Hey guys! I am currently doing my A-Levels and will be completing it this end of the year. My intended major is Biomedical Engineering. It’s sad to say that I have just sat for my ACT and am currently waiting for the scores and will sit for the SAT subject tests this November. However, I wanted to get some opinions about which universities that have a higher admission chance for me as I cannot apply to too many as I cannot afford the application fees. Also, which universities would be good for this major? I have to fill in my college code for the ACT and your opinions will be much appreciated. Here’s my list:
Michigan
Carnegie Mellon
Cornell (which I want to get into but it’s tough)
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Northwestern
Texas at Austin
Georgia Tech
Nobody can tell you where you’d be competitive without at least a GPA and a test score. What are your grades like? Have you taken practice exams for the SAT/ACT to show you where you might score? What can you afford?
In my current AS examination : Physics 89, Biology 91, Chemistry 94 and Maths 94. Yes I have taken practice tests for ACT and my scores ranged from 28-33. Would that be good enough? I can afford application fees for maybe up to 2-3 universities. In your opinion do you think its true that applying to more universities would mean a better chance? Would applying using different applications such as Common App, MyIllini and UTexas spread my chances better?
Oh and actually I am applying for a scholarship to study in America as that is what I always wanted to do which my parents cannot possibly afford with the exchange rates now. Those universities in my list are those in the lsit for the scholarship.
If you apply to schools with a range of acceptance rates, I’d say applying to more will probably net better results. Can’t just apply to a bunch of really selective schools and expect to have a place to go in the end, though.
To see how you stack up, Google “(insert school name) common data set.” In section C, there are stats about GPA and test scores that will be helpful. If you’re below the 25th percentile, it might be better to spend your very limited money elsewhere, I guess?
If you are struggling to afford app fees, I would probably think long and hard about how you’re going to pay for tuition and room and board and whatnot. You might have to chase merit money, which requires high test scores and grades. Check out Alabama’s out-of-state scholarships; the highest is full tuition for (if I recall correctly) a 32 ACT and some highish GPA.
Edited to add: people more knowledgable about application fees and international grades will probably chime in soon!
I really appreciate your opinions. I will just have to pray hard and hopee for the best.