Do I have a chance or should I change my major? ENGINEERING

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I want to be a mechanical engineer, but I also want to be realistic. I now (barely) have realized how competitive engineering is. I do not know if I should apply to any UCs.
Here is my profile:

  • Female, minority
  • Top 10 % in my school
  • 4.286 (W) GPA
  • SAT: 560 Reading, 440 Math, 590 Writing (terrible, I know…)
  • My extra circular activities are satisfactory, but none are related to engineering, let alone any STEM field.
  • My English teacher told me that my personal statements were better than a former student who attended an Ivy League which would lead me to believe that they are satisfactory?
  • I am currently taking AP Gov, AP Calculus, AP Lit., and AP Physics.

I decided last year that I want to go into the S.T.E.M. fields. I could easily improve my SAT scores and apply for the winter term, but I feel pressured by my family and peers since they are always expecting the best of me. I feel disappointed because I barely decided that I want to be an engineer and now, I might have to just give up on that dream. Advice?

2

UC’s only accept Fall applicants and your SAT puts you out of the running for the UC’s especially your Math score. If you think you can improve, why not retake in Dec or try the ACT since the UC’s will accept the Dec sitting. Any engineering major will be Math heavy so if you do not have a solid background, you will be floundering in your college courses. To me, if you really want to major in Engineering you would do anything possible to make it happen. I think this major is something your family is pushing on you. I would consider some Cal states where Engineering is not impacted or go Undeclared, take some Engineering courses to see if it is right for you.

Good luck