Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

I took plane from Boston (2 degrees) to San Diego (60 degrees) today and had a lot of time to think about this question.
Disclosure: Graduated from WPI with an MS in Mechanical Engineering and WPI Robotics Advisory Board Member. I am humbled to be on this board with member from Rethink Robotics, iRobot, Deka and other industrial members in the New England area.
WPI is the first school to offer an undergraduate degree. I spend time with college students from their Masters program. They also have a new PhD program. Here the robots and research projects have a DARPA or NASA influence, competitions and awards. There are also humanoid robots – some of my favorites.
WPI’s K-12 robotics outreach has grown to be recognized throughout the country on different platforms, FRC, FLL and VEX.
As other members have stated, the fact that you are a member of a FIRST team is not what college admissions or employers want to hear. We want to hear, what you did and how did FIRST make a difference to you and those around you. Can you work independently and in a team – give me examples? Describe a major problem you had in FIRST and how did you solve it?
Coming from California, winter in Worcester is cold. But you get used to it. It’s a dry cold. Sometimes it’s a wet cold. You need boots and a good winter jacket, hat and gloves.
I have been to 80% of the schools or worked with students, professors and researchers at schools mentioned above. They all have great outreach, at Purdue, it’s EPICS program is known throughout the country. At MIT, look up the Edgerton Center.
I have never been to an engineering school that wasn’t great. Northeastern has one of the best co-op departments in the world. San Diego State University Baja team works harder than any team I know to prepare for competition with a small team. A few years ago, Texas A&M students challenged themselves to go to Formula Hybrid – even though they were doing great in Formula SAE.
At Rutgers, where I got my undergraduate in mechanical engineering, I found activates that interested me outside the classroom, designing in 3D CAD that introduced solid geometry, a new field at the time, and communicating to a small robot through the microprocessor on an Apple IIe. It was revolutionary!

It’s all what you make of your school and the opportunities at that school. If all things are equal to you, then I look to the finances. Everyone on CD knows math. Interest rates on loans, not matter how low, are tough to pay back – even on an engineer’s starting salary.

If you are going for a college interview, know the school’s outreach just as much as you review their engineering departments. Outreach is our life responsibility as engineers.

Many engineering colleges mentor robot teams. Last month, I was at UNLV engineering department only to run into a VEX robot team on the way to visit an SAE team.

If you are fortunate to visit a campus once, even twice – may three times if it is close. Stand in an engineering building close your eyes and picture yourself there 8 months from now. How do you feel? Marie

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

I'm not a senior, but this is my third and last year of doing FIRST (as a student). I've been accepted to a boarding school in Switzerland with an awesome scholarship. They were impressed with my experience in robotics and my interest in STEM. Being on a FIRST Robotics team definitely pays off!

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Next year I will be attending Washington University in St. Louis (BME/PreMed). Couldn't be happier! Now for a great last season of FRC as a student participant. Good luck y'all!

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

I've applied to the University of Washington, as well as The University of Advancing Technologies which is down in Arizona (my first choice!!). I'm really excited to go into Roboticsa Engineering!!

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Accepted
University of Missouri Science and Technology
Mizzou

Applied and waiting
Harvey Mudd
MIT
Rose Hulman
Rice
Washington University in St Louis

Preference order:
Mudd
Wash U
Rolla

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Applied:
Penn State
Georgia Tech
MIT
Purdue
Illinois (Urbana Champaign)
Michigan

Accepted:
Georgia Tech
Purdue
Illinois

Deferred:
Michigan
MIT

Waiting:
Penn State

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

I've applied to a lot of schools personally, because I'm honestly not sure about how likely I'd be to be accepted into them.

Accepted:

University of Missouri-Columbia (MU)
Rolla (Missouri S and T)
Iowa State
UMKC (University of Kansas City-Missouri)
Kansas University (KU)

Waiting:

Cornell
University of Pennsylvania
Columbia
Stanford
Northwestern
University of Chicago
Purdue
Yale
Brown
Vanderbilt
Vassar


Goodluck to everyone on their college acceptances! I guess we'll all find out before the end of April for sure. -waits in anticipation-

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Applied and accepted to Georgia Tech! Ready to be a helluva engineer :)

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Hi guys!! Class of 2014!

Applied/Accepted:
Bradley University
University of Illinois in Chicago
University of Alabama

Applied/Waiting:
Northwestern

Seriously though guys the wait is KILLING ME. Any comments about any of these schools? :) Good luck to everyone with their super awesome future plans!!

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

I got an invitation to Franklin W. Olin's College of Engineering "Candidates Weekend" - any other potential Oliners here?

