<p>There are *online *SAT study programs by some of the biggest names in the test prep world to help you improve your scores. Also, can’t you buy a book online and have it delivered to you? Doesn’t your school have any SAT prep books? Your test scores will only improve if you really use the study guides to review the test material and learn about the test tricks and strategies. You have plenty of time to bring up your scores.</p>
<p>Test scores for Engineering are very, very important. You still have time as you will not be applying to schools until next fall and most schools will take only your highest scores. So, it is OK to take the tests more than once. A word of advice for engineers. The SAT often does not reflect your best efforts. Try the ACT. This is accepted at all schools in place of the SAT. My kid did far better on the ACT as it reflects more closely to what you actually learned in high school. Keep in mind that the elite schools will take the ACT but may require the SAT2 subject tests. My suggestion is to higher a qualified tutor if you can find one. Taking these tests without serious preparation is not advised. My kid took the SAT on the first try with too little preparation and did terrible. Then we hired tutors and he got scores in the top 1% nationally. In India, since there are so many applicants for US schools, I am sure that there are qualified tutors (make sure to check their backgrounds and success ratios). If there are no tutors available, then use the resources that BeanTownGirl suggests.</p>
<p>Actually, I have the BB and I’ve taken the SAT online course. Donno whether its enough. I’ve gt quite a few prep books as well (Barron’s). But no hired tutors. The nearest one is kinda like 800 kms away. 
.If I Fail to succeed this time at the SAT, I’ll take the ACT. SAT2 subject tests are typically quite easy as long as India is concerned 'cause of the rigor of the curriculum compared to the American counterparts.And yeah, btw when the transcripts are checked, Will the rigor of Curriculum be taken into consideration? I’d also like to know about any tips for the SAT. Thanks In Advance.</p>
<p>@BeanTownGirl Test prep books @ school? No way.</p>
<p>It sounds like you are on the right track with the tests and you are doing all you can do. Don’t kill yourself over them. Take them twice if you must but forget it after that. Life is too precious to waste it on these arbitrary exams. My kid took the prep courses and used a tutor but refused to take them more than once for the SAT and ACT. However, he did take the SAT2 subject tests twice. Using a tutor he went from a 690 to a 790 in SAT2 Math. This really helped get him into some top schools. Don’t worry about the “rigor” issue. There is absolutely nothing that you can do about it now. Just make sure you pick a balanced group of 10-15 schools to apply to spaced out between Reaches, Matches and Safeties. Then you will be assured of getting into someplace and all of the schools I mentioned are great. Here is an example of 10 Aerospace schools that I like:</p>
<p>Reaches: Stanford, Cal Tech, MIT
Matches: Georgia Tech, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Univ Michigan Ann-Arbor, Purdue
Safeties: Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Univ Long Beach, Embry-Riddle (believe it or not Embry-Riddle has a 79% acceptance rate - it is far less selective than all of the school above)</p>
<p>The reason why I put so many California schools here is that so much of the Aerospace industry exists here. For example, almost every Aerospace firm has a base in Los Angeles and even SpaceX has its main facilities there. A ton of these firms hire locally or instate.</p>
<p>The Dean Of International Admissions at CalTech stated "
Please note that Caltech does not offer an undergraduate major in aerospace engineering, though we do offer a minor and graduate degree. Our students who with to work in aerospace tend to major in an engineering or science field and minor in aero." So, I’d like you to suggest an alternative to Caltech In the “Reaches” category. Thanks In advance :)</p>
<p>If your test scores are still not as good as your GPA, consider the only test-optional engineering school, WPI -
[Aerospace</a> Engineering - WPI](<a href=“http://www.wpi.edu/academics/aero.html]Aerospace”>http://www.wpi.edu/academics/aero.html)
[Undergraduate</a> Admissions: Flex Path Information - WPI](<a href=“http://www.wpi.edu/admissions/undergraduate/apply/policy-qa.html]Undergraduate”>http://www.wpi.edu/admissions/undergraduate/apply/policy-qa.html)</p>
<p>Check out North Carolina State University
[Mechanical</a> and Aerospace Engineering, NC State University](<a href=“http://www.mae.ncsu.edu/]Mechanical”>http://www.mae.ncsu.edu/)</p>
<p>@BeanTownGirl Poor Ranking. I don’t wanna waste my money. :)</p>
