<p>You should definitely consider University of Montana. I just looked at their admissions page and you should be able to qualify with that ACT score. I went to school there for a semester years ago on a student exchange from Michigan, I absolutely loved the school. It is beautiful, the people are friendly, and the scenery is spectacular.</p>
<p>Even though your current ACT scores are already acceptable for your two target schools, DO take it again. And yes, really study for the ACT this time, because if you do as well as you hope, you will not need to re-take the test for the purposes of transferring down the line.</p>
<p>The immediate goal is to get you into one of these four-year’s, either Montana State or SDSOM. The intermediate goal should be, as you suggest, working as hard as you can in every area at one of these schools so that you can pursue a transfer to a school that will really challenge you. And, yes, of course you should give some very selective schools a shot for a transfer, if you are not going to do that, don’t bother to transfer. The schools you listed for possible transfer would absolutely be attainable for you with outstanding college performance. ABSOLUTELY ATTAINABLE!!! This should be the intermediate goal, after you achieve the immediate goal of securing admission to one of your two target schools.</p>
<p>Where I think you could particularly shine in the transfer stage is through essays because, as another poster pointed out, you have an interesting story and are not in any way merely a typical applicant. You will have the maturity gained from the intense self-reflection and self-refashioning that you have pursued. That maturity and insight are qualities that will make you attractive to these schools, as long as they are undergirded in your application by the “outstanding college performance” you will achieve at either one of your two immediate target schools.</p>
<p>I do feel you should make contact with admissions counselors at these two target schools asap and get these balls rolling. Go visit. Talk to admissions. Tell your story. Start to put the IMMEDIATE plan into effect: gaining admission to one of your listed four-year target schools. That is the first hurdle. </p>
<p>But absolutely, your new plan is very sound. Get into a target school and do as well as you can. Which, I am confident, will be very well indeed. And then plan for transfer to schools that will really challenge you. The ones you listed, such as Chicago and Cornell, can certainly be part of that intermediate phase strategy!!!</p>
<p>If you do particularly well in college, I wouldn’t be concerned about geography in the transfer phase. A great transfer applicant is a great transfer applicant, where ever he or she is from. If you do particularly well, I would worry only about applying for transfer to schools that REALLY interest you, regardless of location! And, as many schools as interest you!</p>
<p>Keep us posted!!</p>
<p>So I’ve been pretty productive this month. Registered for school, couldn’t do any dual credits but am taking four APs. Really excited, school starts in three days. The next ACT is going to be held at my school so I plan on taking a practice test (or maybe just a section or two) after school every few days in the testing area (cafeteria). That should really prepare me for test day, eliminating any test anxiety that may have killed my score.</p>
<p>I visited SDSM&T last week. Talked with both admissions counselors and mechanical engineering professors. Our meetings were fairly brief, about an hour each. This really boosted my confidence however, and the admissions counselor said I was guaranteed admission (I didn’t even tell her the full story.)</p>
<p>My meeting with the MechE professor was very relieving as well. We sat down and he simply asked me to tell him about myself. I stated that I was very interested in sciences, taking advanced classes, spending my spare time studying, tinkering with things, or researching. He asked if I had interests outside of science/engineering. I told him yes, I’m very interested in politics, economics, music, art, history, foreign languages, and that I enjoy writing. He said that was great, as the large majority of students he meets don’t care about anything but math and science. He went on saying that being an engineer requires more skills and interest than those in math and science. I also asked him what kind of research opportunities were available, and he said many. All you need is a good relationship with a professor and your basically in. Also, he said that the majority of students at mines get co-ops their first years, then internships the rest. We continued talking and at the end of our meeting he said that he would be eagerly looking forward to working with me.</p>
<p>So I’m confident in my interviewing skills. And I’m done worrying about SD, as the application only requires basic info and a transcript, I’ll apply in a few months and will later decide if I want to go. </p>
<p>I am certainly going to apply to MSU, Montana Tech, and mines. All of these are matches. </p>
<p>I am also going to apply to more selective schools though, just for the heck of it. Rose Hulman, CO School of mines, MSOE, and possibly a few more if I’m feeling frisky. </p>
<p>Anyways, I’m sure I’ll be happy both mentally and financially at either of those three match schools. They have a lot of opportunities in engineering. The only down sides are the lack of things to do, the weather, and the lack of funding + being less known. </p>
<p>Of course, I will work insanely hard in college, and in my senior year, so a transfer to one of my more desirable schools is possible. I plan on going on to graduate school. I talked to the dean of admissions at Olin, and he said that a solid senior and freshman year will make my chances at highly selective schools all the better. </p>
<p>So for now, I’m going to continue studying for that ACT (hopefully this will be my last time!) Then I’ll be filling out applications and working overtime in school to maintain an absolute minimum 3.5 GPA. I’ve figured that a 3.0 is easy, you have to work for a 3.5, and you have to work HARD for a 4.0. I know I can do it though.</p>
<p>Thanks again everyone. I certainly set myself back a little bit, but my big dreams aren’t out of reach yet.</p>
<p>And once you build up a strong work ethic a 3.5 will be easy (it just takes time)!</p>
<p>I have not read all the posts (they were long), but I want to wish you good luck. It seems you have been working hard and I hope it all pays off!</p>
<p>I strongly recommend SDSM&T. My mom got her degree in chemical engineering there, and has been extremely successful in life, having held jobs at Westing House, Dow, and now a nuclear power plant, making 100K+. In addition, you get a solid education for a very low tuition rate, as well as a super low cost of living. So even if you don’t end up transferring out, you’ll definitely be able to find employment in the engineering field in the future.
