FIRST Class of 2014, Where are we going?

[pmangels17]

Update: Accepted - Villanova University

[Sarakiro]

I was accepted Early Decision I to Stevens Institute of Technology. I hope to meet some other FIRST robotics participants there. Feel free to message me.

[Connerd]

Applied:
University of Utah
Utah State University (Accepted)
New Mexico Military Institute (Accepted)

I'm going to Utah State, majoring in Chemistry, minoring in Mechanical Engineering. Hoping to join their robotics team/program.

[redengin33r]

Applied:
Kettering University (accepted)
Michigan Tech (accepted w/ scholarship offer)
University of Michigan

Going out of state was definitely out of my price range, but there's tons of great engineering schools that are local. Michigan and Michigan Tech are definitely preferred to Kettering (unless I get a massive scholarship) because they're public and subsequently much more affordable. U of M is my top choice because I love the honors colleges and programs, plus my twin sister wants to go into Kinesiology and we want to stay together. There's not many schools that have great programs for both, but U of M is one of them.

To make a point about FIRST on applications: FIRST is THE reason I'm going to get accepted and excel in the university of my choice. I've been fortunate enough to work on a great team and learn tons of things about engineering, leadership, and what I want to do with my life. My networking through FIRST landed me a college level engineering internship before graduating high school, which is a definite bonus. However, the way you portray your FIRST experience dictates how colleges will view it. Play it up; what we do is inspirational and important, but we're not just a group of nerds playing with robots: we're the future. In addition, it's not just about the concrete skills you gain. The moments that have influenced me the most haven't come behind the glass or at a presentation: they've been working, teaching, and inspiring fellow students, younger kids, and being inspired by my mentors. I really tried to express that in my essays.

To be fair, grades and test scores are still important. I think people (especially us, as we're in the application process) think FIRST is getting watered down on college apps, but you have to consider the schools that high-caliber FIRST kids are applying to. When I saw this list, I was blown away! I considered applying to Purdue, Notre Dame, Olin, and a few other colleges, but nothing compared to the long lists of prestigious universities most of you guys applied to. Keep in mind that MIT is still MIT, Stanford is still Stanford, and that your acceptance status doesn't dictate who you are as a person.

[josmee443]

Any Cameron Crazies out there?

Applied:
UNC-Chapel Hill
University of South Carolina
UC Berkeley
UCLA
Duke (ED)

Accepted:
Duke

Hoping to see some FIRST students at Duke!

[MelodyPond]

Originally Posted by josmee443

Any Cameron Crazies out there?

Accepted:
Duke

Hoping to see some FIRST students at Duke!

I fell in love with Duke when I visited! I applied normal decision though, so I'm nervous to find out.

Applied/waiting:
Vanderbilt
University of Kentucky
Duke

Accepted:
University of Tennessee

Denied:
Stanford

[Kimmeh]

Originally Posted by redengin33r

Kettering University

Michigan and Michigan Tech are definitely preferred to Kettering (unless I get a massive scholarship) because they're public and subsequently much more affordable.

I've found Kettering to be far more affordable that I expected when I started. On the day of move in, the first thing I did was sit down with financial aid, explained my situation (my dad had been injured my senior year) and frankly asked if financially it made sense for me to attend. Fast forward a bit and I start my 8th term in January. (YIKES! When did this happen!?) I'll be honest, I've had a few terms where I haven't been able to register for classes until the day of class because I've needed money from work term to pay off my previous term. But as it stands now, I've paid less than $7,000 out of pocket, and have no private loans, only federal.

There's something nice to be said about only being in class for 22 weeks and watching your friends complain about finals when you finished yours weeks and weeks ago. (If you're on A-section that is.) What did I do last night? Went swing dancing. What's everyone else doing? Finishing finals. I'm pretty sure I had more fun. =D

[Hutchstang]

LSU @ Baton Rouge

Geaux Tigers

[c.shu]

Originally Posted by Kimmeh

I've found Kettering to be far more affordable that I expected when I started. On the day of move in, the first thing I did was sit down with financial aid, explained my situation (my dad had been injured my senior year) and frankly asked if financially it made sense for me to attend. Fast forward a bit and I start my 8th term in January. (YIKES! When did this happen!?) I'll be honest, I've had a few terms where I haven't been able to register for classes until the day of class because I've needed money from work term to pay off my previous term. But as it stands now, I've paid less than $7,000 out of pocket, and have no private loans, only federal.

There's something nice to be said about only being in class for 22 weeks and watching your friends complain about finals when you finished yours weeks and weeks ago. (If you're on A-section that is.) What did I do last night? Went swing dancing. What's everyone else doing? Finishing finals. I'm pretty sure I had more fun. =D

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...

[kentochan]

Hey guys! I've always wanted to know where other FIRST people were gonna go, so this thread is totally awesome!

I am applying regular action/decision to MIT (dream school) and VT.

I'm looking at Mech Engineering (build team swag!) for my major and hope to continue to build robots

[JosephC]

I've been accepted to Oakland Community College, where I'll get my two year degree in Computer Science and then transfer to Georgia Tech to finish it up.

Gotta save that $$

[DakotaDyer]

Applied: Lake Superior State University.

Accepted: Lake Superior State University.

It's not the most impressive list, but it's a thing and I'm happy with it.

MSOE (the Milwaukee School of Engineering) has been my first choice school and so I didn't apply anywhere else after I was accepted into the Architectural Engineering program and offered a chance to apply for full ride scholarship.

I'm really excited about their collegiate FIRST program and they offer a $2500/yr scholarship to FIRSTers with a letter from a mentor!

[scooty199]

Wow.. a lot of good schools here.

Glad to see some Carnegie Mellon on here though! The Robotics program here is amazing! It's also a major!

If anyone is applying to CMU and has questions about any of the schools or the Robotics Institute (Absolutely amazing program, resources everywhere, labs everywhere) PM me. I can answer them or put you in touch with the right people .

[revengeneer]

Great idea!

I applied to Carnegie Mellon, Boston U, Santa Clara, RIT and CU Boulder. I haven't received anything back yet
Good luck to everyone on their college acceptance process.