<p>I'm in an odd situation and I was wondering if CC could help me out. I've got a 33 ACT and a 3.3 weighted GPA. I try to excuse this GPA with thoughts like "my school doesn't have much grade inflation," "honors classes aren't weighted," "I don't take classes in areas that I am strong in," or "I need moar sleep." I understand that my GPA isn't quite good enough to even be a "shoe-in" at a great university. </p>
<p>However, I do have a unique EC. I created my own engine this year. It exists as a cad/cam file, but I am really proud of it. This isn't some here's the specs sort of thing. This is a engine that's eaten my time. I've done parameter testing on it. Made sure that there wasn't any interference or contract at temperature, ect. By no means is this professional-grade. But, I guess it's unique. I tried to get involved at school with this, in our "supermileage" team. But, that conflicted with volunteering and swimming. And, the "supermileage" game was not what I expected it to be. I've been mechanically active, I rebuilt a hydraulic cylinder on my Dad's excavator. </p>
<p>I also might have helped a court battle this year. A cause that I am involved in is combating Federal legislation. I noticed that the enforcement of this legislation <em>could</em> be unconstitutional under the interstate commerce clause. If this argument is brought up, could I write about this realization in my college essays? Would that be unique? Or would adcoms dismiss it as happenstance?</p>
<p>I want to get into UChicago or Brown. I know, neither of them are engineering schools, but I think that I want to become something more than an expert technician.</p>
<p>This is the most unusual “chance me” post I’ve seen on CC. I think if I were on the admissions committee at the University of Chicago, I’d be interested. I hesitate to say anything about Brown (without knowing squat about their admission philosophy). </p>
<p>Another school you should check out, if a small liberal arts college has any trace of appeal, is Reed College. It is the only college/university in America with its own student-operated research nuclear reactor, in case you get tired of this sissy little engine stuff 
Reed has been known, in the past, to take chances on students with less-than-perfect grades. It’s been called (by Loren Pope, author of Colleges That Change Lives) the “most intellectual college in the country”.</p>
<p>You’ll want to do a little “packaging” of your engine-building accomplishments. Don’t overdo this to the point you obscure your passion about the project. But if for example you send CAD drawings, be sure it is as easy as possible for a non-technical adcom to review it and understand what’s going on. </p>
<p>As for introducing politics into your essay, is there any chance you might come off as an extremist nut-job? If you bristle at even being asked that question it may be a sign to avoid the topic altogether. Together with your mechanical skills it could trigger the adcom’s Young Unabomber alarm. Nothing personal, now … I’m sure you are a very nice person.</p>
<p>And by the way, be careful with spelling and usage. Maybe you just need more sleep on that score. And you’re right, your GPA isn’t nearly good enough to be a “shoe-in” at a great university (drop the word “even”; look up “shoe in”). However, you’d be wrong to think your GPA (in the context of everything else) is not good enough to be even a reach at some very good schools.</p>
<p>MIT has a nuclear reactor. </p>
<p>Air chompers – is there something unique/revolutionary about your motor design? That could take you a long way with any admissions committee – especially techy schools.</p>
<p>Echoing TK . . .</p>
<p>Much will depend on how you present yourself in your essays and application form. Some schools (UChicago, for one) look carefully at the person being presented in the essays. This is your chance. Don’t explain your grades, but bring yourself alive on the page.</p>
<p>You might also want to look at Lehigh. They have a strong engineering school, with a more general liberal arts type campus/community. They weigh interest (visiting, contacting admissions, interviewing), extracurriculars, innovation/leadership, and essays more heavily than many; I’ve known students who have overcome one weak part of their application by being really strong in other areas. Bucknell might be another option.</p>
<p>As for writing an essay on the court case, go head and describe your cause. Tell the story of how you threw yourself into research and discovered the possible unconstitutionality of a law. Describe what that discovery did to you as a person. (Made you realize how important it is to look into details or know the law? What is feels like to advance a cause? How important it is to work within the system to change it?) Be honest about it. Speak from your heart and who you are. </p>
<p>And yes, take great care with spelling and grammar, sentence variety, etc. when writing your essay since AdComs need to show how intelligent and well-spoken you are. Send in your CAD drawings as a supplement.</p>
<p>I’m afraid that Brown is highly unlikely to accept you, even with those two unusual aspects. Sure, give it a shot. But the Ivies tend to weigh GPA over SAT/ACT scores, not the other way around. They want proven good students.</p>