<p>Hi, I'm currently a senior in High school in CA. I've got not particular attachment to CA and feel fine moving across the country to go to a college that would serve me best. I have a 4.1 (Weighted) and around a 3.9 Unweighted. I got a 2000 on the SAT (720 Math, 690 Reading, 590 Writing), but have not taking the SAT IIs or the ACT. Currently a have a rough guide of schools I'd like to consider, but I'm really in the dark as to what I should be looking for. I don't mind campus size, and I don't really care about location, and as long as it supports some financial aid, the price is fine. I want to become an Aerospace Engineering Major (with more of a lean towards the Astronautical part). </p>
<p>Basically, I'm asking for help from some of you who know all about colleges and what would be best, cause I could really use some. Thank you all in advance.</p>
<p>Aerospace Engineering
4.1 (Weighted)
3.9 Unweighted
2000 on the SAT - Math, 690 Reading, 590 Writing</p>
<p>Here are some great schools to consider:</p>
<p>Georgia Institute of Technology
Purdue University-West Lafayette
University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign
University of Maryland-College Park
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Washington</p>
<p>MIT and Caltech have excellent programs as well, but given your stats, those two would be unrealistic.</p>
<p>
Alexandre listed a great group of schools but they are all OOS publics. You will only get federal FA which will amount to $27K TOTAL across the four years plus what Pell, etc you may qualify for if you are very low income. Unless your family can afford $30K or more (UW’s COA is 38K) you’ll need to consider some other alternatives. </p>
<p>Maybe look at Rose Hulman (you might get some merit aid) or Embry Riddle? I’m not sure what your UC GPA is but certainly apply to those. U Minnesota is much more reasonable for OOS students ($27K COA). Maybe look at some SUNYs (similar in cost to UMinn). A real out of the box possibility is the AF Academy, but you would need to really want to serve in the military.</p>
<p>If you are a California resident, UCSD and UCLA for aerospace engineering. They would be reaches, but you should definitely apply. They both have excellent programs. Good luck.</p>
<p>As an in-stater, I would say UCLA is a match/reach and UCSD is a match.</p>
<p>Also look at Cal Poly SLO, a bit cheaper than the UCs.</p>
<p>Check out these two links:</p>
<p>[Undergraduate</a> Engineering Specialties: Aerospace / Aeronautical / Astronautical - Best Colleges - Education - US News](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-aero]Undergraduate”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-aero)</p>
<p>[Undergraduate</a> Engineering Specialties: Aerospace / Aeronautical / Astronautical - Best Colleges - Education - US News](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-doct-aero]Undergraduate”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-doct-aero)</p>
<p>I second the reco of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (see first link)</p>
<p>Lastly, this is a ranking of Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering programs that is 15 years old:</p>
<p>Aerospace Eng </p>
<p>1 Cal Tech 4.61
2 MIT 4.54
3 Stanford 4.50
4 Princeton 4.30
5 Michigan 4.05
6 Cornell 3.93
7 Purdue 3.71
8 Texas 3.67
9 Georgia Tech 3.66
10 UCLA 3.62
11 Cal San Diego 3.62
12 Minnesota 3.40
13 Colorado 3.35
14 Illinois 3.34
15 VPI 3.24
16 North Carolina State 3.19
17 Texas A&M 3.12
18 Penn State 3.12
19 Washington 3.08
20 Maryland 3.05
21 RPI 2.96
22 Iowa State 2.96
23 Cincinnati 2.94
24 Ohio State 2.84
25 Notre Dame 2.76
26 Kansas 2.63
27 Florida 2.50
28 Air Force Inst of Tech 2.45
29 SUNY Buffalo 2.43
30 Naval Postgraduate School 2.42
31 Tennessee 2.17
32 Auburn 2.15
33 Dayton 1.07</p>
<p>If you are really set on aerospace engineering, you should plan on grad school in your future. If you see that as undesirable, it would be better to major in MechE (with aero electives) as an undergrad.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the very useful recommendations, I’ll be taking your info and building upon it for my future plans. All of it was very helpful</p>