<p>Can anyone help me with some good choices for college for me? I am also having trouble figuring out weather a school is a reach, match or safety. I am looking for a good college for Electrical Engineering, but having an overall good engineering department is important to me just in case I realize Electrical is not for me. Location is not a important factor for me although being at a nice looking campus is a plus. A school that is not as big as large public universities is preferred. I visited University of Michigan Ann Arbor and did not like the size. Some schools I am looking at are Villanova (which I have visited), Carnegie Mellon, Rice, and Northeastern. All suggestions will be helpful. Thank you in advanced. </p>
<p>Some general stats:
College: ???
ACT: Comp. 32, Math 34, Science 33, Reading 33, English 27
GPA: 3.89/4.00
Rank: top 15%
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Gender: Male
Major strength/weakness: Strength - Organization
Other stats: I have taken lots of AP classes and honors courses, a rigorous class schedule. I don't have any outstanding EC's, played some sports active in some clubs that sort of thing. Please ask about any other information you feel would be important.</p>
<p>Harvey Mudd (one of the Claremont Colleges) is particularly known for its engineering and even though you have a dearth of "outstanding ECs," as you put it, you could probably get in there if you can convince them you're really interested in engineering. Olin is also an engineering school and, if you get in, you automatically get a full-ride scholarship. Pretty sweet. Carnegie Mellon, as you already mentioned, is known for its math/science departments (as well as its music/art/theatre programs).</p>
<p>Look at Purdue, Rose Hulman and Case Western.</p>
<p>K I will look into these schools, I have a few more questions though like what are the chances of me getting into these schools and is there a chance that these schools will be too easy. I read somewhere on this site that one of the worst things you can do is go to a school that is not academically challenging enough or below your abilities. I am not saying I want to go to a school that all you do is study 100% of the time but I dont want to go to a college where I can sleep through my classes and still get good grades. A good balance of studying and relaxed social life would be ideal.</p>
<p>Another thing I was wondering about not so much about choosing a college but about my ACT scores, will colleges put more emphasis on scores in one section of the test over the other based on what major you are applying for? For example because I am applying to be a engineer will my Math and Science scores be more important then lets say my English score.</p>
<p>Also more colleges will be helpful. Thanks.</p>
<p>
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A good balance of studying and relaxed social life would be ideal.
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</p>
<p>I think you can find or make this balance at any school you go to. At any college you're going to find some really smart and motivated people who run all the clubs and go to grad school, some average people who are just... average, and some people who never go to class and make you wonder how they got in. Obviously the ratios between these groups will vary based on the caliber of school you're looking at, but I think it's safe to say that college is what you make it. (Just like life... isn't it funny how that works?)</p>
<p>Based on your stats, I'd say you're not really going to be looking at any Ivies, but some solid "up-there" schools might be good. Maybe use your state schools as matches or safeties for starters.</p>
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[quote]
For example because I am applying to be a engineer will my Math and Science scores be more important then lets say my English score.
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</p>
<p>I don't think colleges will weight your math/science scores tremendously more than your English score, no. You did do well on the math and science sections though, which is always a good sign for a prospective engineer. But something you do have control over is what SAT Subject Tests you take. If you're planning on being an engineer, show schools that you're interested in the field by taking Math II and also Physics or Chemistry, as well as maybe something humanities-based like Literature or US or World History if you are so inclined (to show you can do stuff besides math and science :)). In fact, a lot of colleges' engineering programs require you to take the Math and Chemistry or Physics Subject Tests to apply.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>Hatoyama that was very helpful.</p>
<p>I was just looking at the U.S. News Rankings and I was wondering if it is possible to compare schools from two different categories</p>
<p>Specifically these two categories
Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (At schools whose highest degree is a doctorate)
and
Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
(At schools whose highest degree is a bachelor's or master's) </p>
<p>Villanova is high up on the second list but how does that compare to schools in the first list? Or are they not able to be compared?
Also are there any other good engineering colleges that I should be taking a look at?</p>
<p>Where are you from? What kind of school are you coming from? Top 15% at a slide-by public is very different from Andover's top 15%.</p>
<p>I would look at Rose Hulman and take a look at the Rankings No 1 for 9 years. Great Electrical School. They really really are known for engineering.</p>
<p>@glassesarechic
I live in Wisconsin and I am not really sure how competitive my school is. It is a public school but I could not tell you anything else about how competitive it is.</p>
<p>@cheezwhiz
I will look at Rose from what you say and your PM sounds like a good school. </p>
<p>If someone could give some insight on the question about the two ranking lists it would be very helpful.</p>
<p>look at Virginia Tech</p>
<p>Northeastern is a overrated school for engineering, despite the fact that they have the co-op program, the teaching inside of the classroom sucks compared to other schools</p>
<p>Rice and Carnegie Mellon are very good schools for engineering. If you don't like the size of Michigan but still want a cheap engineering school, look at Clemson University, there are 12,000 undergraduates (half the size of Michigan), is ranked the #2 up-and-coming school by US News and has a phenomenal engineering program. Plus its very affordable</p>
<p>Compared to Rice, Carnegie Mellon and Clemson where would Villanova fit when comparing their engineering programs?</p>
<ol>
<li>Carnegie Mellon</li>
<li>Rice</li>
<li>Villanova</li>
<li>Clemson</li>
</ol>