Cover Letter To Schools - Walk Across Texas: Fill & Download for Free

99 Tiny Stories to Make You Think, Smile and Cry:Today, it’s been ten years since my abusive ex-fiancé sold my favorite guitar. He sold it on the day I left him. When I went to claim my belongings, he was proud that he had sold it to a pawn shop. Luckily, I managed to track down the guy who bought it from the pawn shop. He was really sweet, and gave it back to me for free, on the condition that I accompany him on his front porch for an hour to play guitar with him. He grabbed a second guitar and we ended up sitting there on his porch for the rest of the afternoon playing music, talking, and smiling. He’s been my husband for nine years now. MMTToday would have been the 127th day in a row that I visited her at the hospital as she rested in a coma. But last night I had a dream that she died, and I woke up in tears this morning and couldn’t bring myself to drive to the hospital to see her lying there like that. So I stayed in bed, staring at the ceiling, and thinking of how I was going to have to learn to live without her for the rest of my life. And then my phone rang, and it was her. MMTToday, about an hour after I lost my wallet, a man showed up at my front door with it. Everything was intact including the $200 in cash. As I expressed my gratitude, he explained to me that he hopes doing the right thing pays off for him. “Oddly enough, I lost my wallet sometime this morning too,” he said. “I had about the same amount of cash in there that you have and all my cards and IDs.” Without thinking about it, I pulled out $100 and handed it to him. “Take this, I insist,” I said. “Just in case you don’t find your wallet, we’ll split the cash.” He gratefully accepted the money and left. This evening he knocked on my door again. “Here’s your $100 back,” he said. “A woman found my wallet and returned it and all my cash about an hour ago.” MMTToday, while I was browsing in a secondhand bookshop, I found a copy of a book that had been stolen from me when I was a kid. I opened it and saw, on the first page, in familiar hand writing, my own name. It had been a gift from my (now late) grandfather. Next to my name my grandfather wrote, “I hope you rediscover this book someday when you’re older, and it makes you think about the important things in life.” MMTToday, a week after I donated three bags of clothes to a local homeless shelter, I saw a homeless woman sitting on a park bench wearing a tye-dyeshirt I made when I was a teenager. I walked by her and said, “I love your shirt!” She smiled and said, “Thank you! I really do too!” MMTToday at 7AM, I pulled over on my way to work to help a lady change a flat tire. At 4PM, she saved my life when she randomly saw me downtown and yanked me backward out of a crosswalk as a car ran the red light. MMTToday, it’s been five years since my mom was in a car accident that resulted in her losing all of her long-term memory from before the crash. When I was little, my mom and I used to quote a ‘Winnie the Pooh’ book as an inside joke. One of us would ask, “Have you ever seen a dragon fly?” And the other would reply, “I have, I have seen a dragon fly!” This evening I was sitting with her while we were watching TV and I randomly asked, “Have you ever seen a dragon fly?” And she responded with, “I have, I have seen a dragon fly!” We stared at each other for a prolonged moment, and then she jumped out of her seat and exclaimed, “Oh my god, I remember!” MMTToday, I have a disorder which frequently makes me faint for a few seconds, making it hard for me to be independent and hold down a steady job. I used to be really depressed about it, but my family and friends turned my illness into a game, seeing who could make me laugh the hardest when I returned to consciousness. They have also turned catching me into a sport. Believe it or not, I haven’t hit the floor once in the past two years. Someone has always been there to catch me. MMTToday was my first day back on the job after more than a year on disability leave due to a freak explosion in the plant that, among other injuries, left me legally deaf in both ears. When I walked into the plant this morning several of my colleagues signed me phrases like “Great to see you,” “Welcome back,” and “We missed you.” It turns out that nine of my colleagues got together and took a sign language course, just like I did, over the last several months. They did this so they could easily communicate with me when I returned. Their compassion MMT.Today, I am an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran. Upon arriving home three years ago from my final tour to Afghanistan I found out that my wife had been cheating on me and had spent/stole almost all of our money. I had nowhere to stay and no phone and was suffering from severe anxiety problems. One of my close friends from high school, Shawn, and his wife, seeing that I was in need of help, took me in and let me live with their family of five. They helped me deal with my divorce and get my life together. Since then, I’ve moved into my own place, opened a fairly successful diner, and my friend’s kids call my Uncle Jay when they see me. The way they adopted me into their family in my desperate time of need will always MMT.Today, I have been a counselor for foster care children for almost 15 years. This afternoon I ran into one of my previous foster children I hadn’t seen in over 5 years. About 10 years ago, on a day he was really upset and mad at life, I drew him a sketch of a superhero and wrote him a note on an index card about how he is a superhero and that superheroes always rise up and win in the end. I saw him today as I walked past the local fire station. He’s now a fire fighter. He recognized me as I walked by and ran up to me. We talked for about a half hour, and then before we parted ways he took his wallet out of his pocket and pulled out the superhero index card I made for him when he was a kid. MMTToday, I have diabetes. Two years ago, after my mom passed away, I inherited her cat, Kita. At 3AM this morning Kita woke me up by sitting at the foot of the bed and meowing VERY loud over and over again. I had never heard her sound that way, so I sat up in bed to see what was wrong. As soon as I did, I realized I felt extremely lightheaded and weak. I grabbed my glucose meter and tested myself. My level was down to 53. Normal, according to my doctor, is between 70 and 120. My doctor told me that had Kita not awakened me, I may have never awakened at all. MMTToday, we live in a lower-middle-class neighborhood. My wife was just diagnosed with breast cancer, so my 14-year-old son decided that he wanted to raise money to help pay for some of her miscellaneous medical expenses. His idea was to go door to door around the neighborhood with battery operated hair clippers and let people shave a part of his head for a small donation of their choosing. He asked me whether a $100 goal would be too much. I told him not to get his hopes up. He came back home ten minutes ago with a totally bald head and $1,223. Two people gave him $100 bills. MMTToday, it’s been ten years since my best friend became ill and needed a kidney transplant. As I was a fitting donor, I chose to donate one of my healthy kidneys to her even after doctors said her chance of survival was only 30%, and that there would be inherent risks to my health as well. But here I am at 10AM, getting ready to drive to her wedding venue where, in just a few short hours, I will be her maid of honor as she marries the love of her life who she happened to meet at the hospital ten years ago. MMTToday, I was buying food at the grocery store for my family, but at the checkout counter my debit card came back declined for over-withdrawal. (I’ve been laid off from work for awhile now and am barely making ends meet.) As I quickly explained myself to the cashier and started putting back some of the food I had picked out, the man in line behind me stepped forward and paid for all my groceries. I thanked him, and he said, “Someone did the same thing for me several years ago. This is my opportunity to pay it forward. I hope you can do the same someday.” MMTToday, exactly 10 months after suffering from a severe stroke that nearly killed him, my dad got up from his wheelchair without any help for the first time, and slow danced with me during the father/daughter dance at my wedding. MMTToday, a big stray dog randomly followed me from the subway on my walk home. For about six blocks he followed just a few paces behind me. And just as this began to freak me out, a guy came out of nowhere, held a knife up to my face, and yelled, “Give me your purse!” Before I had a chance to react, the stray dog lunged at the man and bit his leg. He dropped the knife and fell to the ground as I ran away. I am now at home, safely, because of that dog. MMTToday my son, who I adopted eight months ago at the age of seven, called me ‘mom’ for the very first time. MMTToday, I’m a police officer stationed at the state court house. This afternoon the judge finalized a case in which a 3-year-old boy was officially adopted by his late mom’s best friend two years after the boy’s parents and grandparents died in a car accident. The boy has been living with his mom’s best friend ever since the accident, and he treats her as if she is his real mom. Once the adoption was approved, everyone in the courtroom was smiling. But before the judge had a chance to slam the gavel and dismiss everyone, the boy ran up to the judge and asked if he could do it. The judge laughed and nodded yes. So, smiling ear to ear, the boy sat on the judge’s lap, looked up at everyone in the courtroom, slammed the gavel, and finalized his own adoption. MMTToday, my 17 year old autistic brother, Kevin, played guitar and sang every single word, flawlessly, to the Lifehouse song ‘Hanging by a Moment’ for his girlfriend (who is also autistic) on their one year anniversary. His girlfriend’s smile lit up the room. Although he struggles with a severe speech impediment, he has been practicing for this every single day since they first started dating. MMTToday, at the local convenience store where I work an elderly man with a guide dog came in, went to the aisle with the greetings cards, picked up a card, held it up extremely close to his face, and struggled to read it. Just as I was about to walk over to help him, a big truck driver asked him if he needed assistance reading, and then proceeded to read him almost every single greeting card out loud until the elderly man smiled and said, “That’s perfect! My wife will love that one!” MMTToday, when I landed at J.F.K. for a business trip, I turned on my phone and was inundated with several voicemails and text messages from family and close friends back in Seattle. “Call home. Your mom had a severe stroke and is currently in intensive care,” read the first text message to pop-up on my phone. My boss was with me, told me she’d handle things herself, and insisted that I catch the next flight back home. As I stood in line at the ticket counter, talking to my brother about my mother’s condition, crying, and explaining that I was going to try to make a flight that leaves in 30 minutes, the twelve people in line in front of me overheard my conversation and let me skip to the front. Then after the Delta rep quickly issued me a ticket, she walked around the counter, handled me a box of tissues, and before I had a chance to react, gave me a big hug. I made my flight. And my mom is now in stable condition. MMTToday, a deaf-mute child I have been caring for 5 days a week for the last 4 years looked up at me this afternoon after I fed him his favorite lunch and spoke aloud to me for the first time. He said, “Thank you, Monica. I love you.” MMTToday, the man that saved my life 28 years ago when he singlehandedly fought off three other men who were trying to rape me, walks with a cane due to the leg injury he suffered by doing so. And he looked so proud today when he put down his cane and slowly walked our daughter down the aisle. MMTToday, outside the doctor’s office, approximately 15 minutes after we received the discouraging news about my incurable cancer, she got down on one knee and asked me to marry her. MMTToday, my dad is the best dad I could ask for. He’s a loving husband to my mom (always making her laugh), he’s been to every one of my soccer games since I was 5 (I’m 17 now), and he provides for our family as a construction foreman. This morning when I was searching through my dad’s toolbox for a pliers, I found a dirty folded up paper at the bottom. It was an old journal entry in my dad’s handwriting dated exactly one month before the day I was born. It reads, “I am eighteen years old, an alcoholic who is failing out of college, a past cutter, and a child abuse victim with a criminal record of auto theft. And next month, ‘teen father’ will be added to the list. But, I swear I will make things right for my little girl. I will be the dad I never had.” And I don’t know how he did it, but he did it. MMTToday, I have an elderly patient who is suffering from a severe case of Alzheimer’s. He can rarely remember his own name, and he often forgets where he is and what he said just a few minutes beforehand. But by the stretch of some miracle (perhaps the miracle of love), he remembers who his wife is every morning when she shows up to spend a few hours with him. He usually greets her by saying, “Hello my beautiful Kate.” MMTToday, I’m a teacher in a low income neighborhood in greater Detroit. Because their parents don’t have enough money, some of my students come to school without lunch, or without money for lunch. So I lend them a few dollars here and there to buy a school lunch when they are short on cash. I’ve been doing this for several years, and other teachers think I’m crazy. But of the few hundred dollars I’ve lent students over the years, I have received every single cent back. Sometimes it takes them a few weeks, but every one of my students has paid me back without me asking. MMTToday, when my wife showed up to do a 5K walk in support of her breast cancer, over 200 of her current and past students (she’s a high school English teacher) and several of her colleagues showed up, unexpectedly, wearing pink shirts with her photo and a caption that read, “We’re going to beat this together.” I’ve never seen my wife so overwhelmed with joy before in my life. MMTToday, my cat got out of my downtown condo and got lost. I was sad because I figured I’d never see her again. About 24 hours after I posted flyers on telephone poles in the city I received a call from a man who found my cat. It turned out the man was homeless and used 50 cents to call me from a payphone. He was insanely nice and even bought a can of food for my cat. I gave the man all the cash I had on me as a reward. MMTToday, my brother spends most of his free time at school hanging out with the football team – he’s actually been working out with the team and everything. My brother has a mild case of autism. About a year ago my mom was ready to pull my brother out of school and have him home schooled due to excessive teasing from peers. One of the popular football players, who had stood up for him in the past, heard about this, explained the situation to his teammates and friends, and stood by his side until the teasing stopped. Now, a year later, he’s just ‘one of the guys.’ MMTToday, almost 5 years after I stopped volunteering at the suicide prevention hotline, the new manager gave me a call. She said this afternoon they received a $25,000 anonymous donation to help fund the support line. Along with the donation they received an email that read, “Thank you Claire. You saved my life.” Apparently, I’m the only Claire who ever volunteered there. MMTToday, a homeless man whom I recognize from around the neighborhood came into my bakery and purchased a large birthday cake (I gave him a 40% discount). I curiously watched as he walked the cake across the street to another homeless man. The other man started laughing and then the two men hugged. MMTToday, I watched a teenage boy help an elderly woman with a cane onto the city bus I was riding. He was so careful with her, assisting her every step of the way. The woman had the biggest smile on her face. They both sat directly across from me, and just as I was about to compliment her on having a wonderful grandson, the boy looked at her and said, “My name is Chris. What’s your name, ma’am?” MMTToday, I stopped on the side of the road to help an elderly man who was struggling with changing a flat tire. It turns out he was the firefighter who pulled my mom and me out of our burning apartment when I was a kid. Even though I hadn’t seen him in 30 years, it only took me a few seconds to recognize him. We chatted about it for awhile, and then as soon as I had the spare tire secured to his car, we looked at each other, shook hands and said, “Thank you,” simultaneously. MMTToday, my grandmother and grandfather, who were both in their early 90’s and married for 72 years, both died of natural causes approximately one hour apart from each other. MMTToday, my father had a serious heart attack in the waiting room at the hospital as my wife was giving birth to our first child. My father was waiting to welcome his first grandchild into the world. The doctors say he likely would have died if he wasn’t already at the hospital with medical care a few seconds away. But based on the lucky circumstances, he’s expected to make a full recovery. MMTToday, I witnessed a bad car accident at an intersection. An older drunk male with no headlights ran a light and hit a teenager’s car. The drunk driver’s car caught fire. Then the teenager, covered in blood, struggled out of his car, jogged to the burning vehicle and pulled the drunk driver to safety just before the cab of the vehicle burst into flames. MMTToday, I texted my supervisor to tell him I wouldn’t be able to come into work today due to the fact that I’m in the emergency room with my dad after he had a heart attack. I got a response saying I had the wrong number. But then a few minutes later the person called me, told me her prayers are with me and my dad, and then told me a story about how her dad made a full recovery from a heart attack last year. We spoke for a half hour and she made me feel better. People like her who convey unrelenting compassion and goodwill MMT.Today, after my daughter’s funeral I was going through my phone deleting all the condolence messages. There were so many of them that I simply selected ‘delete all,’ but one message didn’t delete. It was the last message my daughter left me before she passed and it was marked as ‘new.’ Sometimes my voicemail forces me to listen to messages before I can delete them, so played it. She said, “Hey dad, I just wanted to let you know I’m okay and I’m home now.” MMTToday, I walked up to the door of my office (I’m a florist) at 7AM to find a uniformed Army soldier standing out front waiting. He was on his way to the airport to go overseas for a year. He said, “I usually bring home a bouquet of flowers for my wife every Friday and I don’t want to let her down when I’m away.” He then placed an order for 52 Friday afternoon deliveries of flowers to his wife’s office and asked me to schedule one for each week until he returns. I gave him a 50% discount because it made my day to see something so sweet. MMTToday, my high school boyfriend, who I thought I’d never see again, showed me the pictures of the two of us he kept in his Army helmet while he was overseas for the last 8 years. MMTToday, a 9-year-old patient of mine will be undergoing her 14th surgery in the past 2 years to combat a rare form of cancer. Even after all the surgeries I’ve never seen her frown. She’s still 100% sure she’ll survive. And I’m certain her attitude is the primary reason she has survived to this point. She still laughs and plays with her friends and family. She has intelligent goals for the future. A kid like her who can go through everything she’s been through and come out smiling MMT.Today, during a fire evacuation at school, I ran outside to find one of the thugs at our school, who is notorious for being a tough guy, holding my little sister’s hand (she’s a special needs student) and telling her, “You’re okay. You’re safe,” and calming her down as she slowly stopped crying. MMTToday, in the background over the phone, I heard my 7-year-old son ask my wife, “If daddy’s job is going so well, how come he’s never home here with us?” MMTToday, when the chief ordered the firefighters to evacuate the building due to “extremely hazardous conditions,” I began to panic even more. My daughter was still trapped inside. But one fire fighter didn’t listen to the orders. Instead he ran around to another apartment unit that borders the other side of our unit, went out onto the balcony, jumped over to our balcony, smashed through the sliding glass door with an axe, and brought my daughter out alive. MMTToday, I was one of the paramedics on the scene where a professional skydiving instructor died due to a parachute failure. As we loaded the man’s body into the back of the ambulance, I noticed his t-shirt. It said, “I died doing what I love.” MMTToday, six months after his passing, I flew from Austin, Texas to Melbourne, Australia to clean out my brother’s overseas condo and finalize its sale. As you might imagine, the entire experience was a sad one. But one thing that jumped out at me was my brother’s desk planner. Two weeks before he passed he crossed out a 9-day vacation on his calendar with a note saying, “Not enough time, maybe next month.” MMTToday, as my grandpa rested in his hospital bed, desperately fighting pancreatic cancer, he squeezed my hand tight and said, “Promise me, no matter how good or bad you have it, you will wake up every morning thankful for your life. Because every morning you wake up, someone somewhere else will be desperately fighting for theirs.” MMTToday, after an 11 month tour of duty in the Army, my husband has been home from Afghanistan for 9 days. During a heavy rain storm this morning at 4AM, following a loud crack of thunder, my husband jumped out of bed, half asleep, and onto the floor and screamed, “Get down! Get down!” MMTToday, I told my 18 year old grandson that nobody asked me to prom when I was in high school, so I didn’t attend. He showed up at my house this evening dressed in a tuxedo and took me as his date to his prom. MMTToday, I watched in horror through the kitchen window as my 2-year-old slipped and fell head first into the pool. But before I could get to her, our Labrador Retriever, Rex, jumped in after her, grabbed her by her shirt collar and pulled her to the shallow steps where she could stand. MMTToday I turned 10. Yes I was born on 9-11-2001. My mom worked in the World Trade Center but wasn’t at work that day because she was giving birth to me. MMTToday, after several kids teased a less fortunate girl (who lives in a poorer neighborhood) this morning for always wearing the same clothes, seven students in my class went home at lunch time, emptied their drawers and closets and brought this girl 16 pristine and beautiful outfits to wear. I found out about this after I asked her why she changed her clothes after lunch today. MMTToday, I was sitting on the steps of a church waiting for a bus when I saw an old Catholic nun being assisted up the steps by a young man wearing a Muslim turban. Once they were at the top, the nun turned to the young man and said, “I can see both of our gods raise beautiful children. Thank you.” The young man smiled and nodded. MMTToday, our high school basketball team has a senior player who uses a wheelchair. He lost both of his legs from the knee down in a car crash when he was a sophomore. He was one of the best basketball players on the team at the time, so the coach insisted that he stay on the team to help coach the other players. He’s now the assistant coach, but he’s also the designated free throw shooter for injured players. When a player gets injured during a foul and can’t immediately shoot the foul shots, he rolls out to the foul line and takes the shots for the injured player. I’ve never missed a home game, and I’ve never seen him miss a shot. MMTToday, I paid my landlord back in full. Ten months ago I lost my job and couldn’t cover my rent for two months. Instead of putting my son and I on the streets, my landlord said, “You’ve been a good tenant for ten years and I know times are tough. Take your time, find another job, and pay me back as soon as you can.” MMTToday at 5AM, I asked an elderly man in the city where the nearest train stop was. He walked me to it and then waited next to me for 15 minutes. When the train finally arrived, he smiled and said, “Be safe out there, miss.” and then walked away without boarding the train. MMTToday, I was in a taxi on my way to work in Chicago when my blood glucose level suddenly dropped and I passed out. The taxi driver used all the tricks of his trade to get me to the hospital as quickly as possible. Apparently, he cut through a small park and drove over a median to get me there before it was too late. I know this because after I woke up, my nurse told me that my taxi driver “saved my life” and “physically carried me into the emergency room waiting area,” followed by a police officer who was after him for the said traffic violations. But then, my nurse said, “After the taxi driver explained himself, the police officer shook his hand and left.” MMTToday, two Orphan children (a boy and a girl) I used to care for years ago when they were teenagers are now married, are the owners of a successful marketing firm, own the home across the street from me, and have two beautiful children. And although I never officially adopted them, their two children call me ‘Grandma.’ MMTToday, I re-read the suicide letter I wrote on the afternoon of September 2nd 1996 about two minutes before my girlfriend showed up at my door and told me, “I’m pregnant.” She was honestly the only reason I didn’t follow through with it. Suddenly I felt I had a reason to live. Today she’s my wife. We’ve been happily married for 14 years. And my daughter, who is almost 15 now, has two younger brothers. I re-read my suicide letter from time to time as a reminder to be thankful – I am thankful I got a second chance. MMTToday, and every day for the last two months since I returned to school with burn scars on my face after being hospitalized for nearly a month for injuries I sustained in a house fire, a red rose was taped to my locker when I got to school in the morning. I have no clue who is getting to school early and leaving me these roses. I’ve even arrived early myself a few times to try to figure it out, but each time the rose was already there. MMTToday, as we were eating lunch at a diner my boyfriend leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek every few minutes when someone walked by. When I noticed what he was doing, I asked why. He said, “I want them to know you’re my girl.” We’re both in our mid-70’s and lost our spouses to cancer about 10 years ago. Second chances at love MMT.Today, my sister, who has Down Syndrome, followed through with her plan to sing at the school talent show. She’s been practicing her song diligently every afternoon for the last month, but it still worried me. I was terrified by the thought of how the students in the audience would respond to her. I just felt like there was a strong chance they would be mean. But they weren’t. In fact, she was the only act that received a standing ovation the entire night. MMTToday, two years after I was told I would never walk again, I got up out of my wheelchair and took my first few unassisted steps into my wife’s arms. MMTToday, one of my regular customers, an elderly man who has been eating in our diner every morning for the better part of 5 years, left me $500 in cash for his $7 breakfast. With the money, he left a small note that said, “Thank you, Cheryl. Your smile and hospitable service over the years gave me something to look forward to every morning after my wife passed. I’m moving to Long Island this evening to live with my son and his family. May the rest of your life be magical.” MMTToday, I unbuckled my seatbelt (I’m passionate about wearing my seatbelt) for two seconds so I could reach a printed map and directions sitting on the other side of the passenger seat. Just as I leaned over to grab it, I hit a big bump in the road and then my windshield shattered as a steel pipe that was hanging on the work truck driving in front of me shot, like a missile, through my windshield and directly into the center of the driver’s seat. I slammed on the brakes and crawled out of the passenger door. The cops that arrived at the scene couldn’t believe it either – there was an 8 foot steel pipe embedded into the driver’s seat, and it didn’t touch me. MMTToday, one of the football players at our school (who stands about 6’5) broke out in tears of joy and exclaimed, “Dad!” as he ran into his father’s arms in the middle of our Algebra II class. His father just returned home from Afghanistan early and came over to the school to surprise his son. MMTToday, I am a corporate accountant for a privately held chain of restaurants in the mid west. Our company employs several hundred people. The economic downturn has had a noticeable effect on the number of customers eating in our restaurants, but not a single employee has been laid off. But what our employees don’t know is that the owner hasn’t written himself a paycheck in six straight months. MMTToday, I was sitting on a park bench eating a sandwich I made myself for lunch when an elderly couple pulled their car up under a nearby oak tree. They rolled down the windows and turned up some jazz music on the radio. Then the man got out of the car, walked around to the passenger side, opened the door for the woman, took her hand and helped her out of her seat, guided her about ten feet away from the car, and they slow danced for the next half hour under the oak tree. MMTToday, I took a cab ride 16 blocks in Manhattan and when I got to my destination I realized I forgot my wallet at home. As I fumbled through my purse, trying to explain things to the cab driver and scrounge up enough cash, a man walked up behind me and handed me a $50 bill. “Thank you!” I said. “Let me have your address. I will pay you back.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out an old receipt and wrote down an address. “You can drop off my money here,” he said. This afternoon I went to the address he gave me and found myself standing in front of a soup kitchen that had a sign out front that said, “Accepting cash donations to feed the hungry.” I walked in and donated the $50. MMTToday, I’m a 3rd shift IT guy for a finance company in NYC. This evening I was updating our VPN server at 3AM when I noticed an employee was actively logged in. I got suspicious and I accessed their account on the backend to see what they were doing. They had just sent a suicide note in an email entitled “Thank you and goodbye.” I immediately looked up their home address in our corporate directory and called 911. This person’s son called me at 7AM, just before I got off my shift, to thank me and inform me that his mother is in stable condition in the hospital. MMTToday was the 10 year anniversary of my dad’s passing. When I was a kid he used to hum a short melody to me as I was going to sleep. When I was 18, as he rested in his hospital bed fighting cancer, the roles were reversed and I hummed the melody to him. I haven’t heard that melody since and almost completely forgot about it until last night. My fiancé and I were lying in bed. We were turned on our sides looking at each other when he started humming the melody to me. He said his mom used to hum it to him when he was a kid. MMTToday, after my dad ran out of options to come up with enough money to pay our mortgage he decided to sell his pristine 1969 Camaro that he restored and has babied for as long as I can remember. A wealthy local collector came to look at it this afternoon. When he realized how passionate my dad was about the car, he asked, “Why are you selling it?” My dad told him and then the collector handed my dad cash for the car and said, “Here’s $5k in cash. I have the rest in my trunk. I’ll be right back.” The collector walked out our front door, got in his car and drove away. MMTToday, my little brother’s internet start-up was purchased for $12,000,000. My brother is 17 years younger than me. Our parent’s passed away in a car accident while I was babysitting him 17 years ago. I was 18 at the time and he was 1. I took legal guardianship of him and worked two jobs for 16 years to make sure he had every opportunity in the world. He started his company at 18 just after he graduated high school. It took off like wildfire. This evening, he transferred $1,000,000 into my retirement savings account. MMTToday, a young teenage boy was in line in front of me at Target. He used a gift card to buy two video games. The cashier, an older woman probably in her late 60’s, rang him up and informed him that he had $12 remaining on his gift card. “Oh, wait then,” he said as he ran two isles over and grabbed a $10 bouquet of flowers. As the cashier added the flowers to his order the boy handed them to her and said, “These are for you.” The cashier could not wipe the smile off her face, even after he left. MMTToday, it’s been almost four months since my son’s seven-year-old dog, Grover, got lost at a crowded fair on the outskirts of Orlando, Florida. We were on a family vacation visiting my husband’s parents. We searched for him everywhere, put up flyers all over the city - the whole nine yards. Nothing. My son was devastated. This afternoon, Grover showed up at our front door in Austin, Texas all by himself. MMTToday, a woman in my line at McDonald’s noticed the uniformed Marine in line behind her, and when she handed me $20 to pay for her meal, she said, “Keep the extra $12 and use it to pay for the Marine’s meal.” When the Marine got up to the counter and ordered his food, I informed him that it was already paid for by another customer. He stared at me for a second, then turned his head and glanced out the front window, handed me his cash anyway and said, “Okay, make it two #4 meals then.” On the way out of the restaurant he handed the second meal to a homeless man who was resting on the sidewalk. MMTToday, losing my infant son was the worst pain I have ever felt. But the phone call I just received from the doctor telling me my baby’s organs instantly saved two other baby’s lives MMT.Today, my father found my little sister alive, chained up in a barn. She was abducted near Mexico City almost 5 months ago. Authorities stopped actively searching for her a few weeks later. My mother and I laid her soul to rest. We even had a funeral for her last month. All of our family and friends attended the ceremony except my father. He swore she was still alive. He looked for her all day, every day since she disappeared. And she’s back home now because he never gave up. MMTToday, I walked my daughter down the aisle. Ten years ago I pulled a 14 year old boy out of his mom’s fire-engulfed SUV after a serious accident. Doctors initially said he would never walk again. My daughter came with me several times to visit him at the hospital. Then she started going on her own. Today, seeing him defy the odds and smile widely, standing on his own two feet at the altar as he placed a ring on my daughter’s finger MMT.Today, due to Alzheimer’s and dementia, my grandfather usually can’t remember who my grandmother is when he wakes up in the morning. It bothered my grandmother a year ago when it first happened, but now she’s fully supportive of his condition. In fact, she plays a game every day in which she tries to get my grandfather to ask her to re-marry him before dinnertime. She hasn’t failed yet. MMTToday, at 4PM I pulled over to help a man (who turned out to be a paramedic) push his car out of the road. After looking under the hood for a few minutes we both agreed his radiator needed to be replaced. He told me he was running late to work, so I used my AAA card to get him a free tow and ride to a repair shop next to the hospital. Exactly