Suggestions for DD engineering, earth sciences in NE [CT resident, 3.55 GPA, <$75k]

Chance Me / Match Me
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DD is looking for suggestions, says she’s interested in mechanical and aero engineering, but has been reluctant to do clubs or activities remotely related. She says any of chemical, environmental or materials engineering (maybe bio), marine or ocean science, geosciences or earth sciences “also sound interesting.”

3.55 uw/4.1 w GPA, heavily involved in science research, band, athletics and Girl Scouts, lots of volunteer hours in science education and music. No test scores yet, also time to get grades up.

She’d like to be in the NE and play field hockey in college, but with a STEM major D3 may be a better fit. Small class size also a benefit, but not a requirement (I attended a LAC). She’s been very engaged in the recruiting process though I’d like her to consider all options at all levels (or not playing). We’re full pay, some schools have asked her about financial aid needs.

Below are schools she’s looked at or visited, would love any other thoughts, especially schools strong in sciences.

Bucknell
Lafayette
Lehigh
Rensselaer
Stevens
Union
University of Rochester
WPI

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Do you have a budget in mind? These schools are costly (the University of Rochester is over $90,000 a year). Is that cost ok?

Some of these schools are “reachy,” which is fine as long as she has safety/target schools.

I would look at Pitt and UB.

When you say bio do you mean biology or biomedical engineering?

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Appreciate the input, biomedical engineering is what I meant. She’s vaguely interested in pharmacy as a career path, but with most high schoolers, really isn’t sure!

We’d rather not pay $90k a year, but can swing it.

Definitely would like a range of schools from safety to reach. Thank you!

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I would look at UB and Pitt (as noted). I would also consider the University of Delaware.

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As asked, the budget matters.

What can you afford, or what do you want to afford? You are full pay - so if you’re ok at $95K+ your list is - from a financial view - ok…but if you want to spend $40K, as an example, then your list needs a lot of work.

What year is she? If she’s a rising Junior, she can attend a camp/engineering session next summer to validate an interest. Two well known programs are STEP at Purdue and Operation Catapult at Rose Hulman (an easier in). They’re not in the Northeast but they are short and just for validation.

One needn’t do related clubs to study engineering. Obviously, they help to validate interest - but she’s a field hockey player - so she’s got plenty of ECs, etc.

So what is her rigor - what level of math will she get to? You note she is science heavy - how many sciences will she take and what level?

Is she at a public or private school? If at a private, your counselor will be your best for guidance.

The test scores will impact your list.

Based on a 3.55, if at a public school, her list is overly reach heavy - but RPI, WPI and Stevens are possible…but a score will help.

Because she may want engineering, you do want to be at a school that offers it and clearly you’ve done your homework picking those. If it was earth science, it might be something else - a lot more LAC choices.

If the NE is down to Delaware, you have 12 Aero schools:

Buffalo - mentioned
Clarkson- perhaps more in line with what you seek
U Ha (Hartford)
MIT - nope
Penn State
Princeton (nope)
RPI
Rutgers
So New Hampshire (SNHU)
Syracuse
WPI

Environmental - ESF, Bucknell, Clarkson, Uconn, Delaware, Drexel, Gannon, Lehigh, Manhattan (another to look at), Umass Lowell, UNH, UVM, Wilkes - I left off some like Cornell that wouldn’t be possible.

MechE will have a ton and people interested in aero can study MechE - I’ll keep seeing Clarkson…there’s many more in this major - 108 in the NE but for smaller schools, Fairfield, Gannon, UHa, Hofstra, Manhattan, UNH, SUNY New Paltz, Norwich, Qunnipiac, URI, Wentworth, W New England,

The LACs will be tough - and you have Union, Lafayette, Bucknell. Trinity has Engineering Science - might work.

For the marine stuff, some of these work too - but then throwing in another - College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine.

Earth Science opens up more LACs.

Most - not all - engineering schools are large - but some like New Paltz, Widener, U Ha, Clarkson etc. aren’t.

First thing:

  1. Settle on a budget - that you’re full pay doesn’t mean you want to pay $95K. Don’t say you can swing it - need a specific $$

  2. What state are you in?

  3. If a Junior, plan for a college session next year

  4. If engineering is a possibility, you want to start there - easier to move out then in at most places.

If you can get us some answers, that will help.

Thanks

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Take a look at RIT.

