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scoop
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| Joined: | Wed Oct 4th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 565 |
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Posted: Mon Feb 25th, 2008 12:01 pm |
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| My kids attended an international school for three years. D1 came back to the states in time to start middle school. Even after that short a time, it was a difficult transition. It all worked out in the end, thankfully. It's wonderful that your nephew has you for information and support. Best of luck to him.
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skibum
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
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Posted: Wed Feb 27th, 2008 02:40 am |
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Why would he think that Cal Tech is too big?? He must be confused. It is less than 1000 students!
I don't have a lot to add to what has already been suggested. My s wanted to be an applied physics major (though ultimately meandered into a Mech engineering major with physics concentration and is about to graduate). He wanted similar things as your nephew. Of the 13 schools he looked at, he liked Williams, Amherst, Brown and Tufts, but LOVED and chose Rice. He also looked at Dartmouth, but they'd had an upheaval in their Physics dept back then. He wasn't wild about Cal Tech or Harvey Mudd. Didn't look at Stanford or Rose Hulman (has anyone mentioned Rose Hulman?) and didnt like Yale, Columbia, MIT, Harvard or Ga Tech. Hope this helps. Good luck!
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outwest
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 4th, 2007 |
| Location: | CA |
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Posted: Wed Feb 27th, 2008 03:03 am |
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Thanks skibum, that is helpful. He never said anything about the size of Cal Tech. He just didn't care for the atmosphere. If I said something liek it was too big, that was my mistake. I don't think I mentioned Tufts to him. Thanks for the other suggestions, too.
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Shennie
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Posted: Thu Feb 28th, 2008 03:15 pm |
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| Swarthmore has a sizable group of international students for a school its size. However, it is very difficult to get in, even for top students. Definitely worth a look, though.
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mackinaw
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| Joined: | Mon Mar 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | Michigan |
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Posted: Thu Feb 28th, 2008 05:24 pm |
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OW, Shennie's remark is also a reminder that even with your nephew's stellar credentials, admission can be highly competitive. And so he, too, should take a "reach-match-safety" strategy. That would recognize that some colleges are so selective that they should never be regarded as a safety or even a match. Also, to the extent that financial aid is critical, then moving down the hierarchy just a bit (or making sure to have good matches in the mix) may increase his chances of merit aid at colleges that are acceptable to him.
Although I know you are wise to the ways of college admission and financial aid, I'm a little concerned that this wisdom might not translate to your sister and nephew overseas, who may focus mainly on the "best" and not prepare for the uncertainties of the admissions and aid process.
Last edited on Thu Feb 28th, 2008 05:44 pm by mackinaw
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outwest
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 4th, 2007 |
| Location: | CA |
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Posted: Sun Mar 2nd, 2008 03:24 am |
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Very good point. Financial aid may be a factor because they have no bills/mortgage/taxes/utilities at all so their efc may very well be full pay. We are visiting this summer and I will share some stuff learned after three kids going through the process. Everyone wants the best for him, but they are not averse to safeties. They were looking at Cal Poly Pomona for a financial/admission safety, but I don't think they need to do a public safety necessarily.
Last edited on Sun Mar 2nd, 2008 03:50 am by outwest
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WestrnMom
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| Joined: | Fri May 26th, 2006 |
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Posted: Sun Mar 2nd, 2008 08:54 pm |
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Outwest, if he wants a safety with his GPA Cal Poly Pomona might be too easy for him in the sense that they take a lot of students from their local geographic area based on location rather than stats, so the competition is going to be pretty low. He should also apply to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. With his grades and stats, he should be able to get into their Physics department. For science, that is my preference even over some of the UCs because they start taking their upper division major classes during freshman year and they have a hands-on approach, just like CPP, with a senior year co-op program where they can work in the field and get school credit and sometimes even a paycheck.
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Lynda
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Posted: Sun Mar 2nd, 2008 09:26 pm |
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Cal Poly Pomona is a great school, not far from where I grew up. I don't know about physics, but I am told engineering is difficult to graduate in 4 years. A friend's son is in his 4th year but mom says he cannot get the classes to graduate. Registering priority goes by units I am told.
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outwest
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Posted: Mon Mar 3rd, 2008 05:02 am |
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Cal Poly Pomona is a great school. I don't really think it is much different than Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for this major. I don't think he should go there, though, because overall I think he will be too far ahead of the beginning students. That isn't to say it isn't a terrific Cal State, though. It is beautiful, too, with all the agriculture and farming majors adding a nice outdoorsy feel to this Cal State.
He will find where he wants to apply and I am sure he will pick a couple financial and admission safeties, too. I'll find out just in case, though. 
Last edited on Mon Mar 3rd, 2008 05:02 am by outwest
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lfm
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| Joined: | Sat Jul 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | California USA |
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Posted: Tue Mar 4th, 2008 03:31 am |
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| You say he is using Cal Poly as an economic safety. Will he be considered for instate tuition, since he lives abroad? Paying out of state can erode into the affordability of the state colleges.
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outwest
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 4th, 2007 |
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Posted: Tue Mar 4th, 2008 04:55 am |
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Yep, economic safety. He is not a resident of any state in the US, so none of the public universities are 'in state' for him (his parents pay no state taxes anywhere).
The Cal States are reasonable for an out of state student in comparison to other state universities and there is family near by. He shouldn't need a public for a financial safety because, as you mentioned, going to them if you aren't a resident erodes the financial advantage. You might be able to go private for the same cost if you got a little aid or merit. Publics give merit, too, though.
Like I said, it is an unusual situation.
Last edited on Tue Mar 4th, 2008 04:58 am by outwest
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