Good Chemical Engineering schools?

Hi all,

I am currently a junior in highschool fully dual enrolled by a nearby college. I should graduate with a college degree by my high school graduation. I am currently looking into chemical engineering programs. Does anyone know of any competitive chemical engineeeing programs that won’t break the bank and accepts transfer credits? I have a high gpa with leadership postion. I am a resident in Florida. Some of the schools I am looking into are UF, GaTech and Vander. I know the ranking websites, I just want some inside experience to help guide me!

It probably is best for you to list your stats and budget and the classes in question. If you are looking for merit, you need to aim realistically (possibly not GT OOS for example). You have to do the legwork for schools that accept your credits. Make sure your credits are rigorous enough to apply if you are thinking of major credits like chem or calc or physics. Especially to a non direct entry chem eng degree as many competitive programs would be.

So you asked for it… @Sybylla
Attended the LECOM Human Body Explored Program
Won 1st place in school science fair, then placed 2nd in Regional Science Fair

From science fair:
Certificate of outstanding Achievement- American Meteorological Society
Grange Science Excellence Award

Member of Key Club 10th Grade
Certificate of Excellence- Most Outstanding in 10th Grade
Secretary of Key Club 11th Grade
President Elect of Key Club 11th-12th Grade
Connected a Blood Donation center to school- together we have held 4 successful Blood Drives
Member of National Junior Honor Society for 3 years
Involved with Student Ambassadors
REACH Summer Program
Health career shadowing program
Made Dean’s List for all semesters
3-year Varsity Swimmer (going on fourth)
Member of Student Leadership Team
I have not yet taken the ACT or SAT
Participated in Junior Achievement
Just got accepted to the University of Florida Student Science training program! Attedning this summer
Resident of Florida
Took 1 AP course then swtich to full time college - Human Geo- score=4
Now semester classes:
Fully dual enrolled student at a collegiate school- college classes started in 11th grade-12th grade
Fall 2016
Gen Chem 1 2045 C and L- science
Speech-English
ENC1101- English
AMH1020-history
PreCalc- math
Credits= 17
Spring 2017:
THE2000- writing
AMH 1010- history
Gen Chem 2 2046 C and L- science
AML 2010- writing
Trig- math
ENC1102- writing
Credits= 20
Planning on taking both Orgos next semester, with Bio, and going through math to finish with Calc 2
Current unweighted GPA: 3.96
Current Unweighted: 4.65
I have held a job for four years- all throughout high school. Stayed at my restaurant for the past 2 years (maybe shows commitment)
I have around 200 volunteer hours
Solid Recommendations from my college Gen Chem professor (doctorate) and counselor
Might have left something out, it was a lot to go through
Also a member of Phi Teta Kappa- College honors society

Your in-state publics should have the easiest transfer credit, if you chose your community college courses that match those at the four year schools. Those with ABET-accredited chemical engineering include UF, FAMU/FSU, and USF. Check their chemical engineering curricula and compare with the courses you have taken at community college.

Note that FAMU/FSU is an arbitrage situation, since they share their engineering division (i.e. same engineering courses). But FAMU costs less and offers more scholarships than FSU.

It is best to take the ACT and SAT before the end of 11th grade, so that you can know what colleges are realistic for frosh admission, and whether you want to try again in 12th grade.

Be sure to talk to your parents about what they will contribute for your college costs, and run each college’s net price calculator and check its scholarships pages.

Thanks for the information! I was looking for more of an out of state school. I know that UF is probably my best instate option, just wanting to know my options in and out of Florida.

Does anyone have any other advice/suggestions?

Why are you taking orgo while in high school? Med school would think you took the easy route.

I have taken all science courses available at the high school level. I believe having organic chem 1 and 2 on my transcript is better than just taking 2 classes during my senior year without any science. I am really looking only for suggestions and advice for future chemical engineering colleges from any of those in the field. @NASA2014

I am confused by the reference to medical school in the comments. Is that what you want to do, OP, or do you want to be an engineer?

Chemical Engineer. I also do not understand why medical school was mentioned. @bodangles

Okay. You might still have to retake Orgo in college, depending on whether the school accepts your credits, but I don’t see a problem with taking it now regardless, if you’re ready for it.

I’m not familiar with Florida schools but look for 1) ABET accreditation, 2) affordability, 3) whether you have to apply for your major or are automatically admitted, and 4) a campus that you would feel comfortable on.

With my current stats, what colleges would you recommend for undergraduate chemical engineering? The rankings from different websites seem to be all over the place. Thanks for your incite!

You’ve got a great academic profile, so I would guess that you’ll be a favored candidate for admission at several colleges (there are few engineering schools that are cakewalks, however). Primarily, engineering departments want to know if you can do the heavy math that’s required in the major.

Invariably your best bet will be your own state’s schools. Take note of Ucbalumnus’ point; the FAMU-FSU joint college of engineering is a bit of a sticky wicket (dividing the school into separate entities is a raging political issue in Florida), but I would suggest that you consider the bargain tuition rates at FAMU. I have heard that some Floridians believe that U of South Florida is the strongest engineering school in the State. And I think I read that the private Florida Institute of Technology, offers vary good financial aid, because it is a new program and wants to attract students. Also, in your own Gulf region Mississippi State University has a very good Chemical Engineering program that attracts employment recruiters from the petroleum/energy industry. Note that MSU has one of the few dedicated ‘College of Chemical Engineering;’ not just a Chemical Engineering Department. MSU is relatively cheap, too.

Thanks for all the help! I am now looking into those colleges. I forgot to mention that I plan to use my chem eng. degree for a IP law career. This career would make me go to law school after graduating. Would that have any impact on the colleges mentioned here or any others? Is there any schools that are known for producing future law students?

You may want to go through http://lawschoolnumbers.com/ for information about law school application preparation and selectivity of various law schools. LSAT score and college GPA are the main factors in law school admissions.

Remember also that law school is expensive, so saving money and avoiding debt in undergraduate can help.