an hour later I called 911 when my son’s best friend fainted and stopped breathing after an asthma attack. The same paramedic, Jake, showed up at my house, performed CPR on my son’s friend until he was breathing again, and took him to the hospital. MMTToday, it’s been 10 years that our office janitor/maintenance man has been working at our company. Ever since he started, even as our small company grew from 12 people (when I started) to 118, he has given a small gift and card to every single one of his coworkers on their birthday. I actually just received my 10th gift and card from him last week. Today, for his birthday, the owner and CEO gave him a $25,000 bonus and threw him an after-work party. MMT“Today is your funeral,” my mother said to me over the phone as she cried hysterically from joy. I’ve been MIA overseas for the last few months after a mission I can’t speak about backfired. I was rescued this morning – the day of my funeral. MMTToday, I came across a Facebook page with 89 fans that’s dedicated to making fun of a kid at my school. It made me sick to my stomach. So I wrote this on the page’s wall: “Read your cruel words, and then get up and look in the mirror, all of you! And say, ‘I like torturing others! I am proud of myself!’” I just checked the Facebook page again, about 7 hours later. No one responded to my post. But the page now has 26 fans. MMTToday, I was sitting on the subway, exhausted, in a horrible mood. Lately I just haven’t been happy. I’ve been struggling with my weight, my job, and life in general. About 15 minutes into the subway ride, the elderly lady across from me got up, moved next to me, and said, “You’re beautiful. I’m not joking. I was thinking it, and I wanted you to know.” I smiled, thanked her and asked, “Do you usually complement strangers?” “When I was your age, a woman my age sat next to me on a train. Her compliments saved me from doing something stupid. And today, I’m returning the favor.” MMTToday, I operated on a little girl that was in a car accident. She desperately needed O- blood, which is a bit rare. We didn’t have any available, but her twin brother was at the hospital who had O- blood. I explained to him that it was a matter of life and death – that his sister needed his blood. He sat quietly for a moment, and then said goodbye to his parents. I didn’t think anything of it until after we took the blood we needed and he asked, “So when will I die?” He thought he was giving his life for hers. Thankfully, they’ll both be fine. MMTToday at the beach, I ran into my old boyfriend from high school who I haven’t seen in 8 years. We broke up because his dad was in the military and had to move to the east coast. They moved away during our junior year in high school, and we kept in touch for awhile, but eventually lost touch. I recognized him from a distance because he was wearing a tye-dye shirt we made together for a summer beach party when we were sophomores. The kicker: I was wearing my matching tye-dye shirt, which I haven’t worn in years. We hung out the entire day and have a date this evening. MMTToday, my son turned 7 and I turned 23. Yes, I had him on the day I turned 16. The choices I made when I was a teenager were foolish, and sometimes I get worried I’m bringing my son up wrong. But today I took him to the park to celebrate our birthdays. He played for hours with a girl who has burn scars that cover most of her face. When my son took a break to eat, he pointed to her and said, “She’s so pretty and cool!” Which left me thinking, “I must be doing something right as a mom.” MMTToday at 1AM, my grandma, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s, got up, got into my dad’s car and drove off. We contacted the police. But before the police could find her, two college kids pulled into our driveway with my grandma. One was driving my dad’s car and the other was following in their car. They said they overheard her crying about being lost at an empty gas station 10 miles away. My grandma couldn’t remember our address, but gave the kids her first and last name. They looked her up online, found our address, and drove her home. MMTToday, a young woman and her toddler knocked on my door. The woman stared at me in silence for a second and then smiled and said, “I was just visiting the area and I couldn’t help but look-up your address. Your son carried me out of the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001 before he went back inside to save others. I think about you and your family almost every single day.” MMTToday, I met the prettiest woman on an airplane. After some small talk, and under the assumption that I wouldn’t see her again after we made our connections in Atlanta, I told her how pretty I thought she was. She gave me the most sincere smile and said, “Nobody has said that to me in 10 years.” It turns out we’re both in our mid-30’s, never married, no kids, and we live about 5 miles away from each other in Dallas. We have a date set for next Saturday after we return home. MMTToday, the only reason I’m alive is because of my little brother. 7 years ago I swallowed a bottle of prescription pain killers. No more than 30 seconds later my brother called me from Iraq and told me how much he hates it there and that the only thing keeping him going is knowing that in a few months he’ll be back home hanging with his favorite person – me. I vomited up the pills and never told a soul. My brother and I are now roommates. MMTToday, because of my older brother, I’m a high school grad, I’m healthy and I’m alive. I’m 18 and my brother is 29. When we were 7 and 18, he got an apartment of his own on the good side of town and moved us out of the crack house our late drug addicted mother was living in. He worked 2 jobs to pay the bills and always made sure I was safe, fed and at school on time. He basically saved my life. MMTToday, as I was sleeping, I woke up to my daughter calling my name. I was sleeping in a sofa chair in her hospital room. I opened my eyes to her beautiful smile. My daughter has been in a coma for 98 days. MMTToday, through extensive charity work, we helped move a street family that has never lived in a house or slept on a clean bed into a house of their own. As he stared around his new bedroom in awe, the youngest boy in the family exclaimed, “I have a bed! My own bed! My very own bed!” MMTToday, at 8AM this morning, after four months of lifelessness in her hospital bed, we took my mom off life support. And her heart continued beating on its own. And she continued breathing on her own. Then this evening, when I squeezed her hand three times, she squeezed back three times. MMTToday, my 8-year-old son hugged me and said, “You are the best mom in the whole entire world!” I smiled and sarcastically replied, “How do you know that? You haven’t met every mom in the whole entire world.” My son squeezed me tighter and said, “Yes I have. You are my world.” MMTSource: 99 Tiny Stories to Make You Think, Smile and Cry

Q. What is the best engineering college?A.Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs Rankings (Doctorate)The undergraduate engineering program rankings were based solely on peer assessment surveys. To appear on an undergraduate engineering survey, a school must have an undergraduate engineering program accredited by ABET. The programs below are schools whose highest engineering degree offered is a doctorate.#1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MAThough the Massachusetts Institute of Technology may be best known for its math, science and engineering education, this private research university also offers architecture, humanities, management and social science programs. The school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just across the Charles River from downtown Boston.more$48,452 Tuition and Fees 4,527 Undergraduate Enrollment#2 Stanford University Stanford, CAThe sunny campus of Stanford University is located in California’s Bay Area, about 30 miles from San Francisco. The private institution stresses a multidisciplinary combination of teaching, learning, and research, and students have many opportunities to get involved in research projects.more$47,940 Tuition and Fees 6,999 Undergraduate Enrollment#3 University of California--Berkeley Berkeley, CAOverviewUniversity of California--Berkeley is a public institution that was founded in 1868. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 27,496, its setting is city, and the campus size is 1,232 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of California--Berkeley's ranking in the 2017 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 20. Its in-state tuition and fees are $13,509 (2016-17); out-of-state tuition and fees are $40,191 (2016-17).The University of California—Berkeley, often referred to as Cal, is situated overlooking the San Francisco Bay. Typically, 95 percent or more of incoming freshmen at Berkeley choose to live on campus. There are more than 1,000 student organizations, ranging from political groups to a hang gliding club and everything in between. Berkeley also has a thriving Greek life with dozens of fraternity and sorority chapters. The California Golden Bears, Berkeley’s athletic teams, compete in the Pac-12 Conference and are known for their traditional arch rivalry with Stanford University.Berkeley has 14 schools and colleges, including a number of graduate and professional schools, such as the School of Optometry and the Graduate School of Journalism. Other graduate programs offered include those in the highly ranked Haas School of Business, Graduate School of Education, College of Engineering and School of Law.Berkeley is well known as a hub of liberal student activism: The Free Speech Movement – a 1964 student protest at Berkeley in response to the administration’s ban on political activity – gained widespread attention. Notable alumni include former U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, Olympic gold medalist Jonny Moseley and actor John Cho, known for his role in the "Harold and Kumar" films. Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, who worked on the development of the atomic bomb as scientific director of the Manhattan Project during World War II, was a professor at Berkeley.Selectivity: Most selectiveFall 2015 acceptance rate: 15%Academic LifeThe student-faculty ratio at University of California--Berkeley is 17:1, and the school has 59.6 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of California--Berkeley include: Social Sciences, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Engineering and English Language and Literature/Letters. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 97 percent.$40,191 (out-of-state), $13,509 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 27,496#4 California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CAOverviewCalifornia Institute of Technology is a private institution that was founded in 1891. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,001, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 124 acres. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar. California Institute of Technology's ranking in the 2017 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 12. Its tuition and fees are $47,577 (2016-17).Caltech, which focuses on science and engineering, is located in Pasadena, California, approximately 11 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Social and academic life at Caltech centers on the eight student houses, which the school describes as "self-governing living groups." Student houses incorporate an admired Caltech tradition: dinners served by student waiters. Only freshmen are required to live on campus, but around 80 percent of students remain in their house for all four years. The Caltech Beavers have a number of NCAA Division III teams that compete in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Integral to student life is the Honor Code, which dictates that "No member of the Caltech community shall take unfair advantage of any other member of the Caltech community."In addition to its undergraduate studies, Caltech offers top graduate programs in engineering, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth sciences, mathematics and physics. Caltech participates in a significant amount of research, receiving grants from institutions such as NASA, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Health and Human Services, among others. Caltech maintains a strong tradition of pranking with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, another top-ranked science and technology university. Companies such as Intel, Compaq and Hotmail were founded by Caltech alumni. Famous film director Frank Capra also graduated from Caltech.Selectivity: Most selectiveFall 2015 acceptance rate: 9%Academic LifeThe student-faculty ratio at California Institute of Technology is 3:1, and the school has 62.2 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at California Institute of Technology include: Engineering, Physical Sciences, Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Mathematics and Statistics and Biological and Biomedical Sciences. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 97 percent.$47,577 Tuition and Fees 1,001 Undergraduate Enrollment#4 Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GAOverviewGeorgia Institute of Technology is a public institution that was founded in 1885. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 15,142, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 400 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Georgia Institute of Technology's ranking in the 2017 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 34. Its in-state tuition and fees are $12,212 (2016-17); out-of-state tuition and fees are $32,404 (2016-17).Georgia Tech, located in the heart of Atlanta, offers a wide range of student activities. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, an NCAA Division I team, compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference and have a fierce rivalry with the University of Georgia. Since 1961, the football team has been led onto the field at home games by the Ramblin' Wreck, a restored 1930 Model A Ford Sport Coupe. Georgia Tech has a small but vibrant Greek community. Freshmen are offered housing, but aren't required to live on campus. In addition to its campuses in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia Tech has campuses in France, Ireland, Costa Rica, Singapore and China.Georgia Tech has six colleges. Its highly ranked graduate schools include the College of Engineering and Scheller College of Business. Georgia Tech is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a university with very high research activity. Famous alumni include Mike Duke, former president and CEO of Walmart; Bobby Jones, founder of The Masters golf tournament; and baseball player Nomar Garciaparra. John Heisman was Georgia Tech’s first full-time football coach, and the Heisman Memorial Trophy was named in his honor. The school's newspaper for faculty and staff, The Whistle, is named for the steam whistle in the Tech Tower that blows every hour and each time the Yellow Jackets score a touchdown.Selectivity: Most selectiveFall 2015 acceptance rate: 32%Academic LifeThe student-faculty ratio at Georgia Institute of Technology is 19:1, and the school has 38.2 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Georgia Institute of Technology include: Engineering, Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Biological and Biomedical Sciences and Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 96 percent.$32,404 (out-of-state), $12,212 (in-state) 15,142 Undergraduate Enrollment#6 University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign Champaign, ILThe University of Illinois is located in the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign in east-central Illinois, only a few hours from Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis. The school’s Fighting Illini participate in more than 20 NCAA Division I varsity sports and are part of the Big Ten Conference. The university boasts the largest Greek system in the world, and almost a quarter of the student body is involved. It’s not hard to find something to do on campus with more than 1,000 student organizations, including professional, political and philanthropic clubs. All freshmen are required to live on campus.more$31,320 (out-of-state), $15,698 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 33,368#6 University of Michigan--Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIThe University of Michigan boasts one of the best college towns in the country: Ann Arbor, only 45 minutes from the city of Detroit. Freshmen are guaranteed housing but are not required to live on campus. Nearly 20 percent of the undergraduate student body is affiliated with Greek life at Michigan, which contains approximately 60 fraternity and sorority chapters. If Greek life does not sound appealing, there are more than 900 other student organizations from which to choose. The Michigan Wolverines have many traditions: Their colors are maize and blue, their widely known chant is "Go Blue!," their stadium is called the "Big House," and their football program, known for its fierce rivalry with Ohio State, is one of the most storied teams in college football.more$43,476 (out-of-state), $13,856 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 28,312#8 Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PACarnegie Mellon University, a private institution in Pittsburgh, Pa., is the country’s only school founded by industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The school specializes in academic areas including engineering, business, computer science, and fine arts.more$52,040 Tuition and Fees 6,454 Undergraduate Enrollment#9 Cornell University Ithaca, NYOverviewCornell University is a private institution that was founded in 1865. