Low GPA, low SAT/ACT scores , looking to do engineering.

College Search & Selection
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Hi everyone,

This is my first time posting on here (woo!) and I am here to share my experience with the college admissions process. Let’s start with some stats:

School: Private religious college preparatory high school in CT

GPA: 2.79 unweighted. There is a progression from freshman year (2.4 → 2.74 → 3.24) which helps.

SAT: 1120 (560 math and 560 reading/writing)

ACT: 22 (English 21, Math 23, Reading 22, Science 23)

Level of classes: No AP or IB classes taken. A couple of honors classes in the mix.

EC’s: Captain and Lead Programmer of a FIRST robotics team, Summer School teaching job, Very involved with school clubs/activities.

Major: Computer Engineering

Essay: Very personal and deep from personal struggles. I would rate an 8.5/10

LOR: Required Guidance counselor (Not 100% on this one), Math teacher 10/10, Job employer 8/10, Mentor on FIRST team 10/10.

Schools (and results so far):

Central Connecticut State University (Rolling) - Haven’t applied yet. More of a safety school and a cheaper option.

RIT (RD) - Application sent, just waiting to hear back. I like their programs, not the location though.

Roger Williams University (EA) - Application sent, waiting for a response. I love the campus, hate the engineering program (general engineering degree with a specialization) but they are building a brand new engineering building opening next year.

Seton Hall University (EA) - Application sent, waiting for a response. The campus is nice, I was not aware that their engineering program is a 3-year physics degree there and then another 2 years at NJIT for engineering. Not a fan.

UMass Dartmouth (EA) - Accepted. I like the engineering program and professors! Not a fan of the campus (really depressing) and the location.

Wentworth Institute of Technology (Rolling) - Accepted. Currently my number one choice. I love the location, the coop program, the professors and the small school in a large city vibe. Dorms are a little iffy though.

Western New England University (Rolling) - Accepted (They sent their decision ridiculously quick. 9 days). I love their campus and their engineering program/professors. Not a huge fan of the location.

WPI (RD) - Haven’t applied yet. I like the location and the school. I’ve done a ton there in the past and it’s nice. I think the academics might be a tad bit too rigorous for me personally.

My experience has been that its really difficult to find a school for engineering, especially with lower stats such as myself but I feel like I have a few good options at the moment. If you guys have any other colleges that might be good to look at that would be awesome.

Thank you!

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I think if you want to go to a more reputable engineering school, community college then transfer is your best bet right now. Work hard, knock out some of your prerequisite courses, and get the 4.0 so you can prove that you can handle a rigorous curriculum. It also gives you more time to work on your ACT score.

I don’t know much about the schools on your list, but I do know about RIT and WPI. Sorry to break it to you, but with the lack of rigor in your coursework, and as you stated, low GPA & standardized test scores, both schools seem too ambitious. I’m not too knowledgeable about the rest the schools on your list, but I would think long and hard about whether you think you are ready to handle college coursework - it will be harder than high school.

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@Arovok is likely correct about WPT and RIT

From WPI Common Data Set

Percent who had GPA of 3.75 and higher 80.70%
Percent who had GPA between 3.50 and 3.74 14.39%
Percent who had GPA between 3.25 and 3.49 3.49%
Percent who had GPA between 3.00 and 3.24 1 .42%
Percent who had GPA between 2.50 and 2.99 0.00%

Average high school GPA of all degree-seeking, first-time, first-year (freshman) students who submitted GPA: 3.89

Percent of first-time, first-year (freshman) students with scores in each range:
RANGE EBRW Math
700-800 31.55% 61.32%
600-699 58.53% 35.23%
500-599 9.81% 3.46%

RIT doesn’t publicly disclose their CDS, but did report an average SAT of 1409

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@Arovok @tdy123 Thanks for the replies! I do agree that I do not have the odds in my favor whatsoever and am almost certain to be rejected from RIT and WPI but isn’t that the point of a reach school? Both of them are not super high on my list so I’m not too worried about not getting into either of those schools.

Community college is a really great option for most people in my shoes (grades wise) but personally I do not believe its the right option for me. I appreciate the advice but after being accepted into a couple of schools already, I do not plan on taking that route. Also, on a more subjective note, I could care less about the prestige of a school, I just want to get a good education at a place I can be happy at, regardless if that is an ivy or a community college.

