<p>Hello everyone. While I know this type of topic is shown a lot, I am generally curious(and anxious) to see if their are any engineering schools that I have a chance or a slight chance with my credentials. I am really considering it as a career in the future. So, here are my credentials so far (also, for the SAT/ACT I will be using my PSAT scores)</p>
<p>G.P.A: 3.669 I know it really sucks. I'm trying my best to bring my grades up to some higher stats.</p>
<p>Courses: I have already taken AP U.S. History, and am currently taking honors and AP classes this year. </p>
<p>PSAT: I have low scores right now, so bare with me ( Reading: 520; Mathematics: 560; Writing 510) I know there terrible, but Ill try harder on the SAT and/or ACT.</p>
<p>Extracurricular: Here is where I know I fail. The only notable extracurriculars I have taken are tennis and orchestra. I have a job after school(I work at Burger King) that I have to do and I have much time already taken up. Also, our school is not the best in funding at the moment( we may have to cut costs by firing some teachers; this means that AP classes can go from 20-30 people in classes an hour to 40-50. I'm so ****ed)</p>
<p>Honors/Awards:
A Honor Roll
Star Student in Human Medical Biology
Overall best student in French 2
Student of the trimester in French 3
(Not that much compared to most people, I know)</p>
<p>A little Bio: I am an African American who lives in Minnesota. My family is of low income( I live in single parent household with me, my mom, brother, and grandmother.) Also, I qualify for free lunch. The school I attend is not the worst, but in no way I would call it the best in academics( In sports, oh yeah, we rule My school doesn't have much clubs that I can join( maybe like less than 10 overall; not including sports).</p>
<p>Can you get the SAT CR+M+W up to 1760, or get a 26 on the ACT? If so, and you keep a 3.50 or higher unweighted high school GPA, there is an automatic full ride here at a school with engineering:
[University</a> Scholarships](<a href=“http://pvamu.edu/pages/2154.asp]University”>http://pvamu.edu/pages/2154.asp)</p>
<p>Run the net price calculators on the various schools to get an estimate of financial aid and net price after applying financial aid.</p>
<p>Hard to tell without accurate SAT or ACT scores. You said you would “try harder” to get better scores, but the way to get better scores is to PREPARE. Get a decent test prep book and take timed practice tests AND go through the review material in the rest of the book, especially in your weakest areas.
Your GPA is good, try to keep it up while challenging yourself with rigorous courses, as you have already planned to do.
Note that working is considered an EC as far as colleges are concerned. They understand that kids who work to help their families don’t have time to participate much in other ECs.
Start reading through the financial aid forum to learn more about how that all works. The stronger you are as an applicant, the better your chances are at the types of schools that offer the best financial aid and “merit” aid. Also do some reading on this website [Prepare</a> for College | Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://studentaid.ed.gov/prepare-for-college]Prepare”>http://studentaid.ed.gov/prepare-for-college)
Play around with the college search tool here on CC, using a reasonable projected test score, your gpa, preferred locations and potential majors and see what “matches” it comes up with. [College</a> Admissions, Search, and Financial Aid Help from College Confidential - College Admissions, Search, and Financial Aid Help from College Confidential](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/]College”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/)</p>
<p>Aww, jeez. THATS WHAT I MEANT BY TRY HARDER. I know already, I need to prepare. My school offered a prep class for 15 dollars and I am taking it right now. Thanks for the info! </p>
<p>Can People please not post if they dont recommend any colleges, Thanks?</p>
<p>You need to get over yourself. You’re here posting on an open forum asking for help. It doesn’t help to throw sand and the people reading your thread. Some things for you to note: </p>
<p>ECs are only used by top schools to differentiate applicants. Most schools don’t care about them. And work counts as a major EC.</p>
<p>Colleges take into account what APs and challenging courses are offered at your school. Your application will be judged in that context.</p>
<p>Some other HBCUs like Howard will probably also offer you merit aid.</p>
<p>If you’re willing to travel some, you may be surprised at what schools will take you and provide you with very good financial aid assuming you raise your math score. Some schools that do a good job of meeting financial need are:
Case Western Reserve
Clarkson University
George Washington University
Wake Forest</p>
<p>There’s also the possibility of doing a 3-2 program. I know a lot of people start at LACs thinking they’ll do it but end it up majoring in something else. The advantage would be that it might be a better environment to take your basic math and sciences.</p>
<p>Wow, well first off I had no way of knowing from your brief post that you were smart enough to study for the next attempt at testing. Some kids actually just retake it assuming they will do better the second or third time.
