Best engineering schools for high GPA, low SAT/ACT?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm trying to find colleges for my friend to apply to (yes, it's really my friend, not me haha). He's a pretty smart guy but doesn't do well with standardized tests:</p>

<p>Rank: 20/400
UW GPA: 3.94
SAT: 1500 something
ACT: 25 (retaking at least one more time, may go up to 27-28)
APs: chem 4, lang 4, ush 3, world 3, comp sci 1
ECs: nothing special
Essays: great
Recs: probably pretty good
Income bracket: 40K
Hooks: none</p>

<p>He lives in Texas so he's already accepted to UT Austin under the 8% plan but is looking at OOS schools.
He's looking to go into some sort of engineering, probably mechanical or petroleum.
Obviously they need to have good financial aid.</p>

<p>What schools should I recommend to him?</p>

2

<p>How about Ohio State? The school has recently increased its merit scholarship - “National Buckeye Scholarship” for OOS students from $8,700 to $12,000 a year!! It also has some of the best Engineering programs in the country. Check USNWR for rankings. Best value imho!!</p>

<p>*Lowrie Family Donates $17 million to Ohio State Engineering</p>

<p><a href=“http://engineering.osu.edu/news/2009/02/lowrie-family-donates-17-million-ohio-state-engineering[/url]”>http://engineering.osu.edu/news/2009/02/lowrie-family-donates-17-million-ohio-state-engineering&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>*$20 million Space Discovery Gift to Create Glenn Chair in Engineering</p>

<p><a href=“http://engineering.osu.edu/news/2007/12/20-million-space-discovery-gift-create-glenn-chair-engineering[/url]”>http://engineering.osu.edu/news/2007/12/20-million-space-discovery-gift-create-glenn-chair-engineering&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>**National Buckeye Scholarship for non-Ohio residents **</p>

<pre><code>Award amount
$12,000 ($48,000 four–year value)

Criteria
Ohio State is committed to enrolling a diverse and talented student population. The National Buckeye Scholarship is awarded on a competitive basis to non-Ohio students required to pay the out-of-state surcharge who are admitted to the Columbus campus for autumn semester. Those considered rank in the top 40 percent of their graduating classes and have ACT composite scores of 28 or higher or combined SAT Critical Reading and Math scores of 1260 or higher.

Notes:

Except where noted, the National Buckeye Scholarship can be combined with any other merit scholarships, as long as the combined total does not exceed the total cost of an Ohio State education.
This award is renewable for a maximum of eight semesters (or the equivalent) of full-time undergraduate enrollment, provided the recipient maintains a 2.5 or higher GPA (earned by no later than the end of the first year), and nonresident classification remains unchanged.

</code></pre>

<p>[Scholarships[/url</a>]</p>

<p>Innovation to Impact: Engineering/Arts & Sciences</p>

<p>[url=&lt;a href=“- YouTube”&gt;- YouTube]Innovation</a> to Impact: Engineering/Arts & Sciences - YouTube](<a href=“Merit-based scholarships - The Ohio State University”>Merit-based scholarships - The Ohio State University)!</p>

<p>Also, a new College of Engineering Dean, an alumnus of University of Cambridge was hired recently as an attempt to boost its Engineering School academic profile for the future. </p>

<p>[News</a> Room - The Ohio State University](<a href=“http://www.osu.edu/news/newsitem3041]News”>http://www.osu.edu/news/newsitem3041)</p>

<p>Best of Luck to your friend & Go Bucks!! :)</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the suggestion! :)</p>

4

<p>I like Ohio State but non resident tuition is $25k, and total COA is $41k. So $12k does not really put that much a dent in it. Unless theres engineering specific scholarships I’m missing that could stack.</p>

<p>[Award</a> Guide - Student Financial Aid - The Ohio State University](<a href=“http://www.sfa.osu.edu/awardguide/index.asp?tab=e]Award”>http://www.sfa.osu.edu/awardguide/index.asp?tab=e)</p>

5

<p>The top 8% rule in Texas probably means that UT Austin and Texas A&M are likely to be the most selective affordable schools with engineering for him (if their financial aid is sufficient). However, be careful in that the top 8% rule may guarantee admission to the campus, but not the engineering division.</p>

6

<p>WPI might be worth looking at since it is test optional. You do have to submit alternate materials in place of the test scores. See details at<br>
[Undergraduate</a> Admissions: Flex Path Information - WPI](<a href=“http://www.wpi.edu/admissions/undergraduate/apply/policy-qa.html]Undergraduate”>http://www.wpi.edu/admissions/undergraduate/apply/policy-qa.html)
Financial aid would depend on mostly on need, though they award a fairly large percentage of students with merit aid.
A little far from Texas though, but that would work in your favor with admissions ;-)</p>

7

<p>@santookie,</p>

<p>Just get a campus job, it’s really not that bad. Many of my friends chose to work at the library or school cafeteria to cover some of their expenses. :)</p>

8

<p>sparkeye - how much can you make working 20 hours a week? Let’s assume $12 dollars, that’d be $240 a week or $12,480 a year. Assuming you never go home for any vacation. I assume $12 might be on the high side, and that is before taxes etc. So assume $12k our of the $29k after tuition. You still have to get a loan for $17k or have parents that can chip in that much. Engineering I’m sure is on the up and up at Ohio, but I would assume that taking engineering classes and working isn’t for everyone.</p>

9

<p>Those are somewhat low SAT/ACT scores for engineering. The instate public options - UT-Austin and Texas A&M would be hard to beat.</p>

<p>The most selective schools are typically the only ones that meet financial need. Those SAT/ACT scores are low for the most selective schools. So the best bet is probably the least expensive options, which are probably the instate public schools. This student is lucky to have great instate public options.</p>

10

<p>UMD without a doubt…its engineering program is one of the best in the country. if you can get your sat above a 1800 you have a great shot.</p>

11

<p>If getting into the engineering division is uncertain at UT Austin and Texas A&M, there are also other Texas public schools like Texas Tech and Houston to consider.</p>

12

<p>@santookie,</p>

<p>Well, many of my friends (Engineering Majors) chose to work ‘night shift’ at tOSU’s library (such as the 24/7 Science & Engineering Library or the Business Library) circulation desk when there would barely be any student checking out books at late hours. They usually do their required reading or homework while working as a receptionist. Others may choose to work at much smaller on campus libraries that are less frequent by students such as the Orton Geology Library & Fine Arts Library. I know it may not much money save, but it’s nonetheless helpful in offsetting the overall cost a bit. Obviously, working as a waiter/waitress at restaurant(s) just right off campus could earn you much more!! And the fact that Ohio State is located in a vibrant city of Columbus, certainly has a lot to offer imho!! </p>

<p>The Word on Columbus</p>

<p>[The</a> Word on Columbus - YouTube](<a href=“The Word on Columbus - YouTube”>The Word on Columbus - YouTube)</p>

<p>Best of Luck to you & Go bucks!! :)</p>