any of this so we may have found another way to narrow the field a bit.</p>
<p>S has two junior buddies taking AP Calc BC, who have no interest in AP Stats next year. They were wondering if DH could teach them all multivariable calculus next year! DS dispelled their notion by noting he’s taking an on line class and that DH is a backup resource that the best money can’t buy because he’s his Dad! I sent a note along to the AP Calc teacher in case he wants to give guidance to his other students.</p>
<p>Finally, since we’d been starting to look at Northwestern U, I’m glad DH remembered that a husband/wife team they hired to the math dept in the last few years came from NU so likely have lots of insights.</p>
<p>YDS: I too would be interested in hearing about transportation in/out of Grinnell, if that is what you were referencing.</p>
<p>IUP financials: If you live in certain reciprocity states or have over a 3.0 GPA (from anywhere), tuition is only about 3k more than in-state. Merit scholarships are available too, it looks like, although no dollar amounts specified.
[The</a> Robert E. Cook Honors College Cost](<a href=“http://old.www.iup.edu/honors/TuitonRmBrd.HTML]The”>http://old.www.iup.edu/honors/TuitonRmBrd.HTML)</p>
<p>So, at the moment I have 3-4 safeties on my list–Rochester, Scripps, Beloit, and Pittsburgh (Pitt on condition of visiting in a few weeks). My parents are, amazingly, telling me not to worry so much about finances and focus on “top” need-based schools vs. “junk” merit schools. (I kid not about the terminology. What can I say, they’re first-gen Asian.) Anyway, I think I’d like to narrow down R-S-B to two. The problem is that I love all three schools! Rochester satisfies my parents and I liked the campus, plus the almost-open curriculum; Scripps isn’t really that perfect for me academically, but I love the location and the “vibe”; Beloit has the BSFFA (Beloit Science Fiction and Fantasy Association) and similar vibe, but the study abroad has limited funding and I don’t know whether my parents would pay its need-based cost (given low ranking and Wisconsin). So, now that I’ve written it all out, Rochester seems to be clearly “safe” in contention (no pun intended). My parents aren’t huge fans of women’s colleges or California, but Scripps does have a 4k/year loan cap and other indicators of generous FA. Still, I can’t bring myself to cut Beloit, which was the first safety I fell in love with. Parental thoughts?</p>
<p>Oh, by the way! If anyone here qualifies for NMF, Northeastern is offering a bunch of full-tuition scholarships for that. I think it’s a new program just started this year, because my counselor got an email from them about it.</p>
<p>From the little I have heard of your son - and from the little on the subject I know from my dad - it might be worth looking into. Combines mechanical and electronic engineering with computer science. Tons of higher level math required.</p>
<p>If you love Scripps - did you consider the other Claremonts? </p>
<p>My DD is madly in love with Scripps but also loved Pomona. Harvey Mudd would be another possibility given your CS bent. The great part about the Claremonts is the ease of cross enrollment and the co-location- it really is more like 1 big University with 5 schools. </p>
<p>Pomona, in particular, has great FA.</p>
<p>Having said that, I am not sure Scripps or any of the other Claremonts could be regarded as a safety - just too random in their admits.</p>
<p>I think Deep Springs is for men only…yes: “Deep Springs is an all-male liberal arts college…” It’s a unique place, and much more difficult to get into than any Ivy, since they have so few students.</p>
<p>Indeed, I love Pomona too and will definitely be applying (and I already have the perfect topic for their supplement essay!). Of course, it’s a huge reach.</p>
<p>Scripps’ acceptance rate is 43%, highest of the Claremonts and equal to Rochester’s. Gender isn’t a disadvantage, I am hoping to be in contention for the JES (pending SAT scores on April 7th), and I’m applying from Delaware. Counselor says she would consider it a safety for me, but then again, I’m pretty sure that HMC is the only Claremont college that has seen applications from my school in recent years (one unsuccessful application to Pomona in the past 9 years). CS is a secondary interest for me, and I don’t like science in general, so Harvey Mudd would not be a good fit.</p>
<p>Booklady - exactly why I was LOL. I can just see my DD in a two year all mens college living in a bunkhouse, arising at dawn, tending to the cows, etc… Here is a description of the daily life… </p>
<p>I just found this thread - you guys seem very nice! </p>