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 14,315, its setting is rural, and the campus size is 745 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Cornell University's ranking in the 2017 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 15. Its tuition and fees are $50,953 (2016-17).Cornell University, located in Ithaca, New York, has more than 1,000 student organizations on campus, which range from the Big Red Marching Band to the International Affairs Society. First-year students live together on north campus, and the university has housing options for upperclassmen and graduate students, though many choose to live off campus. Cornell has a thriving Greek life, with more than 60 fraternity and sorority chapters. Cornell has more than 30 NCAA Division I varsity teams that compete in the Ivy League. The Cornell Big Red are perhaps best known for their successful men's lacrosse team, which won nine consecutive Ivy League titles from 2003 to 2011. Cornell also has a strong hockey program.Each of Cornell's 14 colleges and schools admits its own students and provides its own faculty, even though every graduate receives a degree from Cornell University. Cornell's two largest undergraduate colleges are the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Its graduate schools include the highly ranked S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management, College of Engineering, Law School and Weill Cornell Medical College. Cornell is also well known for its top-ranked College of Veterinary Medicine and the highly esteemed School of Hotel Administration. One of Cornell's oldest traditions is Dragon Day, during which a dragon built by first-year architecture students is paraded through campus. Notable alumni include U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, author E.B. White and Bill Nye, the "Science Guy."Selectivity: Most selectiveFall 2015 acceptance rate: 15%Academic LifeThe student-faculty ratio at Cornell University is 9:1, and the school has 56.9 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Cornell University include: Engineering, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services and Social Sciences. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 97 percent.$50,953 Tuition and Fees 14,315 Undergraduate Enrollment#9 Purdue University--West Lafayette West Lafayette, INOverviewPurdue University--West Lafayette is a public institution that was founded in 1869. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 29,497, its setting is city, and the campus size is 2,468 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Purdue University--West Lafayette's ranking in the 2017 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 60. Its in-state tuition and fees are $10,002 (2016-17); out-of-state tuition and fees are $28,804 (2016-17).Purdue University's West Lafayette, Indiana, campus is the main campus in the Purdue University system, which encompasses four other campuses throughout the state. Nearly 20 percent of students are affiliated with Greek life, and Purdueoffers a wide range of activities and organizations. Performance groups include the "All American" Marching Band, four jazz bands and two symphony orchestras. The Boilermakers, Purdue’s athletic teams, compete in the Division I Big Ten Conference and are well known for their dominant men’s and women’s basketball teams. The Boilermaker Special, Purdue’s official mascot, is a railroad locomotive cared for and maintained by the student-run Purdue Reamer Club. Although no students are required to live in university housing, about one-third of undergraduates live on campus.Purdue is made up of 12 schools and colleges, many of which serve both undergraduate and graduate students. Professional and graduate programs include the well-ranked College of Engineering, Krannert School of Management, College of Education and College of Pharmacy. Purdue’s esteemed School of Aeronautics and Astronautics within the College of Engineering has acquired the nickname "Cradle of Astronauts." One popular university tradition: many students mark the beginning and end of their time at Purdue by running through either of the campus fountains. Notable alumni include legendary college basketball coach and player John Wooden, popcorn entrepreneur Orville Redenbacher and the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong.Selectivity: More selectiveFall 2015 acceptance rate: 59%Academic LifeThe student-faculty ratio at Purdue University--West Lafayette is 12:1, and the school has 39.6 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Purdue University--West Lafayette include: Engineering, Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences and Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 92 percent.$28,804 (out-of-state), $10,002 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 29,497#11 Princeton University Princeton, NJThe ivy-covered campus of Princeton University, a private institution, is located in the quiet town of Princeton, New Jersey. Princeton was the first university to offer a "no loan" policy to financially needy students, giving grants instead of loans to accepted students who need help paying tuition.more$45,320 Tuition and Fees 5,402 Undergraduate Enrollment#11 University of Texas--Austin Austin, TXEverything is bigger in Texas, as the saying goes, and it holds true at the University of Texas—Austin, one of the largest schools in the nation. The school has one of the biggest Greek systems in the country, two of the largest student publications and more than 900 clubs and organizations for students. The UT—Austin sports teams are notorious competitors in the Division I Big 12 Conference, supported by mascot Bevo the Longhorn. The UT Tower, a lofty campus structure, is lit in the school’s burnt orange color after notable sports achievements and glows a ‘#1’ when a team wins a national championship. Freshmen do not have to live on campus, and may choose to live in downtown Austin, situated about a quarter mile away. The vibrant city is known for its music, food, outdoor activities and nightlife, and students can travel for free on the capitol Metro buses with proof of ID.more$34,676 (out-of-state), $9,806 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 39,619#13 Northwestern University Evanston, ILOverviewNorthwestern University is a private institution that was founded in 1851. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 8,314, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 231 acres. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar. Northwestern University's ranking in the 2017 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 12. Its tuition and fees are $50,855 (2016-17).What began as farmland and swampland in the 1850s became the Northwestern campus and the city of Evanston, Ill. Northwestern University is a Division I school in the Big Ten athletic conference. Northwestern's women's lacrosse team has won multiple NCAA national championships. The school has hundreds of campus organizations fulfill students' varied interests. Freshmen are guaranteed on-campus housing if requested in their applications. The school's 11 residential colleges offer thematic living quarters for social and academic programming. Northwestern's main campuses are located along Lake Michigan in Evanston and Chicago. In 2008, Northwestern opened a third branch in Doha, Qatar.Of Northwestern’s dozen schools, nine offer undergraduate programs and 10 offer graduate and professional programs. Northwestern’s highly-ranked graduate schools include the Kellogg School of Management, the School of Education and Social Policy, the School of Law, the Feinberg School of Medicine, the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program. Northwestern’s Medill School is known for its strong journalism graduate program. Northwestern’s Dance Marathon, created in 1975, is one of the largest student-run philanthropies in the country and has raised more than $14 million for Chicago-area charities. Notable alumni include the 55th mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel; retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens; actor, writer and director Zach Braff; comedian Stephen Colbert; and Tony Award-winning actress Heather Headley.Selectivity: Most selectiveFall 2015 acceptance rate: 13%Academic LifeThe student-faculty ratio at Northwestern University is 7:1, and the school has 77.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Northwestern University include: Economics, General, Psychology, General, Political Science and Government, General and Biology/Biological Sciences, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 97 percent.$50,855 Tuition and Fees 8,314#14 Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDJohns Hopkins University is a private institution in Baltimore, Maryland, that offers a wide array of academic programs in the arts, humanities, social and natural sciences, and engineering disciplines. The Hopkins Blue Jays men’s lacrosse team is consistently dominant in the NCAA Division I; other sports teams at Hopkins compete at the Division III level.more$50,410 Tuition and Fees 6,524#14 University of Wisconsin--Madison Madison, WIThe University of Wisconsin—Madison lies along the southern shore of Lake Mendota in the city of Madison. The Wisconsin Badgers compete in more than 20 NCAA Division I sports and are part of the Big Ten Conference. Students can get involved in more than 800 organizations on campus. There is also an active Greek life and social scene on campus, evident in Wisconsin’s reputation as one of the top party schools in the country. Freshmen are not required to live on campus, but many choose to do so. Students can opt to live in one of several residential communities where they learn and live with other students and faculty.more$32,738 (out-of-state), $10,488 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 31,662#16 Texas A&M University--College Station College Station, TXReady to be an Aggie? All students assume the nickname at Texas A&M, an academic and athletic powerhouse in central Texas. Once an all-men’s school called the Agricultural and Mechanical College - now shortened to A&M - the university today is coed and has offers a wide variety of majors and activities. Students can choose from more than 800 clubs and organizations, including nearly 60 fraternities and sororities. About 10 percent of students go Greek. More students, about 25 percent, play in Texas A&M intramural sports leagues, one of the largest programs in the country. The school’s varsity sports compete in the NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference, cheered on by mascot Reveille VIII, a collie. Miss Rev, as the collie is known, is also the highest-ranking member in the school’s Cadet Corps, the largest ROTC program in the nation (not including programs at service academies). First-year students interested in community service can get involved right away through the Freshmen in Service and Hosting program (FISH). All students can give back during The Big Event, the largest single-day, student-run volunteer effort in the country in which more than 15,000 Aggies work to improve the nearby cities of College Station and Bryan. For many students, these communities are also home; freshmen are not required to live on campus and many choose to live in College Station or Bryan.more$28,768 (out-of-state), $10,176 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 48,960#16 Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VAAt Virginia Tech, a former military institute with its background in the sciences, students are encouraged to “invent the future.” Students are known as Hokies, a term that was the original rally cry when the school was known as the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute. Sports teams, also known as the Hokies, compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference, and the school mascot is the HokieBird. Virginia Tech is settled in Blacksburg, a typical college town full of restaurants, bars and clubs. Students account for more than half the total residents in Blacksburg, and they dominate the town's public Blacksburg Transit bus system, which is free for Hokies. On campus, students can go bowling, play pool or try out video games in the BreakZONE. There are also more than 600 clubs and organizations, including a large Greek system of more than 50 fraternities and sororities. Freshmen must live on campus, which puts them in close proximity to the school’s renowned dining facilities. Students can order steak and lobster at Virginia Tech’s West End Market, or grab a meal from on-campus chain restaurants, including Au Bon Pain and Pizza Hut.more$29,371 (out-of-state), $12,852 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 25,384#18 Columbia University New York, NYColumbia University has three undergraduate schools: Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), and the School of General Studies. This Ivy League, private school guarantees students housing for all four years on campus in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights neighborhood in New York City.more$55,056 Tuition and Fees 6,102 Undergraduate Enrollment#18 Duke University Durham, NCLocated in Durham, North Carolina, Duke University is a private institution that has liberal arts and engineering programs for undergraduates. The Duke Blue Devils sports teams have a fierce rivalry with the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill Tar Heels and are best known for their outstanding men's basketball program.more$51,265 Tuition and Fees 6,639 Undergraduate Enrollment#18 Pennsylvania State University--University Park University Park, PAThere is rarely a dull moment on the Pennsylvania State University—University Park campus, also known as Happy Valley. With around 950 clubs and organizations, there are broad opportunities to get involved in campus life. The school mascot is the Nittany Lion, and teams compete in the Division I Big 10 Conference. The football team plays in Beaver Stadium, which is one of the largest arenas in North America with room for more than 107,000 fans. Penn State is home to a thriving Greek system with nearly 90 sororities and fraternities. About 15,000 students volunteer in THON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. Students raise money for pediatric cancer research and awareness throughout the year and participate in a 46-hour dance marathon - no sitting or sleeping allowed. Freshmen must live in one of five housing areas on campus. Across the street from campus is State College, a bustling small town with an array of coffee shops, restaurants, shops and bars populated mostly by students. Surrounded by mountains, the school is also close to skiing, snowboarding and hiking opportunities.more$32,382 (out-of-state), $17,900 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 40,742#18 Rice University Houston, TXOverviewRice University is a private institution that was founded in 1912. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,910, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 285 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Rice University's ranking in the 2017 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 15. Its tuition and fees are $43,918 (2016-17).Rice University, located in the heart of Houston’s Museum District, offers a dynamic student life in the nation’s fourth-largest city. The Rice Coffeehouse, Valhalla Pub and Willy’s Pub are all student-run institutions offering on-campus food and drink. Before stepping foot on campus, all students are assigned to one of 11 residential colleges, of which they remain members even if they decide to move off campus. The residential colleges provide housing, dining, and academic and social events. The Rice Owls boast 14 varsity NCAA Division I athletic teams and are well known for their strong baseball program. Students receive free tickets to all varsity athletic events.Rice is comprised of eight schools, including the School of Social Sciences, School of Humanities and Wiess School of Natural Sciences. Its graduate schools include the highly ranked Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business and George R. Brown School of Engineering. Rice also has a well-regarded School of Architecture and the Shepherd School of Music. Rice is home to the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, a nonpartisan think tank, which offers coursework, internships and lectures. When a private detective found Rice’s stolen owl mascot at rival school Texas A&M in 1917, he sent a coded message back to Rice students letting them know that "Sammy" was OK, thus bestowing a name on the school’s mascot.Selectivity: Most selectiveFall 2015 acceptance rate: 16%Academic LifeThe student-faculty ratio at Rice University is 6:1, and the school has 68.8 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Rice University include: Biochemistry, Psychology, General, Chemical Engineering, Kinesiology and Exercise Science and Mechanical Engineering. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 97 percent.