I read through a lot of threads before posting about my son and his college chances. It seems as if the student has to ben an A student in order to get into a lot of engineering/computer science schools. It’s a bit disheartening for my son.
First of all, I thought my son’s GPA was higher. Here’s some info:
Currently a junior
W GPA 3.3
UW GPA 3.2
currently enrolled in one AP course and 3 honors courses
currently taking Pre Calc and Computer Science and Advanced Programming
PSAT 187 (online conversion estimates his ACT score would be 28 and his SAT score would be about 1900)
Took the ACT today and scheduled for the SATs in May
Subcaptain of Robotics Club
Other EC such as Venturing, volunteering
We live in Virginia,which has some great schools. He is interested in Va Tech, which may be a reach. If he chose GMU, it would be a legacy admission if he got in.
It looks as though JMU and UVA may be out. VCU may be his fall back choice.
I think of him as a solid student, but is it enough? He seems a little down and I know he’s feeling the pressure of balancing school, robotics and college choices. We are scheduled for tours of Tech, UVA and GMU. Not even sure if we should tour UVA?
Thoughts? Anyone else feel the same? Thanks in advance. I really appreciate any insight or words of advice.
Sorry, meant to post his major interests:
Computer Science
Info Systems
Electrical & Communications Engineering
Software Engineering
Comp Eng Technology
Robotics is a wonderful EC, but during the season it is all consuming. I hope he feels less stressed after the season, for some reason my robotics son always did better in school during build time.
Will he have Calculus and physics by the time he graduates?
One school I think is great for B students interested in STEM is UMBC. It would be much easier to get into then Va Tech and is at least worth a visit.
Mom24boys-thanks for the response. Yes, thank goodness build season is almost over! Poor kid-meetings until 10 every night. He is currently in Honors Physics and he will take Calculus next year. Thanks for the recommendation of UMBC. I’m off to do a little research right now! Thanks again!
No you don’t “need” to be an all-A student to study engineering. It’s a difficult major and not for a kid who struggles with math or physics in high school because it just gets more and more difficult but there are engineering schools that turn out engineers that come in as strong but not stellar high school students. This would be especially true for a student whose English, language, history classes drag them down while they seem to do well in the math and physics. You don’t “need” Calculus – Algebra I & II, Geometry and Trig would suffice to enter engineering school, but a basic high school physics course would be a plus. There are also plenty of kids who took Calc in high school but test into Calc I in college and sit alonside the kids that did not take Calc in high school. There are a number of threads on engineering schools that accept B students.
Yes, I was just thinking that the good news is that the build season is about over, right? It is crazy busy for them during that time… Don’t think the kids on the team I mentored one year slept hardly at all during the season. Another vote for you to look at UMBC. Not sure how you feel about cost or distance, but Michigan Tech is another decent tech school for a B student. He also has a decent shot at Rose-Hulman, but run the net price calculator there (and everyplace else).
momofthreeboys- thanks for the information and insight. I will go and search for the threads you mentioned. Thank you again!
His stats would get him admitted to many schools with good engineering and/or CS majors. Whether they are affordable is another matter, although some offer merit scholarships.
However, be aware that a B+ high school student may find that academically rigorous majors with lots of requirements (including engineering majors) may be difficult to complete in 8 semesters (in many cases, they require some mild overload semesters of 17-19 credits instead of the more usual 15-16 credits). Disciplined study habits and time management with good self-motivation will go a long way to success in college, particularly in such a major.
If you are concerned that he may need 9 or 10 semesters, consider making your price limit to be one where you can afford to contribute for 9 or 10 semesters (and remember that scholarships often end after 8 semesters).
intparent-I will definitely run the net price calculator on the sites. We could probably afford $25k a year. I know I’m glad that the build season is almost over. They head to Orlando in March for their comptetition. At least he has that to look forward to. Thanks for the recommendations and advice!
ucbalumnus-you bring up some excellent points! I wish there was a way he could narrow down or fine tune his major. He does exceptionally well in his advanced programming and computer science classes. His adv prog teacher told me “Your son has a brilliant mind” He would like him to pursue something in the computer field. I wish I knew where he could go for an aptitude test which would help him choose. Then again, I switched majors 3 times in college.
I wonder how accurate the Supermatch is on this site? Here are a few of his matches:
GMU 96%
Christopher Newport 89%
Va Tech 72%
I realize there are more factors in addition to grades. There sure is a lot to think about! I appreciate the advice given!!
University of Minnesota? My niece is there, thinking of majoring in an engineering field or computer science, and I don’t think she has had to take many liberal arts courses.
And it is fairly cheap for OOS students, although not quite as low as $25K.
I’m still looking through old threads and looking up the recommendations. My head is spinning 
Is your son willing. To leave his region?
If you go through the sticky thread about automatic admission criteria in the college admissions section, you will see a list of schools where your son will be an automatic admit. Many of them offer engineering and/or CS majors. Examples include South Dakota Mines and New Mexico Tech, two small inexpensive engineering-focused schools.
He is willing to leave the region.
ucbalumnus-I will look for that thread. I’m not at all familiar with automatic admit
thumper1-haven’t looked at ODU. I will definitely research it!
I didn’t realize how much work is involved! I told my son that he needs to pick 3 more schools to visit.
We have a lot of reading to do. This site is so helpful and I’ve found that we spend hours looking through it. So much info. It’s mind boggling!
Thank you for all of your help! At least we have an idea of what direction to go in!
Oh… it is a lot of work. 
But you are starting at a good time. You might consider starting a spreadsheet to track all of the schools and things like test score ranges, cost of attendance information from the NPCs, possible merit scholarships, due dates for applications and financial aid documents, etc.
I think he has a shot at all the VA publics.
Don’t forget W&M. They have CS as well. Automatic transfers are also possible from certain CC’s in to all the VA publics.
Finally, take a look at RIT. They heve a reputation for taking kids that don’t have the greatest stats but turning out good programmers. He might be able to get some merit money there as well.
intparent-I feel like my eyes are going to bug out of my head! I will definitely have to start a spreadsheet. We’ve saved a few on the supersearch and are going through filling out the net price calculators.
I’m really surprised when I ask some of his friends what they want to major in or which school they want to attend. 80% have no idea.
Thanks, intparent!
Just wanted to add that I sure hope that the B/B+ students don’t feel inadequate. In my book a B/B+ student is still a good student. I feel they have so much pressure if they’re not straight A students. They hear it all over. My belief is there’s a school for everyone. Now, we have to find the right one!
I think there are enough instate options in VA that one should work.