<p>My son is in the class of 2010. He’s our oldest, so I’m feeling overwhelmed. He’s a long-distance runner who wants to compete in college, so that is complicating our search. He’s the best two-mile HS runner in Maine, but is more “average” on the national scene. He did come in 9th last week at a national meet, so he was psyched about that. He is thinking about going pre-med or engineering. </p>
<p>I’m glad I “found” you - the support is so helpful!</p>
<p>Thanks for the mechatronics lead. I’ll pass it on to S and see if anything clicks.</p>
<p>Isn’t there a Deep Springs equivalent out there for the women? :)</p>
<p>Keix:</p>
<p>I have a friend who’s S is graduating from Claremont McKenna this year. She said taking classes at the other schools is fairly easy. Her S also noted that the best BBQ parties were from Mudd. I said I guess the science/math/engineering folks need their red meat.</p>
<p>pugmadkate: I hope that your car’s problems aren’t too costly. To be honest, if I saw smoke coming out of the hood of my car, I would have cleared the deck immediately, as well. </p>
<p>QM: I’ve heard of Agnes Scott–I think that D’s received some mail from them. It sounds like they’ve got some good merit aid opportunities. It’s great that your D is open to looking into single sex schools. </p>
<p>Keilexandra: I’m not sure how to advise regarding Beloit vs. Scripps. I take it you’ve already visited both schools…? From your post it sounds like you’re somewhat more passionate about Beloit, but how important is it to eliminate one of them? Also, how many schools, in total are you planning to apply to? My own personal inclination, especially for a safety, would be toward the school that offers good merit aid, but it sounds like your parents have a different view. (ouch, on the “junk” merit schools ) Also, do you plan on going on to graduate school once you have your Bachelors degree?</p>
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<p>I agree. Especially after seeing the admissions results in the past two years, both in my d’s school and on CC, I’d take a counselor’s claim about a school being a safety with a grain of salt.</p>
<p>Welcome. This is a very friendly place and a great resource for the 2010 parents. There are a few of our kids that are chasing the athletic dream. My DD is not one of those - but my 2008 son is continuing on in baseball. Let me suggest that you also keep an eye on the athletic recruiting forum</p>
<p>momonthehill: Actually, I have not yet visited Beloit or Scripps and unfortunately will not be able to until post-acceptance. So the decision has to be made on paper. I’m already planning to apply to ~14 schools. Graduate school is a strong possibility but not a definite–would Scripps have more “prestige” in that realm?</p>
<p>If I really can’t decide, I’ll probably bite the application-fee bullet and do all three.</p>
<p>Also, welcome MaineLonghorn! Best of luck with your S and recruiting.</p>
<p>^Keilexandra: Not sure, but I had to guess, I would say that Scripps would have the edge, being part of the Claremont consortium. Good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>Scu-Glad to see your D is keeping a sense of humor and shares the joke with you!!! I was just wondering today whether this process could Bond/Break a parent/child relationship. So far I have been doing most of the searching, etc. and passing findings on to her via email. I make lists for her to check out, etc. Trying not to overwhelm her in the process. I kind of dart in and dart out when I see her losing interest. I have to be alert, though, because I don’t want to push too hard. Some are more ready to look to the future than others. I am actually enjoying acquiring the knowledge that I have found on CC and the web. I feel like I am taking a very long online class. I just don’t want to forget that it is a “process” and after all that work, I lose my baby to some SCHOOL. Albeit the PERFECT school, because I have been studying like crazy at my online class.</p>
<p>I think in many ways it has been good for our relationship. Father Daughter is supposed to be tough during the late teens - but this whole process has given us a great deal to talk about - as well as time to talk as we take college trips. It is definitely a process - and one where she needs to drive and I need to support.</p>
<p>Welcome, MaineLognhorn. My D runs XC too, though I don’t think she plans to run competitively in college. </p>
<p>Keil - maybe after visiting Pitt, your options will seem clearer. </p>
<p>Scualum - Too funny about Deep Springs! I thought maybe your D was boy-crazy when I first read your post about your D finding the perfect school.</p>
) Also, do you plan on going on to graduate school once you have your Bachelors degree?</p>