Is this a well balanced college list?

College Search & Selection
1

Hi, I am looking at applying to engineering schools in the northeast and was wondering if the college list below seems balanced. Thanks in advance for input (:

Credentials:
ACT: 35
SAT II Tests: Near perfect
First Robotics Club, Science Club, Varsity Athlete

Reach: MIT, Carnegie Mellon, UPenn

Target: NYU, Maryland, Northeastern, RPI

Safety: SUNY School

2

GPA? Recruited athlete?

Are those your only EC’s?

3

I don’t see how we can predict anything without knowing your GPA. Unweighted would be more useful since different schools compute weighted GPA so differently.

Also, what is your home state and what is your budget?

4

@TomSrOfBoston

  1. Straight A's...Top 5% of class
  2. For the purpose of this thread, no
  3. No, but those are the major ones

I’m well aware that the info I provided is insufficient to make exact predictions. I just want to make sure I’m generally heading in the right direction and I’m not forgetting about any schools that might be a good fit.

5

I think that I might add UMass Amherst and/or WPI.

Assuming that you can afford every school on your list (have run the NPC or have no limit), your list does look good for a straight A student with a very strong ACT score.

6
  1. NY
  2. Not of major importance for the purpose of the thread
7

That list actually looks fine.

8

Have you tried the net price calculator at each school to estimate affordability?

Those which are not affordable at list price or with need-based financial aid should be moved to the reach category since you will be trying for merit scholarships rather than admission (those without merit scholarships would be out-of-reach in this case).

If your parents are divorced, read http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/2083835-faq-divorced-parents-financial-aid-and-net-price-calculators.html before using net price calculators.

9

You appear to like cities, but otherwise, Cornell.

The University of Rochester would fit your overall mix.

10

I think it’s a balanced list.

If you want a safety that isn’t a SUNY, Clarkson would be an option.

11

It does look like a nicely balanced list to me.
That doesn’t necessarily mean all your choices at all 3 levels are realistic enough for admission and cost.
For instance, NYU has a higher sticker price than UMCP, but NYU also is notoriously stingy with aid.

12

You may also want to include RIT (safety) and Stevens (safety?) . Your list looks okay as long as cost is not a factor… UMD is not known for significant aid for OOS and OOS engineering at UMD is competitive.

13

As long as you work on those essays, I think you’ll be fine!!!

14

Stevens is a high match, not a safety.