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

There are some pretty impressive lists here! Mine:
Applied: Purdue, Texas A&M, Embry Riddle Daytona Beach
Accepted: All:
going to Embry Riddle for Aerospace Engineering, 90% full ride! waiting on FIRST Scholarship for that last bit.

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Ja, man!

Which weekend are you going? I'm the last one, 28th to the 1st.

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

Mechanical Engineering

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

I've applied to:
University of Toledo (Accepted)
Indiana Institute of Technology [Indiana Tech] (Accepted)
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (Decision pending)
Kettering University (Decision pending)

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Just an update:

I'e accepted an offer from Carleton University (Ottawa, ON) for Communications Engineering

I am a Kettering grad, and have to say I was extremely satisfied with my experience there. This was especially true of the co-op program, which I genuinely believe to be one of the best in the world.

I was fortunate enough to receive substantial FIRST and academic scholarships, and had to pay only a minimal amount out of pocket for tuition. With co-op earnings, I actually made money during my 4 years at the school. More than enough to buy a car, start up my own company, and begin my life as an adult. All this while earning a degree and gaining real engineering experience at some of the world's best companies. At the end of the 4 years, I had a job all but guaranteed at my co-op, at better than a starting salary because of the existing co-op experience.

Kettering isn't for everyone. The first year attrition rate is pretty indicative of that. A lot of students can't handle the accelerated/compressed academic term, and long co-op hours. You don't have to be a genius, but you'd better learn how to consistently work hard. But if it's the right place for you, you can get an incredible experience there that few, if any, schools can match.

BTW, few young people know that Kettering University used to be GMI, which was General Motors' Engineering and Management Institute. It has a long and storied history as one of the world's best engineering institutions, with alumni who've done some incredible things.

Not bad for a school that probably has fewer students on campus than your high school. I think there were only 1200 in my section during my time there. In fact I still keep in touch with some of my professors!

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Applied to:
Embry- Riddle Daytona, Florida Institute of Technology, Kettering, Rose Hulman, George Mason, Baylor, Howard, WIT, RIT, WPI, UMaine, UMF

Accepted: Embry- Riddle Daytona, Florida Institute of Technology, Kettering, George Mason, Baylor, WIT, UMaine, UMF.

Waiting on: RIT, Howard

Going for Mechanical Engineering, focusing in Automotive. Hoping to go to Embry- Riddle Daytona, but waiting to see where I get the best financial aid from.

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Heading to Georgia Tech next year!

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Is anyone else going to UCF in the fall? I feel like out of the roughly 3,638 (last year's number) incoming freshmen, odds are that there are a few FIRST participants, but between here and the Facebook group, I think that I have maybe found one other person.

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Any other Stanford kids out there?

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Not to mention if you are B-section it aligns almost perfect with competition season for FIRST! I just have to decide between class on Friday or MSC...

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Just heard that two students on FRC 11 MORT both found out they were accepted to Yale while they were at the Hawaii Regional. What a great place to receive such wonderful news!

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Our engineering captain was just accepted into RICE, Cornell, and Stanford.

University of Alabama
Central Michigan University
Indiana State University
Harding University
Michigan Tech University
U of M Dearborn
Oakland University

Applied and accepted to all. Debating Alabama and Indiana state

Applied and Accepted:
MIT
Princeton
Stanford
Vanderbilt
University of Alabama

Has anyone visited any of the first three listed? I'm making visits to those schools this month, and I would love to hear any of your opinions on them.

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Although I can't speak for Indiana State, I have visited Alabama at least 5 times. I was impressed by the new engineering buildings and computer labs. That's definitely something to take into account. However, you can't really make a wrong college decision with that list.

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Though i did not apply to any of those (waayyy out of my league) I have had the opportunity to visit Stanford several times (for camps and sports stuff). It is a BEAUTIFUL campus. I absolutely adore it and the area over all is just amazing. It still is opinion based, but if one of your major factors is the feel and look of the campus, then Stanford is a good choice.

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

I grew up in the Princeton area. Great town, wonderful school! 1923 has a mentor who worked with us when he was a Princeton student. I'll see if he'd be able to get in touch with you re: any questions you may have.

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Proud to be going to Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering!

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

I applied to 7 schools, got into 6 (pfff Cornell whatever).
I'm likely going to either RPI, WPI, or RIT.
Anyone else going there? I'm pretty torn between the three right now. One is currently ten grand per year less than the other two so I'll likely end up there if more money doesn't come through.

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Acceptance Update:
CORNELL! With possible softball spot (My other half applied for me without telling me)
USF Honors and Civil Engineering
GMC
FGCU Honors

Rejected at U of Florida :confused:

Still attending USF

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Proud to say that I will be attending the University of Notre Dame for Mechanical Engineering in the fall! I can't wait. It's great to see how many FIRST-ers are getting into really fantastic schools, I am honored to be among your company.

