- #1
Ritzycat
- 171
- 4
Hello friends. I am an incoming high school senior this year, and of course, the college application process is just around the corner. Despite my harsh troubles with Honors Chemistry last year, it was my favorite class. I am naturally a math & science oriented person, so I know this is the "line of work" I want to pursue. I understand in college, one changes their major on average 2-4 times. I however, am most interested in engineering at this point, so universities that have strong engineering departments are going to be at the top of my list. I may opt for another engineering field because it is to my understanding that most colleges offer a "general" engineering freshman year, giving me a taste of all the different disciplines so I can get an idea of them all before I specialize.
Nonetheless, the availability of chemical engineering is spearheading my search because as of now that is the most interesting field to me. I may one day decide to pursue a PhD but I don't want to get too far ahead of myself.
As a Missouri resident I am considering MOS&T. They have lots of engineering options, and an interesting biochemical specialization in their chemical engineering major. I am also applying to WashU, SLU, Tulane, Rochester, USC, Vanderbilt, University of Alabama (I am eligible for automatic full tuition scholarship here, +2.5k/yr for eng. majors), and Rice. Although many of these seem like expensive privates, running the net price calculators on their websites showed we would have to pay a fraction of the cost. WashU, USC, Vanderbilt, and Rice are very likely to reject me. (3.67 GPA & 32 ACT, 33 superscore). Rochester I have a better shot at. Tulane, SLU, UA, & MOS&T are almost guaranteed acceptances, however the former may not be affordable unless I receive a substantial merit scholarship.
I am likely going to attend the cheapest of the options, for the sake of simply reducing the amount of student loans & saving money for grad school (I am aware that engineering PhD candidates usually get a stipend and their tuition funded through research/teaching assistanceships, is this notion true?).
My end goal is to do research. That is what drives me most. It does not appeal to me to work in process development or working with oil, alternative energies, agricultural industries etc.
My questions are: have I thought this through reasonably? Am I looking too far ahead? Am I applying to universities that can help me reach my goals? Is my goal REASONABLE - that's my biggest dilemma.
Any answers from people who have been through this process or know a bit about it are greatly appreciated
Nonetheless, the availability of chemical engineering is spearheading my search because as of now that is the most interesting field to me. I may one day decide to pursue a PhD but I don't want to get too far ahead of myself.
As a Missouri resident I am considering MOS&T. They have lots of engineering options, and an interesting biochemical specialization in their chemical engineering major. I am also applying to WashU, SLU, Tulane, Rochester, USC, Vanderbilt, University of Alabama (I am eligible for automatic full tuition scholarship here, +2.5k/yr for eng. majors), and Rice. Although many of these seem like expensive privates, running the net price calculators on their websites showed we would have to pay a fraction of the cost. WashU, USC, Vanderbilt, and Rice are very likely to reject me. (3.67 GPA & 32 ACT, 33 superscore). Rochester I have a better shot at. Tulane, SLU, UA, & MOS&T are almost guaranteed acceptances, however the former may not be affordable unless I receive a substantial merit scholarship.
I am likely going to attend the cheapest of the options, for the sake of simply reducing the amount of student loans & saving money for grad school (I am aware that engineering PhD candidates usually get a stipend and their tuition funded through research/teaching assistanceships, is this notion true?).
My end goal is to do research. That is what drives me most. It does not appeal to me to work in process development or working with oil, alternative energies, agricultural industries etc.
My questions are: have I thought this through reasonably? Am I looking too far ahead? Am I applying to universities that can help me reach my goals? Is my goal REASONABLE - that's my biggest dilemma.
Any answers from people who have been through this process or know a bit about it are greatly appreciated