<p>Ugh. DS was rejected from all the schools he applied to. Obviously, he's pretty dejected. So, it's time to fall back and regroup. Any suggestions for my kid - 1880 SAT, w/730 Math, but GPA isn't great - weighed 3.0. This year AP Calc - an A. AP Physics, also an A, Honors English a B+. Freshman and sophomore years were pretty bad, but he grew up and buckled down and really brought that GPA up. Looking for Engineering, pref mechanical. Small to medium sized school would be ideal, but I'm not sure we are in a position to choose now. This is an incredibly creative kid, taught himself several programming languages, built a drone from scratch. A huge loss for the colleges that didn't want him. Any thoughts and advice appreciated.</p>
<p>Some options:</p>
<ul>
<li>Start at community college, do well there, and transfer to a university to complete his bachelor’s degree.</li>
<li>South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology have late or rolling deadlines, are not difficult to be admitted to, are small, emphasize engineering, and are not that expensive even for out-of-state students.</li>
</ul>
<p>What schools did he apply to if you don’t mind me asking?</p>
<p>I think Missour S&T would consider him. Really a great school, but they have something like a 75 percent admission rate.</p>
<p>Southern illinois University - Edwardsville also has a program that I think is reasonable about admissions.</p>
<p>UAH would likely accept him…not too big…excellent engineering…co-ops are very nearby.</p>
<p>lovely school, nice area…close to an int’l airport.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.uah.edu/eng/departments/mae/welcome”>http://www.uah.edu/eng/departments/mae/welcome</a></p>
<p>Louisiana Tech, Misssissippi State, Ole Miss, Alabama-Birmingham, Alabama-Huntsville</p>
<p>applied to Georgia Tech (I asked him why and he said “because they have a particle accelerator”. Well, duh. why else…) That was his reach school. George Mason his safety, and he’s waitlisted there. Problem is, it’s in our backyard, just about - we live in Northern Va. And Lehigh was his top choice. Disappointing! It was a perfect fit! So, yes, only three schools. We pointed out to him that he should do more, and even his safety was pretty selective. Live and learn.</p>
<p>Thanks Mom2 and Bob! UAH came up on another list, I will pass it along. I have also read about South Dakota. Thanks for that suggestion. Will research the others. Anyone know anything about the U of North Dakota? Apparently, the oldest and best known UAS - unmanned aviation AKA drones - program.</p>
<p>Some of the less selective automatic admission schools may have late deadlines:
<a href=“Updated list of schools with auto-admit (guaranteed admission) criteria - Applying to College - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1562918-updated-list-of-schools-with-auto-admit-guaranteed-admission-criteria-p1.html</a></p>
<p>Why GMU for mechanical engineering? GMU does not have mechanical engineering (ODU and VCU do).</p>
<p>GT and Lehigh seem to have been real reaches with that profile. GMU seemed more like a match or slight reach than a safety because of the GPA. My younger kid also only applied to 3 schools but all instate. With a math SAT above 700 and excellent EC’s we thought he would be okay with admissions despite about a 3.6 weighted GPA. No such luck. GMU was the only admission, waitlisted at JMU and VT (but got off both waitlists). Many of the competitive schools just seem wary of the profile of someone like your son (and my son) -high school grades that don’t match the test scores. Many of these guys do very well once they get to college . He could start at community college and then transfer. ODU or VCU are other possibilities . Getting waitlisted was a real wake up call for my kid. He excelled once he got to college. Good luck.</p>
<p>Schools with rolling admissions that take apps until school starts in the fall…</p>
<p>Kansas State and U of Kansas…guaranteed admission for your stats.</p>
<p>Montana State U…guaranteed admission with your stats.</p>
<p>Iowa State and U Iowa…Iowa State is better for engineering and cheaper than U Iowa. Go to Iowa State’s website, plug in your numbers, and you will know right away if you will be admitted. They give you a decision in 48 hours.</p>
<p>U Nebraska…May 1 deadline to apply. Guaranteed admissions, I think, with your stats.</p>
<p>Tennessee Tech - brother graduated from there in Mechanical Engineering and has had wonderful job opportunities. </p>
<p>I also like the idea of him starting at CC and transferring. It sounds like he is becoming more mature and focused by the day, too late for freshman and soph years, but in time to have a good senior year and an upward tend established. I wonder, too, if he needs to shore up some weak areas, since his gap is low due to the slow start.</p>
<p>I’d add Michigan Tech to the mix. I would recommend CC for a year and then apply again. But to different schools than he applied first time. Lehigh was not a realistic choice. </p>
<p>Not sure they have spots for next fall, but I’d try Manhattan College.</p>
<p>Although I was about to say, he must talk with his GC or CC immediately, it seems he had little wise counsel, else he would have had safeties, targets, and reaches that were based on GOOD data. If his GC and CC cannot help with this, it still does not hurt to take the personal approach and file appeals with some or all of the universities that rejected him. That may help, particularly if he is having a strong finish to his school career and can provide other pertinent information. I also agree with other CC’ers here who recommend finding universities that have rolling admissions; some even admit up to the first day of class, I have seen. Finally, review ALL submission materials and edit, edit, edit. Perhaps there is something glaringly wrong with the Common App essay that your son missed. The Common App now permits edits, so he can revise both it and the supplements. 
</p>
<p>VCU has rolling admissions and it’s in-state tuition for you - good luck! </p>
<p>West Virginia University?</p>
<p>ISU is a great choice. I know a tons of good kids there and they really like it. Engineering is their strength.</p>