$43,918 Tuition and Fees 3,910 Undergraduate Enrollment#18 University of California--Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAThe University of California—Los Angeles is just five miles away from the Pacific Ocean. The public institution offers more than 3,000 courses and more than 130 majors to undergraduate students.more$39,518 (out-of-state), $12,836 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 29,585 Undergraduate Enrollment#18 University of Washington Seattle, WALocated in the University District neighborhood (known as the U District) just north of downtown Seattle, the University of Washington is a cutting-edge research university with a long-standing history as one of the oldest public institutions on the West Coast. Students can join one of the school’s 500-plus student organizations, including about 50 sororities and fraternities, or can start a brand new club with at least four other students. University of Washington is known as a commuter school, and freshmen are not required to live on campus. Housing is not guaranteed for any student. For those that do reside in the residence halls, the university stresses “living green” through energy conservation and recycling. On the sports fields, the school’s varsity athletes are competitive in the NCAA Division I Pac-12 Conference. The football team, in particular, is a traditional league stand-out. The teams are represented by two mascots: one, a costumed student known as Harry the Husky Dawg, and the other, Dubs, a live Alaskan husky. The university gym is free for students seeking a workout.more$34,791 (out-of-state), $10,753 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 31,063#24 University of California--San Diego La Jolla, CAThe University of California—San Diego lies alongside the Pacific Ocean in the La Jolla community of San Diego. The UCSD Tritons compete in more than 20 NCAA Division II sports, mainly in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. The school has hundreds of student organizations, and the university hosts a thriving Greek community. All freshmen are eligible for guaranteed on-campus housing for two years, but they are not required to live on campus. The campus has an aquarium and is home to the Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table, which tests structures’ ability to withstand simulated earthquakes.more$41,387 (out-of-state), $14,705 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 26,590#24 University of Maryland--College Park College Park, MDLocated between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, the University of Maryland offers students a suburban lifestyle within easy reach of big-city experiences. The flagship campus in College Park, which has its own subway stop on the D.C.-area Metro transit system, is often considered a commuter school. Accordingly, freshmen do not have to live on campus. There are more than 800 clubs and organizations on campus, including about 35 fraternities and sororities that involve approximately 15 percent of the student population. Students looking for additional activities can visit the university's "Free Stuff @ Maryland" website, which offers a comprehensive listing of presentations, events and movie screenings with no admission charges. Sports also offer yearlong distractions. The Maryland Terrapins compete in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference. The mascot, Testudo, is a Diamondback terrapin — a species of turtle that is the official state reptile. One of several Testudo sculptures on campus sits in front of McKeldin Library, and rubbing its nose is thought to bring good luck, particularly before exams.more$32,045 (out-of-state), $10,181 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 27,443#24 University of Minnesota--Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNThe University of Minnesota stretches across a major city – or two, to be exact. Minneapolis and St. Paul, known as the Twin Cities, are frequently recognized for sports, cleanliness and volunteerism. The school has a campus in each city, though the Minneapolis site is considered the main campus of the University of Minnesota. Freshmen do not have to live on campus, but the more than 80 percent who choose to can opt to live in traditional residence halls or one of more than two dozen Living Learning communities, such as the Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives House and La Casa De Español. Also on campus are more than 600 student organizations, including more than 30 fraternities and sororities. The Minnesota Golden Gophers compete in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference, and all athletic events are held in the Minneapolis campus's Stadium Village neighborhood. Goldy Gopher, the school mascot, energizes thousands of student fans as they chant "Ski-U-Mah," a rally cry that means "Victory UM." Under the Four-Year Graduation Plan, the university ensures that all necessary classes will be available for students to complete their degrees on time. If courses are not available in an undergraduate's four years of schooling, the university will pay for the extra credits.more$22,210 (out-of-state), $13,790 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 34,071#24 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAFounded by Benjamin Franklin, the University of Pennsylvania is a private institution in the University City neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Students can study in one of four schools that grant undergraduate degrees: Arts and Sciences, Nursing, Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Wharton.more$51,464 Tuition and Fees 9,726 Undergraduate Enrollment#28 Harvard University Cambridge, MAHarvard University is a private institution in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. This Ivy League school is the oldest higher education institution in the country and has the largest endowment of any school in the world.more$47,074 Tuition and Fees 6,699 Undergraduate Enrollment#28 Ohio State University--Columbus Columbus, OHLocated in the state capital of Columbus, The Ohio State University is a sprawling school with seemingly endless opportunities for students to get involved. There are more than 1,000 clubs and organizations on campus, including about 65 fraternities and sororities. Sports are another big part of campus life, with the Ohio State Buckeyes competing in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference. The athletic teams are named after the state tree and cheered on by mascot Brutus Buckeye. The football stadium, which was completed in 1922, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. All Ohio State freshmen must live in one of the more than 35 residence halls across campus, unless a student is from Central Ohio and can commute from home. The Ohio State First Year Experience offers freshmen orientation, mentors and special programming to ease the transition into college. Freshmen can also go on the school’s community service spring break, a trip to Chicago that is only open to first-year students. Local community service opportunities are easy to find through the school’s Pay It Forward program, which includes an online listing of volunteer events. Students can also study abroad in more than 40 countries through Ohio State.more$28,229 (out-of-state), $10,037 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 45,289#28 University of California--Davis Davis, CAThe University of California—Davis, one of 10 schools in the University of California system, was originally established as a farm school for UC - Berkeley. Located just 15 miles from Sacramento, UC Davis’s campus contains an airport, fire department and a collection of outdoor sculptures called Eggheads. There are more than 500 student organizations on campus in addition to a sizeable Greek community that comprises about 65 fraternity and sorority chapters. All freshmen are guaranteed housing, and after their first year students typically move off campus or live in university apartments. The UC Davis Aggies field more than 20 NCAA Division I teams, and students can join the Aggie Pack, the largest student spirit organization in the country.more$40,728 (out-of-state), $14,046 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 28,384#28 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAUndergraduates study in the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences at the University of Southern California, a private school based in Los Angeles. The USC Trojans compete in the NCAA Division I Pac-12 Conference and are particularly competitive in football.more$52,217 Tuition and Fees 18,810 Undergraduate Enrollment#32 North Carolina State University--Raleigh Raleigh, NCNorth Carolina State University, known as NC State for short, is the largest four-year college in the state. Students have more than 100 degree programs and more than 400 clubs and organizations to choose from.more$26,399 (out-of-state), $8,880 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 24,111#32 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NYRensselaer Polytechnic Institute was founded on the principles of bringing science to everyday life, and that ethos is still prevalent today. About a quarter of students are involved in Greek L.I.F.E., as the fraternity and sorority scene is known at the school, which stresses Leadership, Innovation, Fortitude and Evolution. More students - about three fourths - play sports at the varsity, club or intramural level. True to the school’s mission, the varsity athletes are known as the Engineers, and compete in the Eastern College Athletic Conference and the Liberty League. There are also more than 175 student organizations. Freshmen must live on campus, usually in dormitories that only house first-year students. RPI’s campus, in Troy, N.Y., is nestled in an ideal location for nature lovers. The school overlooks the Hudson River, where waterfront activities abound, and is close to Grafton Lakes State Park, Lake George and the Adirondack Mountains. For an urban experience, Albany is 9 miles away.more$50,797 Tuition and Fees 5,864 Undergraduate Enrollment#32 University of California--Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CALocated 100 miles up the coast from Los Angeles, the University of California—Santa Barbara sits atop cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Students can get involved in any of the more than 400 clubs and organizations on campus, including a Greek community that comprises about 10 percent of undergraduate students. UCSB provides housing to about 30 percent of students in eight residence halls and several university apartment complexes.The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos compete primarily in the NCAA Division I Big West Conference and are known for their successful women’s basketball and men’s soccer teams. Non-varsity students can join a club team such as cycling, surfing, rugby or ski and snowboard.more$40,704 (out-of-state), $14,022 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 20,607#32 University of Colorado--Boulder Boulder, COThe University of Colorado Boulder, called CU­--Boulder for short, lays against the majestic backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. Boulder is a lively college town with more than 80 miles of biking and walking trails. In the evenings, students can travel anywhere within the city limits for free in CU NightRide shuttles, which run until 1:15 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 12:15 a.m. all other nights. On campus, there are more than 300 student clubs and organizations and close to 40 fraternities and sororities. Freshmen must live on campus. The Colorado Buffaloes compete in the NCAA Division I Pac-12 Conference. The student athletes, called Buffs for short, are supported by two buffalo mascots: a costumed student called Chip and a live animal named Ralphie V. The university stresses its commitment to volunteer efforts like Better Boulder Better World, a day of community service in the surrounding neighborhoods. For trips off campus, there are 11 ski slopes within 3 hours of campus, and Rocky Mountain National Park is 45 miles away. A bit closer is Denver, the state capital, where students can catch professional sports matches or concerts in the unique outdoor concert hall, Red Rocks Amphitheatre.more$35,079 (out-of-state), $11,531 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 27,010#32 University of Virginia Charlottesville, VAFounded by Thomas Jefferson, the University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville. It’s referred to among insiders as Mr. Jefferson’s University or simply The University. Only first-year students are required to live on campus, and many upperclassmen live in off-campus apartments or fraternity and sorority houses. Greek life is prominent at UVA with a membership that includes approximately 30 percent of the student body. The Cavaliers, known unofficially as Wahoos or ‘Hoos, are members of the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference and are well known for their consistently dominant men’s and women’s lacrosse teams.more$45,066 (out-of-state), $15,722 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 16,736#37 Arizona State University--Tempe Tempe, AZArizona State University’s Tempe campus offers more than 200 research-based programs in the arts, business, engineering and more. The campus is located just outside of Phoenix, in the suburb of Tempe, Arizona.more$25,458 (out-of-state), $10,158 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 41,828#37 Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OHCase Western Reserve University is known for its world class research, but with more than 150 student organizations, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved outside the classroom, too. The Case Western Spartans varsity teams compete in the Division III University Athletic Association. The Greek system, which stresses a commitment to on-campus and community service, involves about one third of students. The campus is located about 20 minutes from downtown Cleveland, where students have free access to a handful of downtown museums like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Great Lakes Science Center. On campus, freshmen live in one of four themed residential communities, which are called Cedar, Juniper, Magnolia and Mistletoe. All students are invited to the annual SpringFest, a collection of music, carnival games and activities that is the largest student-run event on campus.more$46,006 Tuition and Fees 5,121 Undergraduate Enrollment#37 Iowa State University Ames, IAIowa State University dwarfs Ames, the small town in which it resides. The large school offers more than 800 student organizations, and sports are a big part of campus life. The Iowa State Cyclones compete in the NCAA Division I Big 12 Conference and share a special rivalry with the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. Despite the Cyclones moniker, the school mascot is a cardinal named Cy because a cyclone was hard to put into costume form. There are nearly 50 fraternities and sororities at Iowa State, and most chapters have their own houses. Freshmen do not have to live on campus.There are more than 100 undergraduate majors offered at Iowa State, and, through the Soar in 4 initiative, advisers work with students to ensure they graduate in four years. For a study break, students can take a stroll through the roses in Reiman Gardens or check out more than 2,000 works of art around the campus – one of the largest collections at any school in the country. For trips off campus, Des Moines is 30 minutes away.more$21,483 (out-of-state), $7,969 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 30,034#37 University of Florida Gainesville, FLThe University of Florida is about two miles away from downtown Gainesville, a college town bolstered by the school’s nearly 50,000 students. The Florida Gators sports teams compete in the NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference, and are supported by mascots Albert and Alberta the Alligators. The Gator football team, which competes in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium — commonly called the "The Swamp" — is particularly notorious. The team became the namesake of popular sports drink Gatorade in 1966, after freshmen Gators experimented with the novel beverage. The annual Gator Growl, held each Homecoming weekend, has been called the largest student-run pep rally in the world. About 15 percent of students are involved in the school’s 60-plus fraternities and sororities. Freshmen do not have to live on campus, though about 80 percent opt to do so. All students can partake in Gator Nights, held every Friday, which offer free late-night entertainment and a free “midnight breakfast.”more$28,666 (out-of-state), $6,389 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 35,043#37 University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, INThe University of Notre Dame is a private, independent, Catholic institution in South Bend, Ind. Notre Dame’s athletic teams, known as the Fighting Irish, play in the NCAA Division I and are particularly competitive on the football field.more$49,685 Tuition and Fees 8,462 Undergraduate Enrollment#37 Vanderbilt University Nashville, TNVanderbilt University is a private institution in Nashville, Tenn. with four undergraduate colleges: the College of Arts and Science, the School of Engineering, Peabody College, and the Blair School of Music. More than 40 percent of Vanderbilt students participate in Greek life.more$45,610 Tuition and Fees 6,883 Undergraduate Enrollment#37 Yale University New Haven, CTYale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut, offers a small college life with the resources of a major research institution. Yale students are divided into 12 residential colleges that foster a supportive environment for living, learning and socializing.more$49,480 Tuition and Fees 5,532 Undergraduate Enrollment#44 Brown University Providence, RIAt Brown University, undergraduate students are responsible for designing their own academic study with more than 70 concentration programs to choose from. Another unique offering at this private, Ivy League institution in Providence, R.I. is the Program in Liberal Medical Education, which grants both a bachelor’s degree and medical degree in eight years.more$51,367 Tuition and Fees 6,652 Undergraduate Enrollment#44 Colorado School of Mines Golden, COFor students who want to work in the sciences, opportunities abound at the Colorado School of Mines. A public engineering and applied sciences school in Golden, Colorado, Mines has 14 academic departments, including Mechanical Engineering and Geophysics. The school also offers courses in the Liberal Arts & International Studies and Economics & Business departments. When students aren’t studying, the school’s location is ideal for outdoor recreation. Golden is 13 miles from the state capital of Denver and lies in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, where students can bike, hike and climb. The campus also has a climbing wall for students to test their skills before attempting the Rockies. Cold-weather