If you were going to pick a few high reaches for this kid:

[Anonymous]

Where would you look:

Strong enough GPA, test scores and rigor that taking a shot at a T10 makes sense.

Good EC’s that support what he wants to do in and after college.

Wants to study civil engineering and geoscience or hydrology, with a goal on working on water related issues in international development.

Would like a school that takes a lot of AP credit, and that offers non-Western languages.

Needs to stay under 40K so the school needs to either meet need, or give good merit.

ChatGPT suggested Princeton.

[Anonymous]

I'd be surprised if many top 10 schools take a lot of AP credit. They believe (probably correctly) that their classes are more demanding than AP classes.

[Anonymous]

Chat says Princeton accepts a fair amount and MIT almost none. I have not fact checked.

Targets and Safeties will be mostly big state schools that will offer AP credit.

[Anonymous]

Princeton doesn’t give any AP credit. Without knowing more about financial situation, it’s impossible to give recommendations. You say the kid needs to stay under $40k but don’t say whether he would be eligible for $50k in need-based aid.

[Anonymous]

By “not taking AP credit,” I mean Princeton will not give any credit toward graduation for APs. They will let you get out of certain intro classes, but you still have to take 30 classes to graduate (or whatever it is now; that’s what it was when I was there).

[Anonymous]

Your state school is the best option.

[Anonymous]

Princeton uses APs so you can place into a higher level course, and possibly to fulfill certain requirements, but not for advanced standing. That is, you can't use it to get credits and graduate early.

https://advising.princeton.edu/placement/advanced-placement

They also consider only certain APs:
https://advising.princeton.edu/placement/advanced-placement/ap-table-class-2029

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Princeton doesn’t give any AP credit. Without knowing more about financial situation, it’s impossible to give recommendations. You say the kid needs to stay under $40k but don’t say whether he would be eligible for $50k in need-based aid.

NPC at Princeton comes in around $20K.

[Anonymous]

None of the T10s give merit aid. Not sure how your plan is going to work — the schools your kid seems to be aiming for and the price you’re (willing? able?) to pay don’t seem to align.

If you will legitimately qualify for need-based aid, carry on. But otherwise I think your student should focus on finding affordable targets and safeties before casting about for reaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None of the T10s give merit aid. Not sure how your plan is going to work — the schools your kid seems to be aiming for and the price you’re (willing? able?) to pay don’t seem to align.

If you will legitimately qualify for need-based aid, carry on. But otherwise I think your student should focus on finding affordable targets and safeties before casting about for reaches.

Targets and Safeties are already identified.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of the T10s give merit aid. Not sure how your plan is going to work — the schools your kid seems to be aiming for and the price you’re (willing? able?) to pay don’t seem to align.

If you will legitimately qualify for need-based aid, carry on. But otherwise I think your student should focus on finding affordable targets and safeties before casting about for reaches.

Targets and Safeties are already identified.

So what targets and safeties does the kid like? Might help people give advice on the type of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of the T10s give merit aid. Not sure how your plan is going to work — the schools your kid seems to be aiming for and the price you’re (willing? able?) to pay don’t seem to align.

If you will legitimately qualify for need-based aid, carry on. But otherwise I think your student should focus on finding affordable targets and safeties before casting about for reaches.

Targets and Safeties are already identified.

So what targets and safeties does the kid like? Might help people give advice on the type of school.

He likes UMD, Purdue, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Oregon State, Minnesota, Colorado School of Mines, WPI maybe Pitt or UNH.

[Anonymous]

Just any T20 university on US News.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where would you look:

Strong enough GPA, test scores and rigor that taking a shot at a T10 makes sense.

Good EC’s that support what he wants to do in and after college.

Wants to study civil engineering and geoscience or hydrology, with a goal on working on water related issues in international development.

Would like a school that takes a lot of AP credit, and that offers non-Western languages.

Needs to stay under 40K so the school needs to either meet need, or give good merit.

ChatGPT suggested Princeton.

Georgia Tech is the best fit.
1. It takes a lot of AP credits so DC can graduate in 2.5 years.
2. Georgia Tech is a T10 engineering. And broadly speaking, Georgia Tech is not worse than any of T10s, perhaps better than a couple of T10.
3. OOS tuition is low, you don't need merit if going to Georgia Tech. Under 40K.
The only thing is OOS acceptance rate is low, so DC may not be accepted. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where would you look:

Strong enough GPA, test scores and rigor that taking a shot at a T10 makes sense.

Good EC’s that support what he wants to do in and after college.

Wants to study civil engineering and geoscience or hydrology, with a goal on working on water related issues in international development.

Would like a school that takes a lot of AP credit, and that offers non-Western languages.

Needs to stay under 40K so the school needs to either meet need, or give good merit.

ChatGPT suggested Princeton.

Georgia Tech is the best fit.
1. It takes a lot of AP credits so DC can graduate in 2.5 years.
2. Georgia Tech is a T10 engineering. And broadly speaking, Georgia Tech is not worse than any of T10s, perhaps better than a couple of T10.
3. OOS tuition is low, you don't need merit if going to Georgia Tech. Under 40K.
The only thing is OOS acceptance rate is low, so DC may not be accepted. Good luck.

GA tech cost of attendance out of state is $53K and OOS aid is very limited. It seems better to use the reach spot for a school where, if accepted, he could afford to go, which means a meets need school.

— OP