LakeWashington, love the thought, he would adore it, but COLUMBIA?? I will investigate, but never would imagine him getting/staying in…and I hate to say that as a parent…hard to judge realistic versus pessimistic…thanks for the encouragement!! 
This student has a 3.28 GPA and a 24 ACT. Columbia isn’t happening.
Think you are right, when hen…
Although RPI has crew (on the Hudson, ugh), the academics are sink-or-swim and would be a real stretch.
I agee, don’t bother filling out a Columbia app with a 3.28 GPA and 20-something ACT.
ETA: Has he thought about Trinity U in San Antonio? No crew, he may have to switch to Ultimate Frisbee. I may drag my little guy there over spring break to look at it.
My concern is in accordance with post #12.
Second on Michigan Tech. My wife’s two brothers are Tech grads. From Texas to Houghton, MI would be quite a weather shock, but culturally they are probably similar.
Magnetron, yes, was looking at Trinity today. I visited it with my oldest and was QUITE impressed. will do. Crew doesn’t need to make this decision, IMHO. I hear all the perks of sports in college…tutors, mandatory study time, a good instant “family”…but frankly, seems silly.
greeninohio, I told my boy tonight, that there is NO sense going halfway across the country, dealing with out of state tuition, air travel, etc IF the same thing can be found nearby…hate to be practical, but he is NOT a serious student…he needs a DEGREE. An education in engineering, doenst have to be MIT, as he couldn’t hack it anyway…not because he isn’t smart, but he isn’t dedicated to doing the work. HS proved that. He will do well, he just doenst need to spend all our money for something he can get closer to home…
SORRY FOR THE RANT, not at you, obviously!! Talking to myself, I believe!! thanks all!!
Mikemac. (post #12). I agree absolutely with what you are saying. I have an overachiever who does the work, and this isn’t him. I think an engineering degree from a middle of the rank school (U Arkansas for example) is fine. He is not going to magically become studious. And the Purdues of the world are not for him. I will encourage a reach school, or two…but I don’t know of a degree/area of study other than engineering that makes sense for him.
I am going over to the engineering forum and snoop around for less strenuous schools, and perhaps, other majors…thanks,
@nettiK4137, FWIW, a HS classmate of mine went to Tech. His roommates sold their books for beer money two weeks into the second semester…
There is a MTU forum on CC…not a lot of activity, but I think one of the incoming freshmen was from Texas.
The school has to be a fit, obviously. I thought perhaps a smaller school might have fewer distractions.
I will check it out. so the beer money peeps, they graduated? with degrees in what? funny!! are they employed?
No idea about the beer money kids. Houghton is very isolated (9 hours from Detroit) and I have heard that the weather and lack of girls is a motivator for those who are predisposed to enjoy adult beverages. Houghton has had 36 inches of snow so far this month.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology? Rolling admissions and automatic with “ACT composite score of 25 AND obtain an ACT math subscore of 25 (or SAT composite of 1130 and SAT Math subscore of 580) AND minimum cumulative GPA of a 2.0.” The total cost OOS is just under $20,000, plus travel of course.
I’ll admit that’s all I know, and I’ve never been to SD. D is considering adding it as another safety. I believe she thinks she’ll at least get a trip to SD out of it if she doesn’t get into any of her reaches.
What about a “3-2” engineering program? Student does three years at a liberal arts college and transfers to an engineering program for 2 years. I would even consider DeVry, ITT, or Ranken(MO). Some offer bachelors degrees as wells as associates.
Few kids starting out in a 3-2 complete it (for various reasons).
@Snowme, if you’re looking in to SD Mines, look in to NM Tech as well.