CP SLO is a safety school? CP SLO uses a formula (MCA), which awards points for GPA, course rigor and SAT/ACT score and also incorporates points for volunteering and paid work hours, with bonus points for those EC’s that are specifically tied to your major. And the OP didn’t even list those. Subjects tests aren’t even considered at CP SLO.
I’d suggest you take a look at the SLO and the UMich deferred and waitlist threads, since I’m very familiar with those two, and see what GPA’s and test scores are being rejected by these schools. The thread(s) are littered with students with 3.9+/1,500+ being deferred in EA and then rejected in RD (UMich).
I’d agree that it’s likely easier as an OOS student at Cal Poly SLO, but not 90% and still not a “safety,” IMO, when SLO’s MCA formula awards points for EC leadership positions and number of hours worked for volunteering and paid jobs.
According to the SLO’s website, the overall acceptance rate to the College of Engineering was 22%, but SLO admits by major, which the OP didn’t specify:
Maybe @eyemgh who has a son who recently graduated from the SLO’s College of Engineering as an OOS student can chime in, but I’m not sure the OP is even considering SLO.
I’m not generally a fan of graduating early. There really isn’t a benefit. This really isn’t about academic merit. It’s about age and maturity. Teenagers ALWAYS say they’re mature, but adults know better. College dorm life is not a place for minors. It’s not just because of the drinking and sex. It’s because everyone there is an adult. All of the students are on a completely different level emotionally, and it’s going to be awkward making friends. Not to mention that you’re going to have restrictions placed on you for liability reasons. They’re NOT going to give you free reign of the adult world. That’s assuming they’ll admit you at all.
I would say, take some time, work and save money. You could do enroll in community college and get an associates degree. A lot of high school students come out with an associates degree, and you can graduate college just as early.
@mrksne : Now your thread is filled with many reality checks and valuable suggestions after my subjective and somehow optimistic “figures.”
As I suggested earlier, writing a great personal statement/essay could be the most important task for your right now to make the admission officers to believe you’re truly someone very special to their respective programs and schools.
Try to add more decent yet “safety” schools (e.g., UT Austin and UIUC) and check the respective threads in cc forum.
Even a community college could be an option as suggested in post#23.
And one more thing, always hope for the best and prepare for the worst!
@sushiritto : I knew someone would post that. >< it’s been so hyper-competitive these days that virtually no decent public schools could be regarded as “safeties.” College admission in 1998 was not as competitive as today.
Yes, people do have to point out when someone posts inaccurate information, and you are correct that college admission have changed since 1998, a lot.
Many of the schools OP is targeting have sub 10% acceptance rates for engineering school/some specific majors.
Others like UIUC might have a bit higher engineering acceptance rate but it’s still a reach for OP, and most applicants. UIUC’s CS acceptance rate was 4% this year.
Pre-Covid, UMich would enroll about 3% of their freshman class from outside the US. And the freshman engineering class represents about 1,300 of the roughly 7,000 total freshman class.
So, if UMich keeps their %’s in the same proportion with their other schools, such as LSA, Nursing, SMTD, Ross, etc., which is a huge assumption on my part, then the # of International engineering students would be about 39. But I’d bet that International students represent more of the CoE, as a %, than other schools at UMich.
In any case, the CoE acceptance numbers for International students would seem very low, but Pre-Covid.
Generally admission rates are lower for international students then what is published. For public schools, internationals are included in the OOS numbers. MIT has an international acceptance rate of 2%.
You say there’s no specific budget, will you be applying for financial aid? If so that decreases your chances as well, only HYPM and Amherst are need blind for international students.
You will have to apply to a wide range of schools including some with higher acceptance rates to ensure you get a US acceptance. Are you considering other options? Indonesia? EU? Canada?
Unlimited budget? No money available? Depends on the school? Though in that case, you should at least know what you are willing to pay for each school. Assume you won’t receive fin aid at most places.
I actually dug up the stats from my kid’s 2022 class and UMich states 5% of that class being International, so thank you for the correction. I was going from memory.
As for overrepresentation in CoE by Internationals, as I said I’d bet the % is higher as a proportion. However, CS is obviously a very popular major and a CS degree can be obtained either in CoE or LSA. A lot UMich CS applicants apply and enroll, if accepted, in LSA, because there are about 4,200 +/- seats in the freshman class (Class of 2022), thus acceptance to LSA is relatively easier than CoE. And freshman do not declare their majors until the end of the sophomore year.
And there are many other Top 10-15 departments in LSA, including popular LSA majors such as biological and life sciences, psychology, social sciences and as you mention the Ross Business school.
