Now here’s the problem:
I have a 3.4 GPA (3.0 sophomore, 3.8 junior)
And For IB I take:
HL physics, HL Chemistry and HL Economy
But SL MATH!!! I feel like this and my GPA are going to MAJORLY destroy my application
These are the Uni’s that I’m going to applying early for:
Stanford
Georgia Tech
Umichigan
Purdue University
Ohio State University
I feel like because of my GPA and course selection the only colleges I can get into are Purdue and Ohio state
Any thoughts? And what are my chances to the above uni’s?
Thanks
Your GPA is quite low for umich, but if you really have an upward trend that can improve your chances a bit. Your test scores are fine.
Your choice of major has no bearing on your chances. At umich, every engineering freshman student comes in undeclared. You need to complete one chem or physics course, one math course, and one of engr 100 or engr 101 with a minimum GPA of 2.0 among the courses to declare. The earliest you can declare is your second semester freshman year.
Your test scores are very competitive for the UC’s but GPA is low for all. Unless you have some compelling reason for your low GPA and out of this world EC’s, UCLA/UCB and UCSB are Reach schools. Average UC GPA at 4.0+. Average unweighted GPA around 3.9+.
You’ll be a match t for many fine engineering schools, but as you already realize it’s a long shot at the very top schools. Don’t fret too much over it since many students with high GPA get rejected too. Just concentrate on building a list that has some good a mix of safety / match / reach schools. Factor in financial constraints too.
I agree with the rest, unless you have some secret you haven’t revealed (hold a patent, movie star, world class sports figure) then Stanford, and all the UCs you listed are likely out. I don’t know enough about the other state schools, but in the top programs, like all of the ones you’ve mentioned, engineering is a tougher admit than other majors. Some might be swayed by the OOS $$$ to lower their standards a bit, but I don’t see a “sure thing” in any of the schools you’ve listed and you need one. You need a school you KNOW you’ll get into and that you KNOW you can afford. Several of the CSUs have good reputations for engineering and aren’t too selective. BTW, don’t put Cal Poly on the safety list, especially if you want ME, Aero, or BME. They are extremely competitive and Poly admits based on an algorithm with GPA counting for the largest single piece.
Based on the stats posted for GTECH (Total ~30,400 apps, 11% more than last year and an estimated 8,800 admissions to be sent out), the acceptance rate will be less than 30%.
For EA only, "Admit rate= 30%: 1453 SAT/ 33 ACT; 11 AP/IB/DE classes; 48 States + DC, PR, Guam, USVI; 39 Nations " as posted on Twitter. No mention of avg. GPA but GPAs and ECs are considered more important than SAT/ACT scores as per their CDS.
Those are all valid points but this was how I looked at things:
When I look at the GPA and ACT charts for some of these colleges, It seems like for most of my corresponding stats (3.4 GPA and 33 ACT) Students got accepted. Am I wrong or are these exceptions?
There’s three problems. One, you need to know more about the origin of the data in those charts. If it’s self reported, it can be wildly misrepresentative. Two engineering at most top public engineering programs is more selective. Those charts aren’t major specific. Third, let’s say those are engineering and actual admits rather than reported data, you’re still in the some get in, some don’t range. You need a school, at least one, where you KNOW you’re in. I’m not saying you won’t get into any of the above, but you might not. If that happens, you don’t want to get locked out. Good luck.
You may think about looking into SJSU, CS-Longbeach and CS-Northridge. There are lots of public OOS options too that are good and less selective. Utah, Wyoming, Washington State, and Colorado State are all respectable and offer WUE tuition rates. A less selective private is an option too if you can afford it. Tulsa, IIT, and Clarkson. Those just scratch the surface. Have at least one that resonates with you. Just don’t get locked out.
I think some people here are being a tad overly-pessimistic about admissions chances. At the end of the day, the GPA is low but the upward trend and test scores are good. I mean, I’d be surprised if Stanford was realistic, but the others I would at least consider possible. I knew people when I was at UIUC who were in a similar boat, though they were certainly in the minority.
Also, I find it amusing that the OP is worried that “the only colleges [he/she] can get into” would be Purdue or Ohio State. Those are good schools, especially Purdue.
Engineering at UCB and UCLA is hyper competitive. The only tougher admits in California are Stanford, Cal Tech and a few engineering majors at Cal Poly. They are “holistic,” as opposed to algorithm based like Poly, so there’s at least a chance, but for all three of those state scenarios, admission is just over 10%. The median ACT/SAT hovers between 32 and 33 and the GPA averages are well above 4.0. They are weighted, but by the schools using their own rigor methodology. It isn’t out of a 5 point scale like many HS weighting systems. I’m not certain about the UCs, but the top GPA you can get at Poly is about 4.35 and the algorithm caps at 4.2. If I’m not mistaken, they rejected about 6000 students last year with GPAs 4.0 or higher. Long story sort, I think those are long shots too.
I agree that upward trend is a great thing. (Alas, one of my kids had just the opposite.) It also helps that you have been taking weighted courses. If your school has Naviance, those charts will be more helpful than generalized college charts.
Purdue and Ohio State are fine schools, you really need to recalibrate your goals. Your list is too prestige oriented for your stats and high school classwork … these are reaches, so you can try, but you need to build a good list of schools that you will get accepted to and can afford. Do you want co-op opportunities or more research-based programs? What specific interests in ME do you have (schools vary in their focus and options for electives) ?
Any ABET accredited school with a ME accredited program would provide you a good education and if you do well, you can get a masters from a more prestige school, although most employers couldn’t care less where you graduate from (it may help to be in a location you would like to work to pursue local employers or internships).
If you are a US student, look at all the ABET programs in your states publics … they will always be the most affordable options. Honestly, in many states, you would not get into the flagship engineering program … but there are always 2 or 3 other options.