Better chances at engineering schools at USC (legacy) or UVA (instate)?

<p>Which is easier to get into, USC or UVA engineering?
What about Lehigh?</p>

<p>Dad went to USC grad school.
Am a northern virginia student (instate for UVA).</p>

<p>SAT scores = 1950
Low GPA.
Lots of EC's - including work for the Smithsonian and Habitat for Humanity.
Essay - international experience, dad's absense during War in Iraq.</p>

<p>Basically my SAT scores are below average/average and my GPA is definitely a weakness but my EC's and my essays are my strengths; I'm guessing a private school considers essays and EC's more heavily? What's your opinion?</p>

<p>Also does anyone know how good Union College's (NY) engineering program is?</p>