So, relax. Obviously continue doing well in high school, but don’t stress that much, because you’ll be fine in life!</p>
<p>yeah, I’m not exactly making any plans around transferring at this point, only leaving it as an option, especially if I end up hating whatever school for some reason. I’ve heard awesome things about mines as well, and that CAT and some of their other large employers are starting to offer base salaries of 70k+ for recent graduates. </p>
<p>I really didn’t fall in love with the school though… it was very small and rapid city doesn’t seem like an awesome place… I was definitely impressed by the academic departments, but the rest was so-so. I will be visiting other schools - MSU and montana tech… and MSOE or Rose Hulman if by some magical chance I get accepted. I understand all schools will leave me with endless opportunities; I’m just starting to get picky about things like size, location, etc. which I really shouldn’t be doing, considering my transcript… I should be ecstatic to get in anywhere. Anyways, I will certainly be content wherever. my original worries when creating this thread were whether or not I would get in ANYWHERE. I’ve certainly cleared that up.</p>
<p>I’m really probably just getting jealous over the fact that my girlfriend is going to Uchicago…</p>
<p>oh well, maybe some day.</p>
<p>A bit of an update if anyone cares;</p>
<p>I finished my personal statement today, and am having it reviewed by a couple people.</p>
<p>I have six A’s right now and one B+ that I’m going to fix immediately. I haven’t even worked that hard and my 4.0 has been easy to maintain. I’ve been getting over 97% on all my tests and the homework is a breeze. Should be getting my new ACT on monday, hoping for the best… </p>
<p>I’m going to apply to MSU and SDSMT. I am going to go to either with a transfer in mind, and apply for a transfer during my freshman year, sophomore if I don’t get it that first year. Unless I liked the school of course.</p>
<p>I’ll be applying to ruse-hulman, northwestern, northeastern, umich, and cornell for transfers. I’ll be able to get into a few of them at least.</p>
<p>My only worries now are the financial aspects and my ACT score. I’m taking my sat subject tests in october but im not too concerned about them. </p>
<p>I have my goals set. I want to go to a top tier university, far away from home. It’s a goal im not expecting to reach, but im going to work towards it.</p>
<p>also, Ive had some more problems arise lately, and I have moved out of my home and am working on becoming emancipated</p>
<p>We DO care!!! I will respond tomorrow when I feel better. Right now I have a bad cold and am going back to bed, but just wanted to say I see the post and will definitely get back to you in depth!!!</p>
<p>write an earnest application essay and explain your confusion and your GPA is terribly low but you will probably get accepted somewhere</p>
<p>I suppose the point of this tread has already been… resolved… As I have no doubts of getting into both those schools. Now my worries rest in the financial side of things along with my major. I’m pretty sure I want to go into MechE, but I’m worried as I’m kind of behind in math compared to most, and I’m a bit intimidated by all the work that its going to take… 60+ hours a week for five years… I hope i can stay in it.</p>
<p>I’m so determined to transfer to northwestern some day though, or cornell, so I’m going to put all my efforts towards setting myself up for that.</p>
<p>I kinda wish schools would just dismiss your GPA and go off of test scores and essays alone :/</p>
<p>so one last update as I hope it will be helpful for anyone in a similar situation.</p>
<p>I did get accepted to both Montana State and SDSM&T. Note my GPA was about 1.6 when I applied. I was rejected from MSOE, UIUC, and Rose-Hulman.</p>
<p>Now my GPA is above a 2.0 with my senior year grades. </p>
<p>I decided to go to MSU just because I feel I’ll be happier there, and the classes will transfer much more easily if I choose to do so. I still have my eyes on Northwestern and Michigan. For personal reasons I want to be <em>near</em> chicago, but I might also apply to some UC’s or UVA. </p>
<p>Anyways, for this year I do have a 4.0 and I’m doing very well. I’ll be taking 4 AP tests in a couple months, then moving into my dorm in five months. </p>
<p>Thanks again everyone for your help.</p>