Hi all,
Like many of you here, I am looking for an university with a good undergraduate engineering program (preferably one that I can get into).
My problem is that my GPA is relatively low for the top schools (GPA 3.3), but my test scores meet their standards (schools such as Cornell, Williams, UCB, etc).
I currently have an ACT score of 35 (Science and English 36, Reading 34, and Math 33).
Where would you guys recommend for people like me?
Thanks!
Williams doesn’t have engineering.
With that said, let’s start with first things first, what state are you from?
My apologies, I should have clarified. Although Williams may not have engineering, I am interested since it has a solid science program towards graduate engineering.
I am a student from HI, looking for schools which provide need-based financial aid. I do not yet have a preference for East or West, but I am not looking at schools in between.
What branch of engineering? What weather do you prefer? As a HI resident, it might be hard for you to even fathom how cold some places get. What hobbies do you have? No academic interests?
Just to get the ball rolling, look at WUE schools. Of particular note on that list are New Mexico Tech, Utah and Wyoming, all reasonably well respected programs known for offering good value.
If your goal is engineering, then choose a college that has engineering as a course of study. That is rule number one. Engineering is one of those fields where you can easily have a good career and a good salary without any time spent in graduate school, so there is no use forcing yourself to do graduate school unless you go through an undergraduate program and decide you wish to pursue further education (or if you go back later on the company dime). Further, you may simply be so tired of school after 4 years that you don’t want to spend another 2 getting a master’s degree, so just get the BS in engineering from the start so that you actually have a choice in the matter.
UH Manoa seems like an obvious option if your interests are in biological, civil, electrical, or mechanical engineering.
3.3 HS GPA and 35 ACT would give you big scholarships at Louisiana Tech and Mississippi:
http://admissions.latech.edu/tuition_fees/scholarships/freshman-scholarships.php
http://finaid.olemiss.edu/scholarships/#8
OP, I am not an engineer, but from what I’ve read from many of the engineering experts on this site (some are here on this thread) you should not consider any engineering program unless it is ABET accredited. I have copied the link to ABET searchable website of accredited programs. You should familiarize yourself with this as you search. Good luck!
Echoing @boneh3ad and @STEM2017. If you’re interested in engineering, you should only be considering schools that offer an (ABET-accredited) engineering undergraduate program.
If you want need based financial aid, your best bet is an in state public school. If you want to go out of state, you private schools may be more likely to help you out. Out of state public schools can (and should) go by the principle that you are voluntarily choosing to go out of state, thus you should be willing to pay the tuition that comes with it.
As long as the program is ABET accredited, then you should be employable if you do well in your program.
What Boneh3ad said.
Also, consider engineering schools in the Pacific Northwest that are trying to raise their profile and therefore might toss some significant financial assistance your way; U of Portland and Seattle University. UP has a solid record of career placement for its mechanical engineering alumni. Further down Interstate 5, look at U of San Diego’s engineering (not U of California-San Diego). USD engineering is a 5-year program and the university once had a reputation for very good financial packages for students whom brought diversity of all sorts to their campus. Being from Hawaii could be an asset for you.
Washington State University might be an option, which is in the WUE also.
Definitely pursue engineering if that is your ultimate goal. Science and engineering are close cousins of each other but they are very different in application.
Although you have test scores that project a higher caliber of college than your GPA, it is your GPA that is typically the truest indicator of performance in college. SAT and ACT tests don’t really probe the depth of your knowledge don’t require that day in day out set of study habits so necessary to perform well in college engineering. Stick to those college programs that fall within your GPA range.
Not always true about HS GPA and correlation with performance in college. One of my sons had higher SAT’s , lower HS GPA. Totally turned it around in college. Some guys are late bloomers, and not that interested in some of the busywork in high school .