<p>Actually, leave Cal Tech on the list. If you get in do mechanical engineering and minor in aerospace. The two are so interrelated that to be honest aero is just mechanical with a few extra classes in fluids and other areas (I know, I am making a gross over-generalization). Then get an internship at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory which is located right there. If you go to Cal Tech then you will get a masters too I am sure. Cal Tech is near impossible to get into, so if you do get in you gotta give it a try.</p>
<p>@OsakaDad If I apply to 15 colleges, does it mean I’ll have to write 15 seperate essays? Please Advise. Thanks In Advance. :)</p>
<p>No, you will not need to do that at all. The Cal Poly’s use a uniform template on CSU Mentor and there is no essay requirement [CSUMentor[/url</a>]
If you apply to any University of California school like Berkeley or UCLA, they also have a uniform application system [url=<a href=“How to apply | UC Admissions”>How to apply | UC Admissions]How</a> to apply | UC Admissions](<a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>http://www.csumentor.edu/)
Also, many private schools also have a universal application system called “The Common Application” <a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/default.aspx[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/default.aspx</a></p>
<p>There are others as well. See this article: [The</a> Common Application vs. The Universal Application - College Made Simple](<a href=“http://www.collegemadesimple.com/common-vs-universal-app/]The”>http://www.collegemadesimple.com/common-vs-universal-app/)</p>
<p>You will have to customize each application and some of the essays will have to be unique. However, you can reuse your essays with various schools if their questions are similar. Bottom line it will be a lot of work, but not as daunting a task as you think. If 15 schools seems too much, then go for 10. My kid applied to 9 schools and complained about the process from beginning to end. At the end of the day, it was worth it because he was accepted to almost all of them and then the tables were turned. Now, the schools we competing for him rather than us hoping and praying for a school to accept him. It puts you in the drivers seat. At the end of the day, we went and visited each viable candidate university and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo rose head and shoulders above all the rest for our son’s specific needs.</p>
<p>The more selective the school is, the more likely it is to have a supplemental application that will require extra essays. And that does seem to be your focus…</p>
<p>What about Georgia Tech?They don’t use Common Application. BTW, Should I Start Writing My Essay Now? Is It too Early Or Late. Please Advise. :)</p>
<p>Go to Georgia Tech’s website and search for the answer under admissions. Sure, it never hurts to start your essay now. That way you will be able to review it numerous times and tweak it just the way you like. College essays for entrance to school are a bit different than for your English teacher. It is OK to write in the first person and talk about yourself, your feeling and accomplishments, etc. They want to know who you are and what you’ve done. Engage the reader as best as you can from the very first sentence. Avoid the passive voice in your writing and don’t be afraid to show your personality. They can tell if you are writing things only to impress them and not being genuine. There are a TON of online resources to help guide you. Here are a couple:</p>
<p>[A</a> Writing Guide for College Essays - Fastweb](<a href=“7 Tips on Writing a Scholarship or College Essay | Fastweb”>7 Tips on Writing a Scholarship or College Essay | Fastweb)<br>
[10</a> Tips for Writing the College Application Essay - Professors’ Guide (usnews.com)](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/professors-guide/2010/09/15/10-tips-for-writing-the-college-application-essay]10”>http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/professors-guide/2010/09/15/10-tips-for-writing-the-college-application-essay)
[Writing</a> the Successful College Application Essay](<a href=“http://www.quintcareers.com/college_application_essay.html]Writing”>http://www.quintcareers.com/college_application_essay.html)</p>
<p>Hey All, (Especially OsakaDad) My january Sat Scores Just came in, CR-600 Math- 720 Writing - 540 (Essay - 10) Are these scores good or bad? Please advise.</p>
<p>Hello,
I just joined. I’m not sure if your still looking for a college. My son is a senior at Embry Riddle and beside some of the prof. that should not be teaching there (just because they write books, riddle thinks they should be able to teach and they don’t) It is a hard school to keep your gpa up and if you get bad prof. and you don’t do good on test (which my son never did good on test, he gets stressed out) no companies want you even if you go to riddle.
My son is on a resource project with his prof. and also, working for riddle doing matlab
going for his master in may. So, what I’m trying to say if your very good at test then riddle is the place for you, if your so,so, go to west virginia univ. they have a 5yr. master program and cheaper.</p>
<p>Yes I am. :D</p>