sports fans can partake in the annual Winter Carnival, a student-run affair packed with skiing and snowboarding at a local resort. The Mines sports teams, known as the Orediggers, compete in the NCAA Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, which is mostly made up of other teams from Colorado. The school mascot is Blaster the burro, and a giant "M" emblazoned onto nearby Mount Zion signifies the school spirit. There are more than 140 student clubs and organizations, including seven fraternities and three sororities. First-year students are required to live on campus. Even the student newspaper, The Oredigger, is decidedly science based; sections include weekly roundups of new discoveries and a Geek of the Week feature.more$34,828 (out-of-state), $17,383 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 4,608#44 Dartmouth College Hanover, NHDartmouth College, a private institution in Hanover, New Hampshire, uses quarters, not semesters, to divide the school year. Among more than 300 student organizations at Dartmouth is the Outing Club, the nation's oldest and largest collegiate club of its kind, which offers outdoor activities, expeditions, gear rentals and courses.more$51,438 Tuition and Fees 4,307 Undergraduate Enrollment#44 Lehigh University Bethlehem, PALehigh University is located in Bethlehem, Pa., 50 miles north of Philadelphia and 75 miles west of New York City. The Lehigh Mountain Hawks are members of the Patriot League, and compete in 25 NCAA Division I sports. Their biggest athletic rivalry is Lafayette College, located less than 20 miles away. A third of the student body is involved in fraternities and sororities. All freshmen are required to live on campus, and sophomores are also required to live on campus in a residence hall or Greek housing. Lehigh’s main campus is located on the wooded slope of South Mountain, and half of the campus is preserved as open space.more$48,320 Tuition and Fees 5,075 Undergraduate Enrollment#44 University of California--Irvine Irvine, CAOn the sunny campus of the University of California—Irvine, students don't have far to go to decompress after class. The Pacific Ocean is a quick 5-mile trip away, attracting surfers, sailors and sunbathers alike. Seated in Orange County, the bustling campus is home to more than 500 student organizations, including nearly 50 fraternities and sororities. The UC—Irvine Anteaters compete at the Division I level in the Big West Conference, cheered on by non-traditional mascot Peter the Anteater and a group of student fans called Eater Nation. While UC Irvine is known as a commuter school, university officials have tried to combat that status by offering more on-campus residence options. Freshmen are not required to live on campus, but more than three-fourths of first-year students choose to do so. Getting around UC Irvine is easy with the school's ZotWheels, a fleet of blue and gold bicycles that students can pick up and ride to four campus locations. Commuters looking to be more energy efficient can carpool to campus with other students through the university's Zimride Rideshare Community.more$39,458 (out-of-state), $14,750 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 25,256#44 Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis, MOStudents can study architecture, art, arts and sciences, business, and engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, a private research institution in Missouri. Outside of class, about a quarter of the student body is involved in Greek life.more$49,770 Tuition and Fees 7,504 Undergraduate Enrollment#50 Michigan State University East Lansing, MIMichigan State University is a powerhouse institution located in the college town of East Lansing. Downtown, students can choose from dining and nightlife options, and the city is also home to the Great Lakes Folk Festival. Lake Michigan and its beaches are a short trip away, as is the state capital of Lansing. The Michigan State Spartans compete in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference, supported by award-winning mascot Sparty. There are more than 600 student clubs and organizations, including more than 55 fraternities and sororities. Members of the Greek community are active in the local community through events like Safe Halloween, an annual carnival for children in East Lansing. All students can get involved in service-learning and volunteer projects throughout East Lansing like Fill the Bus, an annual campaign to stuff a Spartan-green school bus full of food and school supplies for underprivileged children. The university is home to one of the largest single-campus residence hall systems in the country, and freshmen must live on campus unless they reside with a family member no more than 50 miles from school. To study farther afield, students can take advantage of more than 260 study abroad programs.more$39,090 (out-of-state), $14,070 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 39,143#50 University of Arizona Tucson, AZThe University of Arizona offers its students a wide variety of ways to get involved, from joining the ZonaZoo cheering section at Wildcats sports games to checking out the burgeoning Greek scene with more than 30 fraternities and sororities.more$30,025 (out-of-state), $10,872 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 33,732#50 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PALocated in the Oakland neighborhood, Pitt’s campus is a 3-mile trip from bustling downtown Pittsburgh. The city is home to powerhouse professional sports teams, such as the Steelers and Penguins, and dozens of unique cultural centers, like the Andy Warhol Museum and Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Pitt students get free admission to these and other select museums throughout the school year. Because Pittsburgh is bordered by three rivers, kayaking, sailing and fishing opportunities are plentiful. City buses stop every 10 to 15 minutes on campus, and students can ride public transportation into the city for free with school ID. Freshmen do not have to live on campus. Pitt has a sizeable Greek community of about 35 fraternities and sororities. Students in Arts and Sciences majors can earn hands-on credits in internships, research and teaching with the help of the university’s Office of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. The Pittsburgh Panthers sports teams compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference. Pitt students are notorious for their avid support at sporting events, particularly for forming a riotous cheering section known as the Oakland Zoo at basketball games. Students who attend the most home sporting events get priority purchasing when game tickets are in high demand through the school’s Loyalty Points system.more$29,758 (out-of-state), $18,618 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 18,908Best Undergraduate Engineering Program Rankings (No doctorate)The undergraduate engineering program rankings were based solely on peer assessment surveys. To appear on an undergraduate engineering survey, a school must have an undergraduate engineering program accredited by ABET. The programs below are schools whose highest engineering degree offered is a bachelor's or master's.#1 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Terre Haute, INRose-Hulman Institute of Technology, located in Terre Haute, Ind., offers a number of activities and organizations to help students get involved on campus. There are more than 80 student clubs, ranging from the EcoCAR challenge team to the Rose-Hulman Drama Club. Other prominent performance groups include the chorus and jazz band. There is a significant Greek system on campus comprising more than 40 percent of the student body. Rose-Hulman fields a number of NCAA Division III athletic teams, including football, basketball, soccer, and cross country. The Sports and Recreation Center, a state-of-the-art athletic facility, serves as a center of student activity and as the summer training camp for the NFL Indianapolis Colts. Rose-Hulman provides housing to all students in its residence halls.more$44,010 Tuition and Fees 2,270 Undergraduate Enrollment#2 Harvey Mudd College Claremont, CAOverviewHarvey Mudd College is a private institution that was founded in 1955. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 815, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 33 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Harvey Mudd College's ranking in the 2017 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, 21. Its tuition and fees are $52,916 (2016-17).Harvey Mudd College is located in Claremont, Calif., 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Harvey Mudd is one of the country’s top math, science and engineering undergraduate colleges. The school offers a variety of student organizations on campus, from the break-dancing club to the Harvey Wallbangers Climbing Club, among others. The college does not recognize national fraternities or sororities on campus. Harvey Mudd competes in a joint intercollegiate athletics program with Claremont McKenna College and Scripps College, fielding NCAA Division III varsity sports for men and women in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. As a residential college, freshmen are required to live on campus, and 99 percent of students remain on campus in one of the eight dormitories.Harvey Mudd College offers a Bachelor of Science degree in math, science and engineering majors. The school is part of the Claremont Colleges consortium, which includes Scripps College, Claremont McKenna College, Pomona College, Pitzer College, Claremont Graduate University and Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences. The school was founded by Harvey S. Mudd, a successful mining engineer. A well-known annual school tradition is Foster’s Run, organized by the Gonzo Unicycle Madness club, during which unicyclists ride to a local donut shop. Notable alumni include astronauts George Nelson and Stan Love, as well as former U.S. diplomat and current Deputy Executive Director of the International Energy Agency Richard H. Jones.Selectivity: Most selectiveFall 2015 acceptance rate: 13%Academic LifeThe student-faculty ratio at Harvey Mudd College is 9:1, and the school has 59.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Harvey Mudd College include: Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Engineering, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Physical Sciences and Mathematics and Statistics. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 98 percent.$52,916 Tuition and Fees 815 Undergraduate Enrollment#3 Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering Needham, MAFranklin W. Olin College of Engineering is located in Needham, Mass., just 14 miles west of Boston and next to the campus of Babson College. Nearly all students live on campus in either of the two residence halls, which offer housing in traditional doubles or suites. Olin’s "Passionate Pursuits" program enables students to pursue their interests with guidance from a faculty sponsor and funding from the college; some examples include scuba certification, Irish dance, and jazz improvisation. There are also a number of student clubs and organizations ranging from an Anti Gravity Club to the Olin Dance Project. Central to Olin’s community of trust is the Honor Code, which dictates that students must act with honor and integrity.more$47,330 Tuition and Fees370 Undergraduate Enrollment#4 United States Military Academy West Point, NYThe United States Military Academy, also known as West Point, is the oldest of the country’s five federal service academies. The public school is located in West Point, N.Y., where graduates earn a bachelor of science degree and are commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.moreN/A (out-of-state), N/A (in-state) Tuition and Fees 4,348 Undergraduate Enrollment#5 California Polytechnic State University--San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CAJust a 30-minute drive from the Pacific Ocean, California Polytechnic State University is located 200 miles from both Los Angeles and San Francisco. Although Cal Poly students can choose from nearly 70 degrees, engineering is the most popular major, with 50 student organizations dedicated specifically to that field.more$20,235 (out-of-state), $9,075 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 20,049#5 United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MDThe United States Naval Academy is a public school located in the waterfront town of Annapolis, Maryland. Students, known as midshipmen, are officers in training, and tuition is fully funded by the U.S. Navy in return for active-duty service after graduation.moreN/A (out-of-state), N/A (in-state) Tuition and Fees 4,525 Undergraduate Enrollment#7 Bucknell University Lewisburg, PABucknell University, located in the small town of Lewisburg, Pa., is conveniently situated about three hours from New York, Washington and Philadelphia. Nearly 90 percent of undergraduates live on campus in traditional residence halls, substance-free housing or small house communities, among other options. With more than 150 clubs and organizations on campus, students can participate in a wide range of activities. There is sizable Greek community on campus comprising more than half of sophomores, juniors and seniors. The Bucknell Bison, as the school’s athletic teams are called, field more than 25 varsity teams in the NCAA Division I Patriot League. Bucknell’s athletic facilities include an Olympic-sized pool, 18-hole golf course and state-of-the-art fitness center.more$51,960 Tuition and Fees 3,569 Undergraduate Enrollment#7 United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, COThe United States Air Force Academy, commonly called Air Force, is a military service academy located just outside of Colorado Springs, Colo., about 60 miles from Denver. Students at Air Force, called cadets, adhere to a strict daily schedule that does not allow for much free time, though there are a number of extracurricular clubs and activities. Incoming cadets attend a five-week training program intended to prepare them for military life. Cadets are required to participate in athletics — either intercollegiate or intramural — and must pass a fitness test every semester. The Fighting Falcons, Air Force’s athletic teams, compete in NCAA’s Division I and are known for their traditional rivalries with fellow service academies Armyand Navy.moreN/A (out-of-state), N/A (in-state) Tuition and Fees 4,111 Undergraduate Enrollment#9 Cooper Union New York, NYThe Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, commonly referred to as Cooper Union, is located in New York's East Village neighborhood. Cooper Union has a number of student organizations, ranging from special interest groups, such as the Culinary Society and the Outdoors Club, to religious and performance groups. The one university residence hall is intended to help students transition from living away from home for the first time to renting a private apartment. Cooper Union fields several intercollegiate athletic teams, including men's and women's basketball, soccer and tennis.more$43,850 Tuition and Fees 901 Undergraduate Enrollment#10 Milwaukee School of Engineering Milwaukee, WIMilwaukee School of Engineering, known as MSOE, is located in downtown Milwaukee next to both the historic East Town and the Theater District and just a few blocks from Lake Michigan. Student organizations at MSOE fall into one of seven categories: government, Greek, honors societies, professional, religious, service, and special interest. Intramural sports, including football, volleyball, broomball, and dodgeball, are popular activities among students. MSOE’s varsity athletic teams, the Raiders, compete in NCAA Division III sports. The Kern Center athletic facility houses an ice rink, basketball arena, indoor track, fitness center, and field house. Freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus in one of the three coed residence halls. Annual campus traditions include Constitution and Citizenship Week, Raider Week for school spirit, and St. Patrick’s Week.more$37,980 Tuition and Fees 2,712 Undergraduate Enrollment#11 California State Polytechnic University--Pomona Pomona, CAThe official motto of California State Polytechnic University—Pomona translates to “Application of Knowledge,” and students have many opportunities to learn by doing outside of the classroom. Notable alumni include Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, the first Latina to serve in the U.S. cabinet.more$18,136 (out-of-state), $6,976 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 22,157#12 United States Coast Guard Academy New London, CTThe United States Coast Guard Academy is a military service academy located in New London, Connecticut, overlooking the Thames River. Following a practice observed at most U.S. service academies, Coast Guard students are referred to as cadets, indicating their position as military trainees. Incoming cadets are required to participate in Swab Summer, a seven-week military training program. Student life is highly regimented at the Coast Guard Academy, with military training, study periods and athletic activities all built into the daily schedule. The academy's intercollegiate athletic teams compete primarily in NCAA Division III sports. Music groups such as the Glee Club, Gospel Choir and NiteCaps Jazz Band are popular among students.moreN/A (out-of-state), N/A (in-state) Tuition and Fees 898 Undergraduate Enrollment#13 The Citadel Charleston, SCThe Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, is situated just a few miles from downtown Charleston. Students who enroll at The Citadel become members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets, so much of student life, from the strict rules to the varsity rifle team, has a military feel.more$31,780 (out-of-state), $11,364 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 2,671#13 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University--Prescott Prescott, AZFounded in 1926, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University--Prescott is a private institution.