FWIW, if you end up interested in WPI let me know. My older son is a sophomore there now and generally loves it. While it has some definite negatives (the food) it’s been a really good environment. Older son has ADHD + dyslexia and I’ll say he seems to be in good company at WPI - the school clearly has more than a few kids who need support, and he’s had good service from the disability services people (when he actually calls them to use them, but that’s another issue). He personally has found the seven week terms with only three classes to be really beneficial - yes, it moves fast, but you are balancing so many fewer things. Add to that the fact that because your classes meet often it’s harder to accidentally fall behind and I think it’s been a good fit for his ADHD. I wish my younger son (the class of 2025 one) were interested in a college that has a quarter program instead of semesters, but no joy there.
My 23 son sounds a lot like yours. Smart, lots of specific STEM interests but also curious about music, history, ancient languages etc. Like your son, his test scores were much higher than his grades on account of ADHD (made much worse with online learning) and some big maturity and executive function issues. He is now studying mechanical engineering and robotics at Oregon State University and doing really well. We too had thought that he might do better at a smaller university, but have found a few things to be true 1. The school of engineering and engineering specific dorms, maker spaces and school of engineering specific social opportunities make a big public school feel much smaller and more personal, 2. As a large public school there are a lot of support resources ready to go, 3. As an engineer who still wants to take a wide range of topics, he has a ton of non-engineering specific options.
I’m not saying that OSU is the school for your kid, just that I’m glad that we didn’t rule out large public institutions all together. Plus OSU offers WUE which puts tuition pretty close to that of a UC.
S25 and dad toured Pitt today, general tour and Engineering department. It was about 4 hours total. S25’s feedback: Me - ‘So, did you like it?’ S25 - ‘yeah’. Me - ‘Can you see yourself there?’ S25 - ‘Yeah’.
This is why I have made his list 
He knows what he wants to do (Navy pilot, aerospace or mechanical engineering and ROTC - or Navy, Air Force or Coast Guard Academies). If he doesn’t get into an Academy, he is really not concerned with where he goes as long as it has his major and ROTC. I guess that makes my job fairly easy. I do think he would be fine anywhere, so the list is pretty much all schools that also have additional benefits for ROTC. And fingers crossed he passes the medical.
I like your list for your son; very nice schools in there. A couple for engineering I might look into are Rose Hulman and Trinity in SanAntonio. Bay Area families we know go to those as well as Stevens Institute of technology, although they are more “boutique” choices in our parts. I’m a fan of RoseHulman but it’s quasi remoteness should be considered.
I’ve had experience parenting a lower level of “sh*t-togetherness”… and I do tend to lean towards the LAC side in situations such as those. At least I’m (very) happy with the trajectories I’ve witnessed. I’m sure you’ve already heard similar stories, here on CC and elsewhere.
It’s a double edged sword!
My D and I are finally settled in our hotel after a long day of travel from east coast to west coast starting with a 3am wake up. I put the wrong hotel in the gps but to be fair they have nearly the same name and are like 3 miles apart. We found food, showered and took a nap and feel a little more human. The young man who checked us in is a student at UPS and said he’s really happy there. We were too glassy eyed tired to go deeper than that lol. It’s absolutely beautiful outside and the Sound is sparkling from the sunshine. D said no to a walk so I’ll have to be content with the stunning view from the room. Tomorrow is a full schedule at the school.
It has been gorgeous the last 3 days in the PNW. Hope that you have good weather while there.
Thanks! I was expecting the typical grey skies spring rainy weather but am pleasantly surprised by just how warm it was today.
We are also in PNW today and hit Univ of Oregon. It was sunny and 70 degrees. A couple next to us said to me, “I actually wish it was cold and raining, so they would get a more realistic version…” The undergrads were laying out on every inch of grass to boot.
Springtime can be hit or miss. Last year was pretty cold and rainy most of the spring so this year it could be nice and sunny. Also we usually have great weather from July to late October.
We call it sucker weather 
beware!
ACT scores came back for my totally average D25 who we planned on going test optional anyways. 21. Better than we thought actually.
She is anything but average! 
Glad it went better than expected, but it sounds like your daughter has so many other gifts/strengths beyond the silly test!
I’ll add to the warnings that this sunshine, blue skies, mid 60s weather is an anomaly 9 months of the year in the PNW. D22 tells me all the time how happy she is to see the sun on a regular basis at her non PNW college. We plan on moving soon after D24 graduates because we want to see more of that sunshine and blue skies too. Summers are amazing but don’t make up for the rest of the year (most of the months colleges are in session).
I want to move to the PNW when I retire lol
I personally love the overcast, rainy and grey. The sun all the times makes me tired 
Nothing better than opening the window to rain and reading a good book or sewing. I feel guilty doing these things when it is sunny out.
Guess it is a good thing I am here.
So many PNW people feel the same way as you! However, I’ve lived here twenty years and have never adapted. Apparently my dog hasn’t either. Whenever we take him to boarding, his report card comes back with “needs to learn to like the rain” 
. At home, he has a big covered deck where he can take refuge.
The UPS visit was amazing! D is ready to move in now. I doubt the unseasonable weather has anything to do with it because it hasn’t made a difference for any other school. She loved how friendly the campus feels and the coffee shop covered in glass. The music program is just the right size and has many opportunities for participation. She likes how pretty the campus looks but thinks the inside of most buildings looks old but not a deal breaker. Every tour guide was fantastic and each had their own college experience. The director of the music department met with her and spent a lot of time talking about the program. She had a real admission interview that I didn’t prep her for. Oh well, they will either like her or not but I’m sure it was fine. She liked the residential location of the campus in a bigger city compared to the rural location of other schools. Sticker price is $83k now and admissions said nobody actually pays that but it’s to be determined if it’ll get in the ballpark of affordability.
We found the cost for UPS to be similar to in-state. Hopefully it will be the same for you. I will also add myself to the list of preferring cool and rainy weather over warm and sunny weather. Glad it was a good visit!
We were in downtown Portland today and stopped by Portland State. Not a hit for D25. It was never on her list, but I said if we’re in the area, we should at least walk through. Still unseasonably warm. My husband was the one in shorts.
Supposed to be cooler for the rest of the week. D25 is excited to see UW. I’m worried about her falling in love and getting denied.