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

You should come mentor with team 4561 then :D We are just a couple miles south of Duke.

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Looks like I'll probably be headed to Harvey Mudd next year! Other options right now are CU-Boulder and URochester, but I think I like Harvey Mudd the best right now (the fact that it's the cheapest helps too). Pretty happy about it. :D

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Only needed to apply to one college :D

Major:
Mechanical engineering

Applied:
University of North Dakota (accepted)

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Accepted:

Centenary College of Louisiana (95% sure on attending)
Colorado School of Mines
Davidson College
Trinity University
University of Alabama
University of Oklahoma

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Rejected:
Princeton
Waitlisted:
Carnegie Mellon
Cornell
Stanford :'(
Accepted:
Virginia Tech
Vanderbilt
WPI
MIT!!!!!!!!

Probably going to end up comMITting to MIT but I might stay on the Stanford wailtlist just to see what happens.

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

:cool: Applied:
Florida Institute of Technology, Drexel University, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech

:D Accepted:
Florida Institute of Technology, Drexel University, University of Maryland Baltimore County

:( Rejected:
Georgia Tech

FIRST Scholarships Received:
Florida Institute of Technology $14,000

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

I'll definitely consider it. Not sure if I'll be able to put in much time, what with college work and all, but I'll try and remember to contact y'all when I'm down in durham!

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Some excellent schools here guys. Congrats Class of 2014. Now you're just inching down to graduation and your "Post-FIRST" life.






Who am I kidding, there is no Post-FIRST life!

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Accepted
MIT
CIT
U-DUB

I'am going to U-DUB on a full ride for Aerospace Engineering.

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

I've applied to
University of Ontario Institute of Technology
Macmaster University
University of Western Ontario

All for engineering, only accepted to UOIT so far, hoping for the other ones but my grades are a few points low because of my team time commitments.

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Anyone else going to school in Utah, specifically Utah State University? I've been approached about starting a team up in Logan, UT, and would love to have some help.

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Accepted:
University of Pennsylvania
Cornell University
Duke University
Johns Hopkins University
University of Rochester
City College
SUNY Binghamton
SUNY Stony Brook

Denied:
University of Chicago :mad:

I plan on majoring in Chemistry, and I'm leaning towards UPenn !

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Attending University of Minnesota-- College of Science and Engineering. Looking forward to working with GoFIRST!

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Looks like I'm about 90% sure I'll be heading to Harvey Mudd College! Planning on majoring in Physics. I'd like to still be involved with FIRST but I'm not sure I'll be able to mentor - just being a student this semester has hurt my grades enough.

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

I will be attending Wright State University for Theatre Design/Technology on a full ride plus, planning to concentrate in Sound Design.

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Applied: (*Accepted)
Annapolis
Georgia Tech
UMichigan
*UIllinois
*Penn State
*UCONN
*WPI
*Clarkson
Going to WPI on a NROTC Scholarship! Looking forward to mentoring a team and volunteering at events. There are local FRC teams and they hold some great competitions in the area.

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Currently enrolled in UNLV for the fall of 2014. Staying in town so I can mentor the team and save some money. Plus I have work doing Solidworks in town, so why leave?

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Applied and Accepted
WPI
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Tech
University of Dayton
University of Kentucky

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Just go ahead and stop there. That's the only one that matters IMO. :D

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

The 3 seniors on our team are going to West Point, Air Force Academy and WPI!

The Highlanders
#4499

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Heading off to the University of Guelph in Ontario!

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

It would be but Notre Dame has been my dream school for as long as I can remember, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to join the Fighting Irish. They've been my team moreso than any NFL team for a long time now, and its such a fitting campus for me.

(Not any sort of dig at the Boilermakers, Purdue is an awesome school, just a bit big for my taste)

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Accepted:
WPI
UCSD
UCI

Committed to UCI

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

University of Pittsburgh, Swanson School of Engineering :)

Other seniors on our team are going to Caltech, UCLA, Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech... it was a pretty great year for us, actually!

Committed to Norwich University!

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

I will be attending RIT in the fall. Anybody else going?

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

I'm gonna be attending NJIT.

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Applied to too many (16?) And was accepted to about half. Funny story: Hofstra gave me a scholarship with a stickynote stating it was because of robotics.

Attending University of Hartford for Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in manufacturing.


(FYI: Still looking for a roomate)

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Aye!

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Attending the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in the fall

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Attending Johns Hopkins for Mechanical Engineering.

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Anyone attending Cal Poly SLO?

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

One step ahead of me Adam!

Two of our seniors are attending UC Davis in the fall, anyone else attending UCD?

Re: FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?
 

Attending Columbia University for Engineering! :)