$33,826 Tuition and Fees 2,205 Undergraduate Enrollment#13 Kettering University Flint, MIFounded in 1919, Kettering University is a private institution. The school has 57.7 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Kettering University is 14:1.more$39,790 Tuition and Fees 1,841 Undergraduate Enrollment#13 Lafayette College Easton, PANestled in the College Hill neighborhood of Easton, Pa., is Lafayette College, a liberal arts institution. Easton is a small city about 60 miles from Philadelphia and 70 from New York City. One perk of living in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley: in warm months, students can load up on fresh produce each Saturday at the Easton Farmer’s Market, billed as the nation’s oldest continuous open-air market. In the winter, students can go skiing and snowboarding in the nearby Pocono Mountains. The campus has its own indoor rock-climbing wall and on-campus night club called The Spot for year-round fun. There are around 200 student organizations, including a popular Greek system of close to a dozen fraternities and sororities. Each fraternity and sorority has a house on campus for member students. Freshmen must live on campus at the residential college, and so must sophomores, juniors and most seniors. About 70 seniors who apply to move off campus will be approved each year. The Lafayette Leopards compete in the NCAA Division I Patriot League, and the football team has a notorious rival with Lehigh University’s squad. Students kick off the year with the President’s Ball, a formal dance, and end the year with All-College Day, a campus-wide celebration with music and food. Students can grab a bite after, too, when faculty members serve them Midnight Breakfast.more$48,885 Tuition and Fees 2,533 Undergraduate Enrollment#13 Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CALoyola Marymount University—the largest Catholic university on the West Coast—is located in Los Angeles. LMU provides housing to more than 3,000 students in its residence halls, apartments, and houses. There are about 150 student clubs and organizations on campus, including nearly 15 Greek chapters. Students interested in media can join the radio station; The Los Angeles Loyolan, a student newspaper; The Tower, a university yearbook; or ROAR Network, a television channel. The Loyola Marymount Lions field a number of Division I athletic teams and compete in the West Coast Conference. Club sports like the surfing, rugby, and ski and snowboard are also popular among students.more$44,238 Tuition and Fees 6,259 Undergraduate Enrollment#13 Smith College Northampton, MASmith College, a private school in Northampton, Mass., is one of the largest liberal arts schools for women in the country. Students live in group houses, not dormitories, at Smith.more$47,904 Tuition and Fees 2,478 Undergraduate Enrollment#13 Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PAAbout 10 miles outside of Philadelphia is Swarthmore College, a private liberal arts institution that also offers a unique engineering degree program. Because Swarthmore is part of the Tri-College Consortium, students can also take courses at nearby Bryn Mawr College and Haverford College.more$49,104 Tuition and Fees 1,581 Undergraduate Enrollment#13 University of San Diego San Diego, CAThe University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic institution open to students of all faiths. The school overlooks Mission Bay, and downtown San Diego is about a 15-minute trip away. On campus, there are more than 100 student organizations, including more than 10 fraternities and sororities. Most of the San Diego Torero sports teams are members of the NCAA Division I West Coast Conference; the football team competes in the NCAA Division I-AA Pioneer League. Athletic teams are cheered on by the school's mascot, a costumed bullfighter named Diego Torero. The University Ministry coordinates retreats and immersion trips and hosts daily Mass services, including a special Mass for Peace on Wednesday nights.After class, students can relax at nearby beaches, like La Jolla and Pacific Beach, or explore Balboa Park, the biggest urban cultural park in the country, which is home to 15 museums, the San Diego Zoo and the Old Globe Theatre. Opportunities to kayak, sail, wind surf and more are nearby. Students can join group excursions, led by the school’s Outdoor Adventures program, or rent kayaks, surfboards and snorkel equipment on campus for trips on their own. Freshmen must live on campus, and for students around on the weekends, the school hosts a Friday Night Movies series.more$46,140 Tuition and Fees 5,647 Undergraduate Enrollment#13 Valparaiso University Valparaiso, INLocated in northwest Indiana, Valparaiso University is a private, Lutheran institution at which students are encouraged to volunteer and serve their community. Valparaiso students can get involved through many campus ministries, Division I sports, and the local Popcorn Festival.more$37,450 Tuition and Fees 3,179 Undergraduate Enrollment#22 Gonzaga University Spokane, WAGonzaga University is a private, Roman Catholic institution that is open to students of all faiths. Residing along the Spokane River, it is less than half a mile to downtown Spokane, Wash. On campus, there are more than 95 active clubs for students to choose from. Intramural sports are very popular at Gonzaga, with more than 60 percent of the student body participating. The Bulldogs of Gonzaga are part of the NCAA Division I West Coast Conference. The men’s basketball team is the pride and joy of the university, and the team has returned the love by winning more than 90 percent of its games at the school’s McCarthey Athletic Center. At Gonzaga, students are required to live on campus during their first two years, but the university has stated that on-campus housing is not guaranteed for an entire college career. Students interested in outdoor pursuits can journey to the 100-acre Riverfront Park and go ice skating in the winter or check out the sky ride over the falls. They can also explore the Spokane River Centennial Trail, a 37-mile paved trail perfect for walking, running, skating, or biking.more$39,730 Tuition and Fees 5,041 Undergraduate Enrollment#22 Rowan University Glassboro, NJFounded in 1923, Rowan University is a public institution. Rowan University offers a Greek system, where 5 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 4 percent is involved in a fraternity.more$20,978 (out-of-state), $12,864 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 13,169#22 San Jose State University San Jose, CAStudents who attend San Jose State University, or SJSU, are situated in the scenic California Bay Area and booming Silicon Valley. The campus is located in downtown San Jose, and there are a variety of on-campus housing options, including student apartments and suites. Freshmen are not guaranteed university housing, though there is usually enough room for all who apply. There are more than 350 student organizations to check out at SJSU, as well as a Greek system that prides itself on its diversity. Students can also get involved by joining or cheering on the school’s Spartans athletics squads, which compete in the NCAA Division I Western Athletic Conference. The San Jose State football team competed in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.For graduate students, the school offers programs through the Lucas Graduate School of Business, among other schools. The university also operates unique research centers that study the lives and works of Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck and legendary composer Beethoven. About three fourths of SJSU alumni stay in the Bay Area after graduation. Some of the school’s most notable graduates include musician Stevie Nicks and author Amy Tan. More than a dozen Olympic medalists have also graduated from SJSU, including runner Lee Evans and boxer Chuck Adkins.more$13,066 (out-of-state), $9,284 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 26,822#25 Bradley University Peoria, ILLocated in Peoria, Ill., Bradley University gives its students many opportunities to participate in both academic and recreational activities. Career and entrepreneurship centers help students learn, and around 250 student organizations help students have fun.more$32,120 Tuition and Fees 4,439 Undergraduate Enrollment#25 SUNY Polytechnic Institute Utica, NYFounded in 1966, SUNY Polytechnic Institute is a public institution.$17,740 (out-of-state), $7,890 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 2,082#25 Trinity University San Antonio, TXTrinity University overlooks downtown San Antonio, home to the Alamo, four professional sports teams including the NBA Spurs, and more than 175 city parks and recreation areas. Not to be ignored: San Antonio has on average 300 days of sunshine per year. Students can get involved in any of the more than 115 campus organizations ranging from the Loon-E Hip-Hop Dance Crew to the Entrepreneurship Club. A thriving Greek community at Trinity represents about a quarter of the undergraduate student body and consists of mainly local chapters. Nearly 80 percent of students live on campus in one of the residence halls, and there are designated areas on campus for freshmen and sophomore housing. The Trinity Tigers compete in Division III and are known for their strong tennis program.more$39,560 Tuition and Fees 2,273 Undergraduate Enrollment#25 Union College Schenectady, NYSchool life is split into three 10 week terms, or trimesters, at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. On the trimester schedule, students take three classes per term and have an extended winter break. All freshmen, who live in residence halls, are randomly assigned to one of seven Minerva Houses, an academic and social community. Upper-class students and faculty can reside in this community. All students can take classes and participate in extracurricular activities in the houses. Each house has its own kitchen for students who want to cook their own meals. There are more than 100 student clubs and organizations, including more than 15 fraternities and sororities. Most Union sports teams, called Dutchmen, compete in the NCAA Division III Liberty League. The Union men’s and women’s ice hockey teams compete in the Division I ECAC Conference Hockey League. The school mascot is a costumed man known as Dutch. Students can volunteer in the revitalizations efforts going on in downtown Schenectady. New York is about 150 miles away, and more than 60 percent of students travel abroad before graduation. Union College’s global offerings include year programs, trimester stays and three-week trips known as mini-breaks. Each year, students celebrate the changing seasons at Springfest, a day of concerts by famous performers like Sean Kingston and Matt Nathanson.more$51,696 Tuition and Fees 2,269 Undergraduate Enrollment#25 United States Merchant Marine Academy Kings Point, NYThe United States Merchant Marine Academy, also called USMMA or Kings Point, is located in Kings Point, New York, about 20 miles east of New York City. It is one of the five U.S. service academies. Incoming students, known as plebes, undergo a two-week indoctrination program known as "Indoc," which prepares them for the Merchant Marine Academy lifestyle. Upon entering the academy after Indoc, midshipmen can participate in a variety of clubs and organizations, including the Trident Scuba Diving Club, Glee Club, Regimental Band and Hear This, the student newspaper. USMMA fields a number of men's and women's NCAA Division III athletic teams, and all students are expected to participate either in varsity, club or intramural sports.moreN/A (out-of-state), $2,214 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 904#25 Virginia Military Institute Lexington, VALocated in Lexington, Virginia, the Virginia Military Institute is the oldest state-supported military college in the United States. Students admitted to the college are known as military cadets and are required to participate in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). Unlike the federal service academies, Virginia Military Institute cadets are not required to serve in the military upon graduation. Cadets have about 80 academic, professional and social clubs and organizations to choose from upon entering the college.Freshmen admitted to VMI are immediately exposed to the Rat Line, which is a system designed to create equality among all cadets and prepare them mentally and physically for their career in the Corps. This is done through a series of team-building exercises and stringent regulations. The housing situation is very different from most universities' campuses. In the Barracks, cadets live modestly, with limited space and multiple other occupants, and are expected to maintain cleanliness and order at all times. The Virginia Military Institute Keydets participate in 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs and are members of the Southern Conference and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.more$41,801 (out-of-state), $17,492 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 1,717#31 LeTourneau University Longview, TXFounded in 1946, LeTourneau University is a private institution. LeTourneau University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.more$28,480 Tuition and Fees 2,286 Undergraduate Enrollment#31 Miami University--Oxford Oxford, OHMiami University students make up nearly half the population of the approximately 7-square-mile town of Oxford, Ohio. Freshmen must live on campus, which is also home to more than 500 student organizations. The Greek system constitutes a large part of campus life, with about a third of the student body involved in more than 50 fraternities and sororities. In fact, the school often gets the moniker “Mother of Fraternities” because the Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Kappa Tau and Sigma Chi organizations were founded at Miami University. The school is also known as the "Cradle of Coaches" for the number of professional and collegiate coaches who once competed for Miami. The RedHawks, who compete in the Division I Mid-American Conference, were known as the Redskins until 1997. The name was changed after years of controversy and a request from the Miami Indian Tribe. (The tribe is the namesake of the university.) To help ease the transition into freshman year, older students often create a guide to life at Miami University, called the "M Book." Student couples who marry are known as "Miami Mergers" and are reminded of their alma mater each Valentine's Day, when the admissions office sends cards to congratulate former students on finding love at school.more$31,592 (out-of-state), $14,288 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 16,387#31 Ohio Northern University Ada, OHLocated in the town of Ada, Ohio Northern University is a private school with small classes and many student organizations. Examples of ONU clubs include several fraternities and sororities and a committee that plans events for the rest of the student body.more$29,820 Tuition and Fees 2,401 Undergraduate Enrollment#31 Seattle University Seattle, WASeattle University is a private institution that has a strong focus on its Jesuit mission. Most Seattle students volunteer through programs such as the Children’s Literacy Project, which allows them to tutor children in local schools.more$41,265 Tuition and Fees 4,711 Undergraduate Enrollment#35 Brigham Young University--Idaho Rexburg, IDBrigham Young University--Idaho is a private institution.$3,830 Tuition and Fees N/A Undergraduate Enrollment#35 California State University--Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAThe California State University—Los Angeles, also known as Cal State LA or CSULA, operates on a quarter system. The campus is close to public transportation stops, making it convenient for commuters.more$17,505 (out-of-state), $6,345 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 23,439#35 Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls, ORLocated in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, the Oregon Institute of Technology is a public school with strong engineering programs and a focus on sustainable, renewable energy. Students can take advantage of OIT's scenery and enjoy outdoor activities such as snowboarding, deep-sea fishing and skydiving.more$27,326 (out-of-state), $9,625 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 4,730#35 University of Minnesota--Duluth Duluth, MNFounded in 1947, University of Minnesota--Duluth is a public institution. The school has 34.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at University of Minnesota--Duluth is 17:1.more$17,032 (out-of-state), $13,082 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 9,837#35 University of Portland Portland, ORA private, Catholic school in northwest Oregon, the University of Portland offers many attractions both on and off campus. Students can check out university clubs and sports or venture to the nearby Portland Art Museum, Oregon Zoo or Alberta Arts District.more$42,014 Tuition and Fees 3,770 Undergraduate Enrollment#35 University of St. Thomas St. Paul, MNFounded in 1885, University of St. Thomas is a private institution. University of St. Thomas follows a 4-1-4-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered selective.more$39,594 Tuition and Fees 6,240 Undergraduate Enrollment

