Rate My College List [CT resident, 4.0 GPA, 32 ACT, <$40k; CS or AE major]

Applying to College
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Connecticut Resident
Asian Male
GPA: 4.0 (Unweighted)
Taking total of 13 APs in High School. Received 5’s on all exams so far.
ACT score: 32. Retaking it to get higher score.
Middle Class, Idk my EFC from FAFSA

Intended Major: Computer Science (1st), Aerospace Engineering (2nd). If I pursue CS, I want a school that will also give me exposure to robotics at the undergraduate level.

Reach:
MIT
Cornell
Georgia Tech
University of Southern California
UIUC
UMich Ann Arbor
CMU (Doing Robotics Major as 2nd choice since aerospace not offered).

Target (I’ve also considered acceptance history from my school)
Purdue
Virginia Tech
UMD
Northeastern
University of Wisconsin Madison

Safety
UConn
Rutgers New Brunswick
UMass Amherst
RPI (I’m Renseallaer Medalist)

How is this college list? I feel like it’s too top heavy.
I’m questioning UIUC and USC. I know they’re very good for my program but they don’t do much with robotics at the undergrad level. Also, financial aid given from any OOS state school will not be good.

Any schools I should add? Remove? Is this a balanced list?

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Also, what’s a good minimum SAT and ACT score I should get to be competitive to those schools?

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You definitely need to make sure all those colleges would be affordable for you and your family before applying. And you are right that some people find OOS publics unaffordable, which would be an issue since there are so many on your list. But you also need to check to see if the privates would give you any need aid you would have to have.

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As long as you’re ok with UConn if (in the unlikely event) nothing else comes through, then I think your list is fine.

A couple of notes:
Rutgers went to the Common App just this year, leading to a large increase in applications which will likely result in a lower acceptance rate. So it could be more of a match school next year rather than a safety.

Northeastern has become very popular, and therefore has a low acceptance rate. You should consider it a reach.

UIUC does have a robotics lab. But you already have a lot of reaches, so if you want to drop these that’s fine.

More accurately, it will be zero. Have you checked if you qualify for need based aid? If you do, you may want to add private schools that meet need.
What is your family’s budget?

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At MIT, the 25th percentile ACT/SAT score is 35/1530. Many of your reach schools will be similar for CS.

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In my opinion, you are right.

UMD…if you don’t apply early, it’s a reach.

I think Northeastern is a reach too.

UMass is not a safety for your possible majors.

How much aid would you need?

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Maybe think about adding WPI? I think you’d get in and likely get merit aid. Their robotics program is great, I’ve heard good things about CS. Re: Aerospace the main complaint I’ve heard is that while they have really good professors, they just don’t have that many, so sometimes getting classes you want in a schedule you want can be challenging.

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The EFC from FAFSA doesn’t matter (and I think it’s now called SAI). Many times the SAI can be significantly higher than what a family can pay. What matters is what your family is willing and able to pay per year. Talk to your family about what the budget is, and if there are any conditions on that budget.

Does this history include what major the applicant applied for? Does it include whether an applicant applied EA/ED/RD? Does it indicate whether the applicant had a hook (legacy, athlete, donor, etc)? If it does, you are very lucky. If not, I would speak to the counselor at your school to see where students with a profile like yours (including your intended major) have ended up and how they have done at the schools on your list.

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@asdfdfadfs - you have a fine record and for context, the ACT at 32 is in the mid 90 percentiles wise. It’s a fine score. If you have a hard time raising it and you have time, you might try the SAT…just a thought.

I like your list assuming affordability which @NiceUnparticularMan mentioned.

In the end, you can only go to one but hopefully you get into a few so that you have choice. But as long as you have one school on your list that’s an in, then assuming you only added schools you’d love, it’s great.

I think your reaches are that - but again, it’s ok - worst case they say no. I would point out the schools are different - Ga Tech very urban, Cornell rural (as would be UCONN too) - do you have a preference on school type, size, etc. - have you thought that through as you will be somewhere, four years, day after day? If you haven’t, I’d think about that - to ensure not only do you have solid names but solid names you’d enjoy being at.

Anyway, I don’t see you getting into your reaches but that does not mean you shouldn’t try. I’d move Purdue into reach. Statistically, you have a chance but we read about over enrollment by a large swath yesterday and that means admissions will get more competitive - and I think you were already a slight reach before that. I’d say your targets are high targets - meaning, in the middle of target and reach - with maybe Va Tech.

I do think you get into all your safeties and I think they’re all great schools.

So assuming affordability and the list matches your actual, living day to day desires, I think it’s a fine list.

You noted aid won’t be good OOS and you are correct- so if you’re unable to pay mid $50-s up into the $80s - the a Michigan,Va Tech, UMD and Wisconsin wouldn’t fit - but at $50K or below (GA Tech you have) - then a school like Minnesota, Ohio State, Michigan State, Kansas, etc. might fit better than those above - and you could get as low as $20K if you head south with your stats (Bama, UAH, Ms State).

RIT and Utah might be two other names to look at - specific to robotics.

We just don’t know your budget - but it’s good that you made the comment and if your budget is limited, than yes you’d want to reassess dependent on the that # vs. the OOS cost of the schools listed. Even your reach schools might need to come off too - unless you can afford $90K+ or have demonstrated need after completing the NPCs.

But I like your list - and I do think, at least all your safeties are ins - and perhaps 1-2 more.

Good luck on your journey.

