Changes for top engineering schools

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Hello! I was hoping you guys could give me a general idea about my chances in some of the top engineering schools. I'm a junior so I have a little time to improve and I havent taken a real SAT yet, I have taken the PSAT and an SAT that was real but didn't count, a free practice type. I am also listing about 3 classes in which I have not taken yet but will have take by the time I send out my application.</p>

<p>School: Wakefield High School
GPA: 4.0 Weighted and 3.5 Unweighted
Class Rank: Top 15%
SAT: M-750 CR-660 W-640</p>

<p>important classes taken at my high school:
AP Physics B
AP Environmental
AP US History
AP English III
AP English IV
AP Chemistry</p>

<p>Important classes taken through NC State:
MA241-Calculus II
MA242-Calculus III
MA341-Differential Equations
MA405-Linear Algebra and Matrices</p>

<p>Graduate Level classes taken through NC State:
MA511-Advanced Calculus I
MA512-Advanced Calculus II
MA513-Complex Variables
MA534-Intro to Partial Differential Equations
MA537-Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos</p>

<p>EC:
Varsity Wrestling: 3 Years
Eagle Scout
Employment Creating 3D part database and schematics for local sheet metal manufacturing company
Key Club
Distance Club
Regular participation in large fundraisers</p>

<p>My college list I would like to hear opinions on includes MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, Cal-Tech, Georgia institute of Technology, Cornell, University of Colorado. I realize that my rankings a a bit low but I'm hoping that the uniqueness of both my course load and my work experience will balance that out. And if there are any scholarships that I should be applying for let me know because I know of none. My safety school will probably be NC State and even if I get in to one of the previously mentioned schools I might go to State anyway because of price. Thanks in advanced for your comments.</p>

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<p>31 views and no responses.....Bump...</p>

<p>Addition info/explanation - During my sophomore year I realized that I really enjoyed math and wanted to accelerate my studies in this area. I was fortunate to be able to dual enroll at NCSU and take several math courses during the summer. My schedule has worked out this year to go to high school in the morning and commute to NCSU in the afternoons to take more math classes. I plan to continue to load up on math courses this summer and my senior year. Hope that helps explain my course listings.</p>

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<p>The post is a little unbelievable... I doubt anyone really thinks you took that many advanced math classes in high school.</p>

<p>See, I'm in CS and I've taken a course called discrete math. In that, we learn a cute little theorem called the pigeonhole principle. Basically, if you have n pigeons and h holes, and all the pigeons go into holes, you know you have at least ceiling(n/h) pigeons in at least one hole.</p>

<p>So if you took 9 college level classes in 4 years, that would be at least three in one year, some year. Possible, I suppose, but not leaving much extra time... especially considering the prerequisite structure involved.</p>

<p>Plus, that's assuming you started freshman year. I don't know. It's just a little hard to swallow.</p>

<p>In fact, with a little research, I almost suspect that it could be proven that what you're saying is impossible. Because you have CalI, CalI, Linear Algebra / Diff EQ, Adv. Cal I, Adv. Cal II, Complex / Partial / Chaos in that order, if any... so that's at six semesters if taken concurrently, which is between two and three years, depending on how many of these courses are offered over the Summer (upper level math courses like Complex Analysis and Chaos offered over the Summer? Again, possible but it raises suspicions).</p>

<p>The number of semesters is 6 with total concurrency, and 8 if you take each of the three graduate courses separately. If taking classes only during the Fall/Spring, this would be between three and four years of taking college level math courses. Taking in the Summer as well, perhaps two to three years. All possible, but I think the reason you're not getting as many answers as you wanted is because people see this and assume it's fake.</p>

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<p>I call BS on you taking postgrad level courses like Chaos Theory and not being able to get 800 on SAT 1 Math.</p>

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<p>If you're really that into math, you will probably be very disappointed with engineering. I've attended multiple universities on that list, and it wasn't until PhD level work that I started to use higher order mathematics (anything beyond calculus). Even then, I didn't have to get much further than calculus of variations or some basic set theory (well, and some minimal stochastic programming). So really, if you've taken and understood those courses, you're set from a mathematics perspective to start working on a dissertation in engineering.</p>

<p>Logistically, your claims seem like a problem. NC State shouldn't have allowed a high school student to enroll without at least Calc AB, and it's doubtful that your high school offers Calc AB to freshman. Even then, it would be laughable to allow a student to waive class standing requirements and register for graduate coursework in high school. Most schools won't allow undergrads to register for graduate work until they have junior or senior standing. </p>

<p>If somehow what you're claiming is true, you'll be fine applying to MIT and you'll fit in well with the class. In fact, you probably want to have a professor at the NCSU math department personally contact someone at MIT - I'm sure you're well known at NCSU and there are probably many people with contacts at MIT.</p>

<p>But I think the higher probability bet is that you're just making something up to improve your anonymous credibility on an anonymous message board, which is not only a waste of time, but a demonstration of extreme insecurity and lack of maturity. And you just wasted my time.</p>

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<p>I understand the skepticism and that this course listing looks unusual/unbelievable. I’m sorry that I have wasted anyone’s time. I am not well-known at NCSU, I’ve just blended in to the classes I’ve taken so far. I have the desire to take this unusual path and the admissions and math department staff at NCSU have been incredibly helpful in guiding me.</p>

<p>Full disclosure here - I am making some assumptions about course availability and scheduling over this coming summer and next fall. To clarify I am currently taking three AP course at high school in the morning (US History, Env, Science and English III) and two courses at NCSU (Diff Eq and Complex Variables) in the afternoons. I didn't start my freshman year, I started after my sophomore year taking advantage of the summer semesters offered. These are the 5th and 6th classes I have taken at NCSU. In reading my first post I recognize that I said “about 3 courses” yet to be taken and I should have said “about 5”. Sorry for the exaggeration. </p>