My Testimony is kind of long but, worth the read for the example of how God can Work in your life if you stop fighting against Him and get out of His way.My mother was raised in a small Baptist faith in a small Texas town. Her mother was a Christian Cherokee woman and Her father was a hardworking Christian Cowboy who ran stock, sheared sheep, shod horses, and was a deputy sherriff for most of his life.My mother had 2 other children before she had me, from a man who she married without knowing that he was abusive, a drunk, and an atheist. She tried to leave him and he and a friend beat her unconscious, breaking most of her teeth off inside her head.Her father, My uncle, and she, herself, went hunting him but couldn't find him, so she moved with us kids to another small town about 40 miles away where we lived for a few years.During the time we lived there, I had gotten pretty adventurous(around 7 years old I think), I took it upon myself to climb a 30′ retaining wall made out of stacked field stone loosely mortared. Nearing the top, a stone came loose in my right hand and I fell backward 30 feet and landed with my back across a barrell style horizontal barbecue pit. I got up and walked away without a scratch.My mother worked at bars most of her adult life to provide a living for myself and my little sister who had been born 5 years after me, while my older brother and sister lived with their father and his mother(he had been in an accident that left him borderline quadriplegic).My brother and older sister came to visit for summer and we went to a friend's house to swim in their pool. I almost drowned before my brother saw me and pulled me to the ladder.During the course of my mom's various bar jobs she survived a few robberies and knife attacks.We moved to Dallas, Tx. When I was about 9. My mother was roomed up with another couple who had 2 small girls. One day, while mom was at work, the dad of these 2 small girls accosted my little sister in the bathroom and showed her his penis and asked her to rub it. she escaped the bathroom and came to sit beside me where I was playing Atari 2600 games in the living room. She told me what had happened and I told her to stay with me until mom got home.The man went to his room and stayed there the rest of the day.Mom got home and I told her what had happened. She went to kill the guy. She stopped herself before she could actualky cut his throat. Saving her that sin.We moved back to the original small town where my mother was raised and had various hardships and trials, but we were always peovided with what we needed. Be it through Christians, my mother's hard work, or God’s Grace.We ended up moving again, to San Angelo, Tx. Where my mother met a man that started off treating her right. After the first Christmas with this guy, he became drunken and abusive and paranoid. He and my mother got into an argument and she ended up sleeping in the living room on the couch. My little sister and I shared a bedroom at the other end of the house. I was awoken in the early morning hours by more hollering and drunken exclamations on the part of the guy. I looked oit the bedroom door and saw him pointing a .30-.30 at my mother's head as she lay calmly on the couch. From 2 feet away he pulled the trigger and the bullet missed my mothers head……from 2 feet away, shattering the wooden arm of the couch. He jacked another shell into the breach with the lever action and pointed it at her again, 6 inches to the left of where he had first fired. She got up from the couch, and took the rifle away from him before he could pull the trigger again and he retreated to his bedroom where he barricaded himself in for the remainder of the night.We moved out the next day. Back to mom's hometown where she once again went to work at a bar. i was old enough at this point to be trustworthy enough to look after my little sister. One day, while cooking fries for lunch, I stupidly left the house to get her from a neighboring house. The wall beside the stove caught fire and was burning pretty good by the time we got back. I was able to put it out safely with no more damage than the veneer coating that covered the paneling. In order to pay rent, the bills, and buy food, and to supplement her piddly paycheck from the bar, she started selling marijuana in large quantities. her boyfriend found out about it and broke into our house one night to steal it all. He had a gun. Mom walked in the house before he could make off with her shipment and smashed her head into the doorframe instead of shooting her. He got away and left town, but she got up and walked to my aunt's house at 3 in the morning with blood running down her head and a fractured skull.We moved again. I was 12 or 13 by this time. We moved back to the second town that was 40 miles away. I was adventurous again and climbed a hill called Round Top. While up there, I found a very narrow cave and started to go in. Something told me not to go any further, and so I backed out. I later learned that there had been a nest of rattlesnakes found inside that cave.Little of note happened over the next 10 years or so. I got my first real girlfriend, got my first job and my first car, Changed girlfriends a couple times. And finally got married.My wife chose me. She just decided that that was it. We were together a year before getting married and about a month after the wedding, my first daughter was born. I was ecstatic. I had a wife and a baby girl. Two things that I had honestly never thought to have. a little under 2 years later, another baby girl. Woohoo!! My oldest had a baby sister to spoil and look after. Life was good. And, 2 years later, yet another baby girl. I was overwhelmed with happiness. I thought my wife was as well. When my youngest was 10 months old, I came home from work one day, in time for my wife to go to school for a business bachelor's, and found the children walking around the house screaming. None had been fed and they were still wearing the same diapers I had put on them that morning before leaving for work.My wife, the mother of my children, who was sitting at the comouter, and had been all day, turned from the MMO she was playing(Everquest), and said, “ Ya know…..I can barely make it through a day of you being at work without having to restrain myself against these damned kids.”So, I told her to pack up what she wanted to take, bought her a bus ticket to Ohio, and sent her to live with her mom so that she wouldn’t have to deal with ‘these damned kids’ anymore.I was forced move out of the place we were living to be close enough for my mom and my sister(who were without a means of transportation) to watch the kids while I worked. All I had was a motorcycle. The car had broken down and I could not afford to fix it or make the payments. I put up a sign on the contractor corkboard at Lowe’s where I worked. The sign stated this:“ Single dad in need of a working car. Willing to make payments. Please call (830)896-____”1 day later, while at work, I get a call from a guy. He says that he has a car that needs a little work on the radiator, but it has a clear title if I am interested in it.I ask him how much he wants for it and he says, “Come take a look at it first. Be sure that it will work for you”I tell him that i am at work at the moment, but would be appreciative to come look at it after work. He said, “ that's fine, I will be here until 5 anyway.”So he gives me directions and we sign off.I get off work and call my sister, who has just been given a car by my mother's ex, to come take me to look at this car.She picks me up and we go to the agreed upon place. I walk up to the business door and go inside and explain myself. The guy takes me outside and shows me a 4 door sedan style car. Fairly modern, really good condition. I open the door and look inside. Looks really nice.He asks me, “ will that work for ya?”And I say, “ yea man. this is perfect. what do you want for it?”Get this…..He says, “ The title is in the glove box. It's clear and it's yours. Just do me a favor. If and when you get something better, pass it alomg to someone else in need.”My jaw dropped. I sputtered and stuttered, “are you sure man?”He smiles real big and says, “yep. God bless you.”So, I have a car where I had none. I have family close by to help with the kids. I have a decent place for my kids to live. I have a job.Day by day, I go to work, come home, watch tv with the kids, play with the kids, tuck them in for bed and kiss them good night. Then I get on a poetry website where I can give outlet to the plethora of emotions that I am always feeling. i make some online friends and we review each other's works and give our opinions.There is this one user who seems to click with the way I think and write, so we start teaming up and writing tandem poetry. Funny thing is, every time she gets a phone call, she gets booted off the internet. So, I tell her that I can walk her through fixing the problem if she doesn't think I am some kind of stalker or something.She agrees and gives me her number. So, I call her and walk her through it all. She says, now, that she knew the moment she heard my voice that I was hers.We started talking daily, even to passing the phones to our respective kids who, respectively, started calling me “daddy” and her “mommy”.A month later and myself and our three girls moved to Florida to be with her and my other three kids.Finding a good job was hard at first. She was going to school and had just gotten back from serving 2 tours in the army; the last one in a live fire zone at Camp Udari, Kuwait where she was a combat life saver, recovery specialist, door gunner for a chinook unit, and a heavy wheeled-vehicle mechanic. She survived scorpion stings, vipers, and various military actions during these tour called OIF and OEF.(Incidently, we found out later that we had both been at the San Antonio MEPS hall at the same time for ASVAB testing. We just werent slated to meet yet.After a brief and problematic stay in Florida, we agreed that it would be easier to move back to Texas, where both her parents and my mom and family lived.Story is almost up to date. I promise.We moved back but during the drive, the alternator pulley on my nissan pathfinder froze up and we had to stop by the highway. Flashers on we only waited for 5 minutes before an elderly lady pulled up to fi d out what was wrong. I told her, and she told me that she could take me to the nearest auto parts place to get what I needed to get back on the road. She would not take payment.I was able, in the heat of the day, beside a busy highway, with my 5 children and future wife in my truck, to discern the problem, acquire the parts to fix it, and repair it by loosening and removing the serpentine belt, pulling off the pulley in question, knock out the frozen bearings, and repack the new bearings, and put it all back together inside of 2 hours. And be back on the road.We got to Deer Park, Texas, where my future wife's parwnts lived(at the time) and stopped in for a brief break and visit.Keep in mind, My Pathfinder is completely stuffed from floorboards to ceiling with kids and belongings, my ffuture wife and myself and we are pulling a 20′ U-haul trailer that is also completely stuffed from top to bottom, AND a few things lashed to the top and sides. Overloaded V-6 Nissan Pathfinder? I think so…..We make it back to Kerrville, Texas safely.( Yes the SUV is still working well. Same engine and transmission too). I don’t have a job yet, obviously, since we just got there. So we stay at my sister's apt. for a couple weeks. I am worried about getting her in trouble with her manager, so I break down and go ask a friend if he knows anyone with a place to rent for fairly cheap.He says, “ As a matter of fact, yes. My place is for rent. i am moving in with my girlfriend. You can go ahead and move in and start paying me 300 a month when you get on your feet.”………Again, I am dumbfounded….I mean, here I am, in need again, and my need is taken care of when least expected.We agree, and he moves out and we move in.I put in an application at Lowe's again because I know the work and the people, and it is a good job with good pay and benefits. They aren't currently hiring…. but, I do find a job delivery driving for Aaron’s(a furniture rental place).I am there for about…..7-8 months, I guess, but I get jnto it with the manager because a deal he made with me to repair electronics isn't honored, and i quit.I find a new job rather quickly as an equipment operator for a septic installation company. It is hot, smelly, nasty work, but it pays the bills long enough for a position to open up at Lowes.I am hired on at $2 more an hour than I was making at the septic place.My future wife and I are now Husband and wife with a fun costume ceremony held on Oct. 31, 2006.While living here, my wife's tour in Kuwait catch up to her and she is beset by severe PTSD. My best friend’s father-in-law turns out to be a bulldog who just happens to be THE Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter head, as well as the local rep. for Veteran's Affairs. He handles my wife's case, writes letters to senators, presidents of committees, etc. and her claim is approved in almost record time.I work for about 2 months and my friend shows up saying, “look Jay, I am sorry, but my girlfriend and I aren't seeing each other anymore and I need my house back.”……..Well…..damn…. OkThat very day, I ask around at work if anyone knows of a place for rent that can be moved into pretty quickly. A lady I work with says, “ I just might. Give me your number and I will give it to him.”……….Next day, I get a call from a guy who has just recently bought a small rural park with a few really nice mobile homes on it and he is interested in renting to me from the description my co-worker gave him. I show up, he shows me the house, I ask him how much he wants for this 4 br/2ba/ den/lr/kitchen with 1 full lot front yard and 1/2 lot back yard per month.He says, “ Well…..the wife would say $1200 a month”, and my spirits drop because that is well outside my budget,” but, I am going to rent it to you for $800 a month, if you’re interested.”Ummm…….”well, hell YES I am interested”. With my bi-weekly pay and my Wife's V.A. Disability we can make that. not easily, but we can make it.Life is good for 2 years, typical ups and downs. Then my mother has some issues with my little sister, whom she has been staying with, and my wife tells me to invite her to live with us.I screw up my back badly at work and am forced to go on temporary disability theough my insurance. The diagnosis comes back that I have trashed discs l3-l4, l4-l5, and l5-s1 and will require surgery. Insurance pays for this. i am placed on pain meds, anti-inflammatories, and anti-depressants. I attempt to go back to work for a year, but I am kinda stuck. if I dont take my meds, I hurt too bad to function, and if I do take my meds I am to doped up to function. I receive Social Secirity Disability in record time.Mom stays with us for 5 years and we fight to get her on disability because she has had 4 heart attacks and can no longer work. We get here disability(With the Great help of God) in also record time.She elects to move to Oklahoma with my older sister to help because my older sister has stage three lymphoma in her right side lymph nodes.(Sideline here, 2 months before her diagnosis with lymphoma, her husband had gotten them on with Aflac Insurance and all of her medical is taken care of)There is still a fight but, with the help of God, mom, and modern science, my sister is cancer free a year later. And 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years, 6 years, and 7 years later.In the meantime, back on the homefront, My father-in-law has survived diagnoses of colon cancer, throat cancer, lymphoma, colon resection, carotid resection, chemo, kidney damage and my mother-in-law survives a sever stroke(left side affected) while driving home from thanksgiving holiday with us on a busy I-10 just inside Houston on the way home, through traffic to the shoulder, and stops without further incident, survives the wait for the ambulance, the trip to the hospital, and is still here today. My father-in-law, God rest his soul, died shortly after wholly accepting Jesus Christ. (My mother-in-law has not yet accepted Him, but we are hopeful.)My mother in law calls us one night, fairly late, and tells us that ‘dad’ has died and she is on the floor beside her bed where she has fallen while trying to get herself to the bathroom. We are 5 hours away. We tell her to keep the phone handy because we will be calling often and if she doesnt answer we will send the ambulance. She says that she is fine for now, just be careful. We make the 5 hour drive in about 3 1/2 hours. No problems, tickets, or even stops. When we get there she is physically unharmed but emotionally distraught(obviously).So, with my father-in-law gone, my wife and I decide that we need to move to where she( my mother-in-law) is. We are kinda doing it piecemeal staying with ‘mom’ in shifts and looking for a place to live. My wife finds a barely livable temporary residence for us so we set to trying to save money to afford something better.We get a letter from Social Security saying that we have been underpaid for our dependants and will be receiving back-pay to bring us to current. we think…., ‘oh, maybe a couple hundred dollars, maybe even a thousand.’A week later an amount hits out bank account that we were wholly unprepared for……$43,761.Mom and dad(in-law) have 42 acres…. Dad left it all in mom’s care when he passed. Mom tells us that we can have 10 to put a house on.After paying off the car we are buying for our 2nd oldest girl(19) and past due bills, we have about 41,000 left. We start looking for a nice mobile home to put on our newly received 10 acres.The first place we stop at has a repo’d 4 br DW 2.5 bath, big kitchen, dining room, living room, and laundry room. It needs just a little work, but EVERYTHING is wood and built to last. No particleboard flooring cabinetry, etc. All wood. Down payment is 21,000 with our credit scores. Closing cost is about 1500.00. Septic system costs 6400.00 installed, pad construction is 12,500. With $41,000 left, our closing, set up, and delivery costs came to $41,400.00 dollars. We had just enough left in our bank account to cover the extra $400, buy what we needed to hook the plumbing to the septic, run the waterline to the main, and pay the rent and bills for our temporary residence and have them transferred. After all of this was done, mom bought us groceries as a house warming gift.So, throughout my life, God has been at Work, even when I didn't know it or realize it. That is my Testimony.May God Bless you and Keep you.Amen.