Second, what you need is a comprehensive list of possibilities, not a smattering of suggestions from people who will only mention the schools they know about AND who feel like answering your post. So what you get is totally random.
That is why I pointed you at a tool that will help you come up with a list that truly meets your needs. Then you could come back here to ask specific questions about schools on that list. But that would require work on your part. Apparently you don’t think you need to do any research on your own. Good luck with your “search”.</p>
<p>@BeanTownGirl: I am really sorry about that post. I just reread it and it sounds totally ******y. You see, I have been under a lot of stress due to my AP English class and all the things that we have been doing in that class(40% paper, 10% Discussion, and 10% art project, %= percent of grade). Really, truly sorry. God, I need to find a way to get out the negative energy in my mind and body.</p>
<p>@Erin’s Dad: Well I am sorry for my words, but I have been under a lot of stress as of late. Now telling me to get over myself may be cool for you and all, but you don’t know what its like to be like me. I come from a home that doesn’t give 2 cents about your opinions or feelings. I go to school and feel like crap everyday and I talk to know one about it. I hate my teachers a lot this year. Not to mention the fact that I am like 1 out of 10 black males in the AP classes I take and I get looks of disgust from my peers on a daily basis. So, yeah I am very stressed. I apologize.</p>
<p>OK, apology accepted. It is stressful being a high school student these days - academic stress, social stress, getting-into-college stress. It is very different than when I was in high school. But I could see it in my son’s high school experience. </p>
<p>First, you don’t need to have a complete list this minute. What might be more important is having a good understanding about how FA works. Start reading some of the pinned posts in the Financial Aid forum here on CC. and take a look at the “Prepare for college” website - it is run by the government to help students.
Any student who needs significant FA needs to “cast a wide net”. First know which in-state public colleges have your potential majors and put them high on your list. Then
start looking at some of schools that promise to meet 100% of student’s needs. Most schools do **not **provide all the FA a student needs, leaving a “gap”. A lot of these are liberal arts but some have engineering (Ivy league, Duke, Tufts, Trinity, Olin, WUSTL, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, some state flagships etc.).
[Universities</a> That Claim to Meet Full Financial Need - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2013/02/11/universities-that-claim-to-meet-full-financial-need]Universities”>http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2013/02/11/universities-that-claim-to-meet-full-financial-need)</p>
<p>Also, look at schools that might provide merit based aid, which can be given to entice a student to attend. Schools that have low enrollment of minorities might offer you a better FA package including merit aid. STEM-oriented schools are often in that situation (RIT, RPI, WPI, perhaps Northeastern etc.). I am not that familiar with the Midwest schools though. Perhaps Case Western?</p>
<p>However, many of the schools generous with need-based financial aid are selective enough to not be usable as safeties. For safeties, you would want something that you are sure to get admitted to and sure of being able to afford. Some automatic full ride examples to shoot for when you take the SAT/ACT:</p>
<p>Prairie View A&M: 3.5 HS GPA, 26 ACT or 1760 SAT CR+M+W
Louisiana Tech: 3.0 HS GPA, 32 ACT or 1400 SAT CR+M
Howard: 3.5 HS GPA, 32 ACT or 1400 SAT CR+M (3.0 HS GPA and 26 ACT or 1170 SAT CR+M for tuition and fees; 3.25 HS GPA and 29 ACT or 1300 SAT CR+M for tuition, fees, and room)</p>
<p>@BeanTownGirl: I have a few colleges that I have been considering. DO you think I have any chance of getting in:
UW-Madison
UMN-Twin Cities
Purdue University
Thats it so far…but I’m still looking, dont you worry!</p>
<p>You may consider attending satellite campus at a well known university, and after finishing the necessary prerequisites, transfer to the main campus. </p>
<p>(i) Lower cost of attendance for the duration of study at satellite campus (ii) Smaller class size –> better one on one interaction with professors. (iii) Since satellite campuses have smaller student enrollment as compared to main campus, a student would find that the transition from high school to college to be easier. </p>
<p>A good example is Univ. of Michigan, Flint which has a guaranteed admissions in engineering at Ann Arbor, provided their requirements are met. </p>
<p>You may want to inquire with the Univ. of Minnesota (Twin Cities) college of engineering regarding admission requirements for transfer students from other U of Minnesota campuses. They may have similar arrangements. </p>