Is CSU(Colorado) really a safety? Are the reaches worth applying?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Colorado State University
1

Home state is Colorado. Highly likely that he may only apply to CSU & CU. We haven’t visited the others.
Is CSU a safety? Is Cal Poly SLO too much of a reach?

Stats:
GPA: Weighted 3.97 unweighted 3.74
Rank: top 15% (59/414)
SAT 1500 (math 770 Reading/writing 730)

AP Chem, AP Music Theory, AP Eng. Lang, AP Calc AB, AP Eng Lit, AP Calc BC, AP Physics C
Japanese (4 semesters-concurrent enrollment at college)

Major ECs:
4 years Marching Band
Youth worship leader at church (1 year)
High school Newspaper- 1 year
Handbell choir - 4 years
Community service with youth group

Serious hobby: Music composition (2 years)

Colleges (in order of preference):

  1. Colorado State Univ (CSU)- is this definitely a Safety?
  2. CU Boulder (how likely for Engineering)
  3. Cal Poly SLO- Is this even a chance for Engineering?
  4. Purdue- Any chance?
  5. Arizona State U. (ASU)
    6 Univ. of Arizona (UA)

Intended major: Unknown- but may apply Engineering to keep that door open
Legacy: No
Ethnicity:White
Gender: Male
FA: likely not

2

NM

3

What does NM mean?

4

I think CSU is pretty sure. If he applies early, he should find out early. CU starts releasing acceptances in Nov.

I think all of them are pretty solid choices and good chances of getting in for engineering. Purdue might be more of a reach.

5

Why did my post get moved to CSU? Can it be moved back to “What are my chances?”- for replies about all the colleges?

6

I think they’re all safeties.

7

I think CU Engineering will be the most difficult to get into of the list but I still think you will be accepted.

8

@dogladyJ Purdue Engineering is a little more competitive for admissions than CU Engineering, or any other school on your list except for Cal Poly SLO. Purdue Engineering requires As in high school mathematics classes, four years of math, and a high math SAT score to get in. You have a very high SAT math score 770/800. What are your math grades? And your AP math scores? I think you are shoe in for every other school and with good math grades, Purdue should work out. Purdue Engineering is picky. What about Colorado School of Mines? Its a better price than Purdue, probably and really small class sizes. Cal Poly SLO, depends on the major. If you want CS, its crowded and tough to get in. At Cal Poly SLO you cannot change majors without losing a good year of work, they make it very hard to move around. All your other schools, its easier to change majors, but Colorado State and CU Boulder, mechanical engineering is impacted and has a higher GPA than other engineering fields at this time! I think your GPA is well above the cut off for mechanical engineering at either in state choice, CSU or CU Boulder.

Cal Poly SLO is a great out of state price but very hard to finish in four years. Also Cal Poly SLO is expensive to fly to, and there are no trains or busses to get to that small town, San Luis Obispo. It is a well ranked program in most engineering fields.

If you can afford Purdue, and get in, go there. The rank is better than Arizona or Colorado state schools, except maybe Colorado School of Mines, which you seem uninterested in. I would visit Mines, and see if you like it. Mines has a much higher standard for Math grades and scores than CU Engineering. Purdue and Mines look similar but Mines is smaller and more focused on chemical/petroleum, but still outstanding for CS, applied math, mechanical engineering and civil engineering.

Which engineering speciality interests you at this time? That might help pick the best fit school. CU Boulder
is best in physics, math and engineering physics, and still strong in chemical, mechanical , electrical. Purdue is better in computer science right now than any other college on your list. Aerospace, Boulder and Purdue are both strong, but I would say Purdue has the better reputation and rank right now. Boulder is up and coming though and hiring a lot of great faculty. It will be less expensive to go to CU Engineering than Purdue if costs matter to you.

You could do your masters at Purdue after getting a bachelors in state, for instance.

9

This is old so may not be an issue anymore, but my son already got his acceptance to CSU, for civil engineering, and his stats are lower than your son’s. Hasn’t heard from Mines yet, and he’s not applying to CU.

10

Thanks SC Anteater! Good to know! Applications are not in yet. Agggh. He’s not applying to Mines.

11

SLO is his first choice, so now he’s got the long wait until March to find out where he’ll go. He has acceptances in hand from WSU, Montana St., Wyo, and Colorado State, and the frontrunner among those changes it seems weekly. (this week its ColoSt.)

12

SC Anteater- Are you Colorado residents? Have you visited SLO? Good luck to him!