<p>I’d really like some wisdom on how colleges will view my transcripts and application. Let’s say worst case that I didn’t take ANY further courses at NCSU before I graduate, but include transcripts that show A’s and B’s on the 5 math classes and 1 physics class that I’ve already taken or am taking now. Would that offset a so-so GPA and class rank for a top engineering school?</p>

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<p>And to G.P.Burdell; I did not start Calculus until the end of my sophomore year. I studied it independently and then tested out (credit by exam) so I was permitted to enroll in Calculus II over the summer after my sophomore year. </p>

<p>Just as further clarification I am taking my first grad course this semester and what I wrote in my first post is where I plan to be by the time I apply ( by enrolling in classes over the summer). Again, I'm sorry about any confusion.</p>

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<p>You could help make me believe by listing, semester by semester, what courses you took and what you tested out of.</p>

<p>Alternatively, I can come up with a few preposterously basic questions to see if you are a complete liar, or perhaps telling the truth.</p>

<p>For instance, just to create an air of plausibility, find the derivative of y...</p>

<p>y = (x^x * e^x) / [sin(cos(x))]</p>

<p>Show the steps, too... do this, and I'll be 500x more willing to believe a word you're saying. Mind you, this is basic Calculus I... anyone taking Advanced calculus - let alone Complex Analysis - should be able to work through this.</p>

<p>Get it, and prove me wrong.</p>

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<p>And try to avoid using the online differentiator, by the way, since it's fairly easy to tell if you copied from there. Try it using implicit differentiation, for instance...</p>

<p>And another one for you, if you have the time ...</p>

<p>Find an infinitely differentiable function f from R to R such that there exist a, b in R such that for all c in R with a <= c <= b it is the case that f(c) = 0 and for which there exists d in R such that f(d) =/= 0.</p>

<p>This should be accessible to most people with advanced calculus, to say the very least.</p>

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<p>Auburn, Check your private messages. Note the time.</p>

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<p>Well, your answer was a little too close for comfort to the online differentiator. And seeing as how you ignored my request to use implicit differentiation, I'm almost guessing you just used the one online.</p>

<p>Try the other one... hell, if you get the other one and can explain how you got the answer, I'll want to believe in you.</p>

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<p>Actually, let's forget the games. Suppose you are telling the truth.</p>

<p>I just used the NCSU system to ask whether or not my hypothetical brother could enroll in graduate courses through the program for high school students.</p>

<p>If I receive an answer in the affirmative, I'll change my mind and convince others that you're legitimate. If, as I suspect, this is not the case, then at least we'll know for sure.</p>

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<p>Let's think about this rationally. There's no advantage to lying as he'll just get inapplicable advice, so if he's rational, he's telling the truth.</p>

<p>That being said, the best option for you to get into a top engineering school will be to do well in your graduate courses, get to know some of the faculty at NCSU, and get them to write references for you. You could also start an independent research project for one of them that could turn into an honors thesis. </p>

<p>It's not quite the same as grad school where individual faculty can get you into a school, but if I'm an admissions counselor, and I have a letter from a chaired, tenured professor at a major research university telling me how brilliant you are, then I look on your transcript and see A's in graduate level courses (and let's be fair, everyone gets an A or B in grad school), then I see some information on a working paper, I don't need to think twice.</p>

<p>Hell, that would be enough to get you into a master's program at those schools.</p>

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<p>Do you have fun at all? Also if you enjoy state now then go there. It's a good engineering school and theres no reason to change what must be working right now. It's not like it will effect your employment after college. I'm with these other guys though. This is kind of hard to believe. How did you not get an 800 on the SAT math section? Sorry this post is disorganized but it's just really hard to believe that you started college classes at sophomore year and have taken them at this pace with success. Really though If I were you I would just got to sate so you don't mess up what already seems to be working.</p>

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<p>wait are you saying that youve taken diff equations as a junior</p>

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<p>Not taken, its taking</p>

<p>I'm currently in Diff EQ and Intro to Complex Variables</p>

<p>Thank you guys for your opinions, I like your idea G.P. a lot, about the independent research project. How would I go about starting something like that. Just after I have a lot of classes under my belt start talking to the professors about some of the research their doing? I really don't have much experience with the workings of all that, I live 30 minutes away from State so my experience consists of driving there walking to class walking back to my car and driving home usually. Thank you very much for the ideas though.</p>

<p>I am thinking of just staying at NC State as well. I really like the college, they have been really good with the whole program and all. Also starting off knowing a good percentage of the faculty is a pretty huge bonus. I'm just trying to get a sense of my options. What would be the pros/cons of going to MIT or a similar top engineering college versus NCSU for my undergrad, other than the previously knowing professors and the instate tuition!</p>

<p>If anyone else has any questions please ask me, I would like to clear up as much skepticism as possible. Thank you guys for the comments so far, I really like the ideas.</p>

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<p>I guess if you go to MIT you have access to a better network for when you want a job after college. Also you get to say that you went to MIT. However college just isn't about the work. You want to have fun and enjoy it. It sounds like right now you enjoy the staff and program at NC State. No reason to break that. Also if your telling the truth about all of this, then you will have no trouble post-college in finding a job/starting your career. Remember though, its about what you want, not about a rank or name. You sound smart enough to know that though.</p>

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<p>You should be majoring in math, not engineering, if you have that strong an interest in it.</p>

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<p>Yea, but while I enjoy it, I cant see myself spending the rest of my life doing it. I have some work experience in engineering and have the good fortune to have access a CNC machine and have the opportunity to do a lot of CNC programing. So I'm around types of things that make me think that I would like to have a career in engineering.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I see your point. CNC machining is way more intellectually stimulating than Complex Variables.</p>