Unweighted GPA: 3.9/4 (a B in US History)
Weighted: 4.3/5
AP Classes Taken: Calc AB (5) Chem (5) Calc BC (5) PHY Mech. (5) Music Theory (5)
ECs:
School Math Club (Founder and President) (11, 12)
Research assistantship at local univ. (12)
Local professional choral group (10, 11, 12); will perform at Carnegie Hall in May 2017
ESL Teaching Assistant in China (10; summer)
School AP Chemistry TA (11, 12)
School Chamber Group (11, 12)
JHU Engineering Innovation (11)
Awards/Honors:
Co-author of publication of a research paper (12; summer research program)
AIME qualifier (11)
National French Exam Medalist (11)
a bunch of school awards
Colleges:
MIT
USC
UCLA
UCSD
UMich
BU
Penn State
Wisconsin
UMass-A
*Since I’m international, I don’t think applying to any NC college would benefit me. Plus, I don’t rly like NC.
Question:
Should I retake my ACT? (Personally speaking, since senior year is really a burden for me regarding ECs and interviews and applications, I really don’t have the urge to retake it again. My reading score is SOOOOO low ugh)
@goblue8721 I think MIT might be a really high reach for me just regarding my test scores. I just want to apply to give it a try, nothing serious. Plus, MIT has a vibe that I personally think would not benefit my undergrad learning experience considering its small size relative to the other schools I’m applying. Anyway, do you think my test score is mediocre or even low for UMich and UCLA?
@BHan98 your scores are fine for UMich and/or UCLA - the only issue is that UMich gets 50k apps and UCLA gets 100k. So it’s hard to “count on” a school with those numbers. But your SAT subject tests and AP scores should put you over at one of the schools at that level. You could retake your ACT, but since you’re looking at engineering schools I doubt it will make that much of a difference. Schools will look at your stats and ECs and see a strong engineering/math candidate - the rest of your app, including recs and essays - will probably be the deal breaker either way.
If Mich is high on your list, you can do early action there and at least get some idea early in the process (since you are out of state they may defer your EA but if you write to them quickly, to let them know you’re serious, you have a decent shot of getting a quick response, in my experience.)
I can’t see you not getting into one of BU, USC, UMich, Penn State (have you looked at their rules for engineering if you don’t get admitted directly to the major? I don’t remember them off hand, but a lot of state schools require a certain GPA and even for you to apply to your major after a year or two - something to think about.)
I would say the problem with the UCs is engineering is a different app pool. At UCSD and at UCLA you apply to the major for engineering - which means relatively few slots and they tend to be well over-subscribed in the applications. You have the stats for either program, but so do a lot of kids. I could easily see you getting accepted, but also would not be shocked if you didn’t. You could throw Berkeley in that group as well. I think it’s all the same ap, you just need to pay a bit more.
I think you’ve got a pretty good mix of schools there. You might want one less-competitive safety, just so you don’t get caught out if there is some weakness in your app you aren’t seeing.
I know a few kids who have like UofMaryland-College Park for engineering. Not sure how competitive it is or if they have Mat Sci. UWash is also a good engineering program with an honors component, but not sure about Mat Sci there either.
Good luck. You’ll get in someplace great, just make sure you have a back-up. Engineering is a different admissions animal.
Also, if you are considering UCLA and UCSD for materials science, you should look at UCSB, which is highly regarded in this field and has an interesting combined 5-year BS/MS program.
For UMich CoE, your ACT score is right below admission median (33) of last year. Your reading score is also out of the mid 50 range. You probably want to focus on that to improve your score. The admission rate from OOS is below 20% for CoE (around 20% for LSA). Your GPA is right at their admission average while your course rigor is fine. Your chance would be like the average of OOS applicant just like your stat.