Hi… For context, my SAT Score is 1520 (800 Math, 720 EBRW) and my GPA is a 3.92UW/4.61 W. I will have taken 11 AP Classes in core Science and Math. In terms of awards, I’ve won some NorCal awards and some regional awards. Key extracurricular are science fair, science olympiad, AcaDec, Orchestra, and a local community service project related to STEM.
With that being said, is this a good college list?
Safety:
CSULB
SJSU
Cal Poly Pomona
University of Pittsburgh
Colorado School of Mines
Match:
UCSC
UCSB
UCSD
UC Davis
Cal Poly SLO
UC Irvine
Reach:
UC Berkeley
UCLA
USC
Long Reach:
Swarthmore
Brown
MIT
Stanford
So for some general application advice, always apply EA to any school that offers it (SCEA/REA restricts where else you can apply EA, so take that into account,) but if of your “Long Reach” schools you really LOVE Brown or Swarthmore, then I highly, highly recommend that you apply ED. However, do so only if ALL of the following are true:
You LOVE your ED school and would 110% attend if admitted.
You're confident you can present a well thought out and crafted application by the early deadline of November 1st..
You and your family can afford your ED school if admitted (run financial aid calculators if applicable.)
If you are applying to UCLA, UCB, or USC as an Engineering major, I would move them into “Long Reach” as these colleges have less than 10% acceptance rate for that major.
You are a strong candidate but so are the 10’s of thousands who will be applying.
Most are in CA, but as you’ve tossed in Pitt, have you considered Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Purdue, Penn State? All were above Pitt in my D’s engineering application process.
Some may not agree these are “safeties”, but I’d say the odds of being rejected by all of 3-4 in this group that you would apply to is extremely low.
Swarthmore and Brown are interesting choices for someone also looking at MIT and Stanford. You’ve fully investigated and understand their engineering programs?
Pittsburgh should be a reach because you are aiming for a big enough competitive merit scholarship, rather than just admission.
Pittsburgh admits to a first year engineering program like many other Midwestern publics, but the secondary admission process requires only C grades in prerequisites, unlike some others that can require much higher grades or competitive admission.
UCB EECS should be a high reach, due to its popularity (mostly CS, rather than EE).
@Alamere If you’re interested in attending an OOS school, the West Coast has a tuition exchange (not more than 150% of in-state tuition, I believe) with other regional schools: https://www.wiche.edu/tuition-savings/wue/
However, the schools eligible tend to not be the state flagships or are satellite campuses of the state flagship.
@PikachuRocks15 I’ve looked at that and the only college that’s appealing is WWU, and even then, I don’t want to apply to more colleges because that might be overwhelming.
@Alamere Idk if WWU has essays, but if it doesn’t and is on the Common App, then the main factor behind your decision is going to be the application fee.
@Alamere There are also a ton of schools that don’t have application fees and offer merit (Tulane, a TON of LACs such as Trinity University, Southwestern University, Juniata College, Allegheny College etc) so they could be good places to apply to. Some of these places if I’m remembering correctly don’t have essays (Tulane has an optional one, but it’s basically required b/c they’re super focused on demonstrated interest.)
I think you have enough schools for reach and safety, so it’s all fine. IMO, as long as you have those, then it doesn’t matter what you put in your long reach group.
Remember that admission but too expensive = rejection.
UCSB, UCSD, UCD, and UCI should probably be high match to low reach for engineering majors. No UCR or UCM?
UC recalculated GPAs (see https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/ ) may be more useful in the context of UC admissions (CSU recalculated GPA is like the weighted-capped UC recalculated GPA).
“I’m from the Central Valley which could possibly help with CA specific schools”
It’s not Wyoming, but it could help, especially if the hs and environment you’ve grown up in are not great for academics. UCs definitely consider context in your achievements, and geographic diversity in the state, so that’s good for you.
“My reasonable aim is UC San Diego.”
First off, UCSD is very good for engineering, and I think you’ll get into a few other UCs and possibly Cal Poly SLO.
@ucbalumnus my recalculated GPA is deflated because I am in an “early college” program meaning I’ve taken a lot of college courses alongside my high school courses. My noncapped GPA is 4.71 for the UC system, but my capped GPA is 4.16.
Also, I have SJSU which I prefer over UCM and UCR, as well as CSULB.