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  1. We can pay upwards of $90k a year between income and 529, but preserving 529 funds for grad school or otherwise is appealing.

  2. Connecticut

  3. She’s a sophomore, but needs to plan ahead for athletic recruiting purposes. Classes are highest rigor, had a hard start first semester but second semester was much better. She’ll take at least 3 APs each year through senior year, current math is precalc and science is chemistry.

  4. Agreed with your point on engineering and tell her the same. With sports being involved (and what I read online generally), a 3+2 isn’t a good approach, but I’d like her to have non-engineering options in case she changes her mind.

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  1. I’m asking for a specific #. In other words, I was full pay and I could afford anywhere. As WUSTL told me when they pushed ED and said I could get out of it if I can’t afford the #, I said - I can afford the # but I didn’t want to afford the #. I set a $50K max.

That’s what I’m asking - you could swing it - but you want to save for grad school - so what’s your #. If you say $50K, I’m going to tell you Bucknell, Lafayette, Lehigh aren’t happening - they might not admission wise anyway. But a Clarkson, New Paltz, ESF (amongst small schools), Hartford, and Gannon certainly will.

Many can pay but choose not to. I would set up a budget - otherwise you’ll end up spending more than you want - and you will be unhappy later. Everyone needs a budget. For some, that budget is $95K. For others, not.

As an aside, I’m a believer in spending the 529 first - vs. spreading it out. Of course, if you believe investment gains are ahead, that’s ok - but you could always add more as you pull out.

CT - so likely not what you want but regionals like CCSU can work - and save you $$. SUNYs are relatively inexpensive too.

You noted engineering

Chemical at UMass Lowell is part of the NE Tuition Break
Mechanical is at Lowell and URI
Ocean Engineering - if interest with Marine - is at URI and UNH

Marine Affairs - not sure what it is - is at URI
Marine Bio is at Salem St and U Maine at Machias
Marine Science - U Maine
Marine, Estuarine and Freshwater Biology - at UNH

All those are discounted for New England families.

So I think - most schools are big - but not all and then some (U Maine and UNH are small for flagships) - but the major will also determine class size.

  1. Obviously athletics changes things - but engineering is really the biggest limiter because if for example, she did Earth Science - then you open the worlds of Wheaton or Hobart or SUNY Geneseo or Ursinsus or Juniata or Allegheny or Susquehanna, etc.

  2. A 3+2 likely isn’t a good approach for most - even non-athlete…because who wants to leave their friends after 3 years and re start where others are established.

I think most every engineering school has non-engineering options - some more than others.

For smaller, take a look at New Paltz (only MechE, geology), ESF (where you can take classes at Syracuse…it’s sort of a small and big school all in one), U Maine, UNH, etc. but I realize they might not help with recruiting.

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Ideally we’re paying $75k or less per year, and DD is pretty cost-conscious since grad school might come into play.

I worry about course load and burnout for her doing engineering with athletics at play. Is a MEng degree a viable option if she doesn’t major in engineering or an engineering specialty in undergrad?

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Depending on the undergraduate course work and the particular type of engineering, it may require taking additional upper level undergraduate engineering prerequisites before or during the master’s degree program, since graduate level course work and/or research depends on upper level undergraduate course work knowledge.

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I think you should talk to the school / athletes - what are they majoring in - at a Clarkson, which is heavy tech?

You won’t need a graduate degree with engineering.

Yes, engineering is tough - others would be better to discuss as I’m not an athlete parent but clearly there are engineers in sports.

PS - I was hoping you’d choose a smaller # :slight_smile: $75K is tough - full pay is sometimes there to $95K…but with merit then lower. Or publics - will be cheaper.

Good luck.

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Cost-wise I told her no Tufts (ha), though seems like many schools are getting there.

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Engineering you can get as low as $20K - although it’s too early to know and it’d be out of the NE - but lots of schools are “solid cost” - half you budget or less.

The question - you hit it - can you do engineering and hockey or would one want to?

And if not, which takes precedence - the degree or the sport participation?

Just things to think about - I’m sure you have.

Do the coaches she’s been in touch with come from engineering schools?

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The teams have a mix of majors, but engineering in various disciplines is represented, so that brings some comfort. We’ve been to a few presentations from the coaches, and academics are definitely valued, including the rigor of what the athletes are studying. DD has also asked the students directly, unprompted by Mom and Dad, so we’re glad she’s considering.

Some schools above she can look into, just want her to think broadly at this point.

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