Expert: Bruce - 4/16/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have a SAT score of 1860:
Math: 780
Critical Reading: 530
Writing: 550

My high school examination results are due next month and I expect to get ~90%.

I also gave three SAT subject tests:
Mathematics 2: 800
Physics: 790
Chemistry: 800

Also I have a GPA average of about 3.5 out of 5.0 in the last two years (which is good since the highest in my school is 4.0)

I am ready to shell out about $20K per-year for college but the lesser the better.

I intend to major in Mathematics but I am *very* interested in Physics, Astronomy, Computer Science also.

Which is the best college I can get so that I can feed my appetite for knowledge and pay a reasonable amount.

ANSWER: I have a few quick questions before responding at length:

What is your ultimate career goal

Are you a US citizen?

Do you expect to receive need based financial aid for college?

Are you looking for a particular type of college, in a certain geographic area?

Bruce

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I want to go into O.R. (Operations Research).

I am not a U.S. citizen. I am an Indian.

I don't expect to receive need based aid. But in the second year I would like merit based aid (i.e. if I work hard in the first year.)

I am not looking for a particular type of college and have no geographic area in mind.

Answer
I thought I answered this already, but perhaps I intended to but forgot.

Here's a list of schools that you may want to look at as you check out US colleges:

Rider University
Rochester Inst of Technology
St. Bonaventure University
Clarkson University
Ithaca College
Rice University
Michigan Tech
Bryant College
Worcester Polytech
Florida Inst of Technology
San Jose State
Cogswell College
Cooper Union

Most of these are in the eastern US. I am more familiar with that region. I hope they prove to be a good starting point.

Bruce