<p>I want to major in engineering, but I am having a tough time deciding which colleges might accept me. I have gotten poor grades my high school years, and I really regret it. Basically, my gpa is a 2.8, which is 3.7 weighted. My main focus school is NC state, because I live in NC and the engineering program there is great. Also, My sat scores are as follows: </p>
<p>Critical reading: 580
Math:710
Writing: 620</p>
<p>Total: 1910
However, I can still improve that score, even raise it above 2000. </p>
<p>I have well above 100 service hours, and I am almost an eagle scout, and a member of the OA. I have done chess club for 2 years, as well as debate and interact club for 2 years each. I have actively volunteered shelving books at the library, helping with the special olympics, and Collecting canned foods for loaves and fishes each year. </p>
<p>I want to know, what are my chances of getting in to MTU, NC state, or any good engineering college for that matter? I know I have messed up in my hs years, but I am willing to work to replace that error. Once again, any criticism, help, or suggestions are welcome!</p>
<p>I think if you show some good improvement then you could get in! Since you’re instate maybe you should consider UNC…?</p>
<p>if by unc you mean chapel hill, then no that has an even lower acceptance rate, and I don’t know too much about their engineering program. Any thing I can do besides trying to improve my grades?</p>
<p>NC State is good choice…I don’t know much about Michigan Tech</p>
<p>luckily for you, I know lots about both MTU and NCSU 
My dad worked at MTU for 10 years before moving to North Carolina to work at NCSU.</p>
<p>I’m not sure about NCSU, because the engineering program there is very good and quite competitive, and even though your SAT scores are well within range, your GPA might hurt you (but i know you know that :)). I think you have a better shot at MTU.</p>
<p>How did you hear about MTU in the first place? It’s literally in the middle of nowhere haha. Don’t get me wrong, I do love Houghton, it’s where I grew up, but the population is dwindling…</p>
<p>mikey: UNC actually doesn’t have engineering. People go to NCSU for that :)</p>
<p>you should also write a very very good essay (make that like 10 more 'very’s). </p>
<p>a good essay will heal the sick, but it won’t raise the dead. you’re not dead, but it would definitely help because of your GPA.</p>
<p>oh, and MTU’s acceptance rate is 74.9% compared to NCSU’s 58.7%</p>
<p>thanks guys this helped a lot. oh and by the way i found out about mtu just by researching colleges haha. So i guess Im going to have to work on that essay! Any other colleges in my range, maybe like clemson or virginia tech?</p>
<p>“I have well above 100 service hours, and I am almost an eagle scout, and a member of the OA.”</p>
<p>As someone who has only been an Eagle Scout for part of my admissions process, I can say that I really don’t think that it has helped me much. The only University I applied to after becoming an Eagle Scout wait-listed me, though it has a much lower acceptance rate.</p>
<p>You might be able to get into Michigan Tech, but you’ll want to apply as early as you can (shouldn’t be an issue as they don’t require essays for engineers).</p>