CIT Chances?

<p>So, I'm currently a sophomore who has to select courses for junior year. I would like to study mechanical/aerospace engineering in college. I'm in the key club, and have been tinkering and flying RC airplanes and helicopters for 4ish years now, learning a ton about airplanes and helis along the way. I've always been interested in mechanical things since I was extremely young (legos, erector sets, knex). One of my essays will most likely be on my passion for anything mechanical and my passion for aircraft. I also work part time at my parent's coffee shop. My stepdad went to Carnegie Mellon for Architecture in his 30s, how much will being a legacy help? I am a white jewish male.</p>

<p>My classes so far:
Freshman - Unweighted GPA 4.15 (A+ counted as 4.5)
Global I H
Algebra II H
English I H
Biology H
Italian I
PLTW Introduction to Engineering</p>

<p>Sophomore - Unweighted GPA 4.33 (so far)
Global II H
Pre-Calculus H
English II H
Chemistry H
Italian II
PLTW Principles of Engineering</p>

<p>These are what I plan to take for Junior and Senior year:
Junior-
US History H
AP Calculus AB
English IIIH
Physics H
Italian II
PLTW Digital Electronics</p>

<p>Senior-
AP Gov Pol.
AP Calculus BC
English IV H
AP Physics
Italian IV H (do you think it's worthwhile to take 4th year of language?)
AP Psychology</p>

<p>I scored an 1810 on my PSAT with no studying in the 2nd month of my sophomore year.</p>

<p>What do you think my odds are, if I apply early decision, of getting into CIT for mechanical engineering/aerospace engineering? Do you think I should change some of my classes for junior/senior year? Should I take more APs?</p>

<p>Thanks,
Ben</p>

<p>Its impossible to predict your “odds” at this point. You don’t know what you’re doing the summer before senior year, you haven’t had enough time to gain leadership positions in EC’s, and you haven’t taken the SAT, SAT Subject tests, or AP exams.</p>

<p>What you need to do now is plan and execute a strategy to get you admitted as a MechE major (to CMU or any other college). The people on this board can definitely help you do that. For example, I think you should take at least 3 AP’s as a junior, at least two of which should be math/science AP’s (unless they aren’t offered at your school). Given that you’re applying for CIT, you want to take as math math/science AP’s before senior year. If your school doesn’t offer a particular AP course, try to self-study for the exam. Also, legacy won’t really help you at CMU. </p>

<p>Btw, why are you taking AB instead of BC as a junior?</p>

<p>I was told that I should really take it before BC. Also, I asked the Physics teacher if I could take AP Physics, but you have to take a Physics course before AP Physics. I could take AP Chem next year, but if I do I won’t be able to take AP Physics senior year.</p>

<p>BC Calculus covers everything in AB Calculus, so you shouldn’t take AB if you’re planning to take BC. If you look at the format for the BC exam, around 50% of the questions are on AB Calculus concepts and 50% are on other material (i.e. the “C” part of “BC”). Most BC Calc courses cover the AB Calc material in 1st semester and the “C” material 2nd semester. Thus, there’s no reason to take AB Calculus since you’ll have to learn the exact same material in BC.</p>

<p>Also, you could replace honors Italian with AP Chemistry. Engineering colleges won’t care about your language courses, so you might not want to take a language course if you could take a math/science AP instead (in my opinion). While continuity in a foreign language can be helpful, I don’t think you should do it if you have to cut back on math and science courses.</p>

<p>Should I replace Italian III with AP Chem along with taking Physics H and AP Calc Junior year? I’ve never really liked languages so I wouldn’t mind doing that.</p>

<p>I think you should take AP Calc BC, AP Chem, and Honors Physics as a junior. Btw, does your school offer AP Lang and AP US History?</p>

<p>Yes, I was recommended for APUSH but I absolutely hate writing.</p>

<p>Alright, in that case, the only suggestion I can give is to replace “PLTW Digital Electronics” with an AP course (doesn’t have to be a math/science AP, any AP will do). I’m guessing that PLTW is “Project Lead the Way.” Can you take “Digital Electronics” as a senior instead of a junior?</p>

<p>Yeah, I can take Digital Electronics as a Senior, but AP Pysch is for Seniors only.</p>

<p>Any AP is fine, it doesn’t have to be AP Psych. Good luck with your schedule.</p>