I know for a fact that I want to go into engineering. However, I never realized the scope of the importance of taking honors courses in math or science. I am currently a junior in high school taking general education courses in math and science and 1 AP which is US history. I do very well in my math and science courses, but am scared that the rigor wont be enough to be accepted into a good engineering school. I plan on taking honors pre calc next year along with AP Computer Science. Will it be significantly harder to get into a top 20 school with gen-ed courses even though Im getting A’s?
Does your school offer many AP classes? If so and you have not taken many, this will count against you. It may be possible, but highly unlikely to get into a top 20 school without a rigorous HS course schedule. Most competitive schools consider course rigor in their admission evaluations, so unless you increase the difficulty of your classes next year (which will probably too late), you will need to lower your college expectations.
You may get in with good grades (all As) if you’ve taken your HS equilvent of basically all honors even if your school doesn’t have too many APs. If you can take as many honors as possible that may help you. Though honestly there is a lot of engineering ppl in top schools that take like through calc 3, AP physics C, and other APs so even if you would be considered and accepted to a top program with your current level of rigor in math and science classes it really puts you at a disadvantage given you’d be a few years behind what the top of the top applicants have. Try to get a high ACT math and science score to show proficiency (and preferably at least a composite in the low, or if possible high 30s). Or take the SAT and some subject tests if you prefer. Also if your schools allows, you should maybe consider taking Precalc over the summer and trying to take some form of calculus next year if you want engineering (preferably calc BC). I know it would be hard but honestly you need a year of calculus if you really want to be seriously considered for a top 20 school. Otherwise your options are to aim for a slightly lower engineering program, apply somewhere with good engineering under a different major and try to transfer to engineering your sophomore year once your caught up in math, or apply to transfer to a different university after freshman year (which you really don’t want to do). You seem like a smart all A student so don’t be too hard on yourself, but engineering jut happens to be the hardest major to apply for. Your chances for good engineering aren’t impossible, you just got to step up your game a little. Good luck!
Unless you attend a high school in a disadvantaged area, where few or no high-level classes are offered, your prospects for a “Top 20” Engineering school are pretty dim. The competition is simply too intense. The good news is that you don’t have to go to an elite “brand-name” school to get a good engineering degree. What state are you in? What are your test scores? If you haven’t taken any SAT or ACT tests, you need to do so ASAP. There are plenty of colleges you can get into, if you’re not wedded to prestige labels.