Hi!
So I’m currently a high school senior (female) and WPI is my top choice for schools. I have been extremely dedicated to FRC robotics since freshman year and was selected to captain of my team this year. Unfortunately, I have a very low GPA around a 2.8 and low standardized test scores, which is why I’m opting for the flex path. According to experiences you guys have had, what are the chances of me getting in?
Getting in isn’t the whole problem. Doing the work and staying in is the bigger problem. GPA is one of the best predictors of success in college. A 2.8 GPA is quite low for high school. Why do you think that you can thrive at WPI when your track record in high school is so poor is the real question?
I am not asking these questions to be mean. It is just that college, especially engineering, is much tougher than high school. Tougher such that one’s GPA in college is usually lower than high school. I don’t want someone to waste their time and money if they won’t be successful. Take this as a challenge to see how high you can get your GPA for this year. If you were just being lazy about school and can raise it significantly then you should be successful in college. If not, then you should adjust your career goals.
I believe WPI places a lot of emphasis on GPA in admissions decisions. I have seen students on this forum who got into other very good schools, but were rejected or wait listed at WPI probably due to a lower GPA. In addition, without standardized test scores, you have no quantitative way to demonstrate you will be successful academically. Why are your grades low? And why are your test scores low? Take Hpuck’s advice, and think about whether WPI specifically, and engineering generally, are good fits for you. It’s great that you are engaged in robotics and leading your club. But, it’s secondary to achieving in the classroom.
I second VMT’s comment. When I applied, a “B” average in the most rigorous available curriculum and at least a 1250 out of 1600 on the SAT was typically the very minimum to be admitted at WPI (most students at WPI performed better than this and some a lot better); if your high school is not as strong, then you may need to do even better to be admitted. WPI also appears to have become more selective over the past 5 years, as is reflected in their admission rates and admitted student statistics.
Since you are a senior, community college is an option if you really want to get into WPI. If you can develop the discipline to study and earn a 3.5+ at a community college in a science program, then your high school record and SAT will not be considered as much you may be able to transfer to WPI.
I am not familiar with WPI’s transfer admittance rates and scholarship policies and so I was reluctant to mention the community college route. It is possible route but you should ask about those two items at least. Some schools will be very tight with their scholarship money for transfer students using most of it on incoming freshmen (for the 4 years of course). Being that WPI isn’t cheap, the potential lack of scholarship money could be a deal breaker. Do your research and find out what WPI’s policy is. Better still, call them and ask.
I’m looking at applying for their management engineering major, because they are one of the only schools that offer it.I know my chances are pretty low, but it’s the school I consider my “dream school”. The sole reason for the drop in my grades was the fact that I spent so much time at robotics, and it may have benefited me in that front but school wise it hurt me.
I understand your situation, but I personally don’t think admissions officers will necessarily be sympathetic. As a HS student, your primary job was to study and do well in your classes. This is a necessary but not necessarily sufficient condition for admission at any selective college, whether it is your flagship state university or WPI or Stanford. Similarly, at work, if I do additional work that is interesting to me but doesn’t help the business, I will not get paid.
But you can turn this into a learning opportunity for your further studies. Apply and see whether you can get in or not; I think it is unlikely you be admitted and even then, a scholarship is very unlikely. If you don’t, you have an opportunity to prove yourself at a community college and re-apply as a transfer. Transfer students sometimes get better scholarships and aid than freshman applicants. I know several (> 6) friends who took this route to WPI.
Good luck!
I applied to WPI. I got accepted but I did not attend. I had two C’s, too. Although my stats were different, it is difficult to say whether or not ou will get in. Every application profile is different, and no one can accurately predict whether or not you will get in, since WPI is really selective. You do have a chance, but maybe not as strong as someone with a 4.0 gpa and a 2100 SAT. On that note, don’t look to college confidential to chance whether or not you’ll get in. They 99% aren’t WPI admissions officers, so by looking at these comments, you’ll only lose hope. So good luck and I hope you get accepted! You seem like you belong there!
To add to @solveforx’s suggestion:
WPI has a slightly more practical rather than analytical emphasis when compared to similarly selective engineering schools. WPI motivates the theory with hands-on labs. For many students who found high school boring, this approach is refreshing and motivates them to understand engineering. Personally, I did not feel I gained a lot from the labs but many other students found them helpful. WPI emphasizes engineering design and many students build interesting projects outside of class. In this respect, I think you would be a great fit for WPI.
However, grades at WPI are based on exams which measure your understanding of the theory. Most exams at WPI are not terribly difficult but you need to study to learn the material. So if you get in, you will definitely need to study harder to get good or even decent grades. Many companies, especially in engineering have a GPA cutoff at 3.0-3.5 and it will be in your interest to do the very best you can academically. Students who lack study discipline often fail classes and/or spend an additional year or two at WPI (which is not covered by financial aid).