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Use the net price calculator on each college’s financial aid web site to get an idea of whether it will be affordable. If not affordable at list price or on need-based financial aid, move it to a category based on the large-enough merit scholarship you need (not just admission).

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I’m planning on applying for the Rutgers Honors school in order to get some financial aid. As far as I’m aware, if I’m rejected from Rutgers Honors, I am still considered for Rutgers with no honors.

I’m calling Northeastern a target due to the acceptance history at my school.

I might add Brown back to my list if finances are a concern.

I can add Michigan State back. It’s not particularly strong for the programs I’m interested it. But no supplemental essay.

I looked at them, concerned by their low graduation rates though. University of Utah has a comprehensive robotics program.

I’m am removing USC from my list. Not as comprehensive in robotics as I’m hoping for.

I would like to remove 1-2 more schools from my list. The ones I’m considering removing from are UIUC, UMich, UW-Madison, or Virginia Tech. Leaning towards removing, or at least not prioritizing, applications to Virginia Tech and UMich (I love UMich the most of those four but it’s insanely hard to get into, especially for OOS).

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Keep in mind Rutgers honors college is VERY competitive.

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Agree with an earlier mention suggesting WPI. Strong in both CS and Robotics. But the curriculum is 7 week quarters and not traditional semester based. Not for everyone but the students I know attending all love there.

If you apply to UMass make sure it’s to EA where they accept the majority of their applicants. You have a good chance with EA but it jumps to a reach regular admissions.
It’s one of the strongest for CS in the country not just the region. Excellent vibe…and food…and Hockey if you like sports.

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Graduation rates mostly related to admission selectivity and student ability to afford the college. With high academic credentials, if you can comfortably afford the college, your likelihood of graduation is likely to be high, regardless of the likelihood of graduation of other students who were admitted with much lower academic credentials or who have difficulty affording the college.

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And insanely expensive, too! Do yourself a favor and look at the cost of attendance at these OOS public schools. You are very unlikely to get much merit at any on your list. If they don’t hit your budget, you need to find schools that will.

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I’ll ask again based on your comment on OOS merit - do you have budget concerns?

What you said is this: lso, financial aid given from any OOS state school will not be good.

If you are looking to hit a price point, please share it.

If you have a school like Northeastern, you should run the Net Price Calculator.

One thing about Utah - and others are more expert on the school - but they have a path to residency after the first year so that you can greatly reduce your costs.

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Will I be considered for Rutgers with no honors if I’m rejected from Honors.

Sounds good, I can do that.

Will run a net price calculator on those four schools.

I’m also now considering Johns Hopkins. They offer strong financial aid and they have a robotics minor.

Yes, I’m trying not to graduate with egregious loans to repay.

At this point, I’m figuring out which ones to eliminate between UMich, UIUC, UW-Madison, and Virginia Tech. Considering adding JHU to my list. Should I consider which ones I actually have a chance of getting into?

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Yes.

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That doesn’t answer the question - how much can you spend ?

Let’s say your budget is $40k and the NPC says $75k.

Guess what - you can only borrow $27k over four years. That’s for your protection.

No one should have egregious loans - to use your words - as an undergrad. Some schools are simply too expensive. You can find alternatives in this case.

Budget is the most important item. And the second and third most important to emphasize how important.

Sure, your parents may qualify for loans well above $27k but do they want to sign on loans for you, especially if they are high 5 or 6 figures if that’s what you need ?

That’s a chat to have with them but I’m sure you’ve read the many horror stories of indebted professionals who can never escape. .

One thing the government has gotten right IMHO, is limiting loan amounts so 18 year old are unable to make decisions that can cause a lifetime of repercussions.

Please figure out the actual $ you can pay with no loans and ask for guidance from there.

Guidance may be here but also from your folks filling out the NPCs. Does it make pricey schools fall within your budget ? If not, or within $5500, forget it.

You’ll find many schools offering a minor in robotics and many will have clubs as well. I suspect a worthy field of play for you is a lot wider than you think. Most every school is or has already added offerings in the robotics area. Just looked up my son’s school - they have a minor. Funny he had no interest but he had a 6 month professional assignment. In his case he mostly learned as he did. But the academics were there if he wanted.

Good luck.

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In your most recent thread, you posted this.

Do you qualify for a Pell grant? That is the only type of need-based aid you will receive from an out-of-state public school, apart from the possibility of a subsidized loan from the federal government. The max loan you can take out your first year is $5500 (and max of $28k over the four years).

As a result, I would eliminate UIUC, UMich, Virginia Tech, UMD, U. of Wisconsin, and Rutgers from the list, as they will all be over budget and they are all pretty stingy with merit aid.

If you’re willing to do loans (which you don’t need to do), then Georgia Tech and Purdue might be kept. UMass might give you enough merit aid to bring it within budget, so I would keep it if you’re really interested in it.

Then you have the private schools. Make sure your family runs the Net Price Calculator (NPC) at each private school, starting with MIT. If MIT does not come back with an affordable price, eliminate it (there is no merit aid) and also eliminate Cornell and CMU (which are generally much less generous than MIT in determining financial need). There is the possibility of getting sufficient merit aid at U. of Southern California, but I don’t think your odds of getting enough are very good there (as you indicate, it’s a reach just to get in, much less to also get significant merit aid).

So that reduces your current list to Georgia Tech, Purdue, UConn, and UMass, plus whatever privates that come in as affordable via the NPC.

The focus now needs to be on finding schools that will be affordable, because at the moment, only UConn is a definite yes. I’ll be back later with some possible suggestions.

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