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Do you want to stay on the east coast?

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Preferably. The furthest I’ll go is probably DC from CT.

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@lbassett_21 Reach schools usually are schools where you fall on the lower end of a school’s profile, but not borderline unobtainable (I don’t mean to sound like a jerk, I’m sorry if I sound like I am - I’m just going off of their admitted statistics and don’t want to fluff the truth). As for the schools you have been accepted into already, I do not know anything about them so I can’t speak to how good/bad their engineering programs are. I just took a look at your current top choice, Wentworth, and it seems very solid and a great choice for someone in your position.

Then again, I wouldn’t jump the gun - dwell on it, think long and hard about it - engineering, pretty much universally, is one of the most difficult majors. Chances are, your classes will be significantly harder at Wentworth than at your high school. Is this something you are ready to take on? If you decide it is, by all means go for it, just be ready for the challenge to come.

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@Arovok No no you don’t! I apologize if I sounded like one too. Numbers and facts are key and I appreciate them (I haven’t seen all of them tbh, just averages). I might as well revoke the application for WPI and save my money. I have little to no chance and I probably would not go there.

I have absolutely been thinking about it and I’m fairly confident about taking on the challenge. My math and science classes have always been my highest grades and its really just a couple classes that hold my GPA down. I really enjoy it and I do it daily for robotics so I have a bunch of experience already. It just feels like the right path for me but its definitely not the right one for everyone!

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@lbassett_21 Oh you didn’t at all, you’re good. Although, I’m not sure if revoking the application = money back…would check before you do that.

In that case, Wentworth sounds like your best bet - there is always a possibility of transferring from there to another institution if it doesn’t work out either. I just don’t want you to pay a substantial amount of money to go to a university if you don’t think you are ready.

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I luckily haven’t sent in an application to WPI so no money spent.

Wentworth gave me a pretty good merit scholarship (surprisingly) that helps with the cost a substantial amount. I know it’s not a super prestigious school and at the lower end of most people’s list but it’s a pretty good fit for me I believe which will hopefully guide me to have a successful future.

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Be SURE that the Engineering programs at the colleges you are applying to ARE ABET accredited.

https://www.abet.org/accreditation/

Otherwise you will be wasting your time getting a degree in Engineering from a college without ABET accreditation , as it will make it much harder to get an Engineering or Engineering related job .

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@menloparkmom

All are ABET accredited (left out the more obvious ones)

https://wit.edu/about/accreditation
https://www.umassd.edu/engineering/about/accreditation/
https://www1.wne.edu/engineering/abet-statistics.cfm
https://www.rwu.edu/academics/schools-and-colleges/seccm/accreditation

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@lbassett_21 you may want to look into taking some of your more challenging gen Ed’s at the CC over the summer. If English comp or history are your stumbling blocks, you may benefit from the smaller class sizes. Depending on the relationship between the college and the CC, the credits may transfer, but not the gpa. (Always check with both schools to make sure)

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What about UMaine or UHart? Or maybe Quinnipiac? My son has a low gpa as well (3.0) and is also going into engineering, 32 ACT. He looked at and applied to several of the schools on your list. Here is where he applied/where he’s heard from:

Catholic U - awaiting
Central - awaiting
Clarkson - awaiting
UHart - awaiting
UMaine - awaiting
Manhattan - awaiting
UMass Dartmouth - accepted (also not crazy about the campus but seemed like a solid program)
UNH - awaiting
Quinnipiac - awaiting
Stevens - awaiting
Wentworth - accepted

Others he visited but didn’t apply to and might be of interest to you: Widener and Hofstra.

Best of luck with the rest of your applications!

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Maybe try Penn College of Technology as a safety.

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I would apply to Clarkson and University of Dayton.

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I personally think you did a great job identifying good programs for yourself. Much better then a lot of people on cc. You can probably even start to exclude some you were accepted to. Doing a 3/2 program when you don’t have to would be the first to go.

Wentworth sounds perfect for you as long as you can afford it. If they are paid coops that you can use to pay off school that is a huge win - win in my book.

Lots of kids change their minds while going to school. Make sure there is enough offered incase you change your direction.

Also as you know your scores in math /science are on the low side. Find out what math and science your program will start with and do some reviewing in the summer. Many use Khan Academy. Might want to use it going forward the rest of the year also. Get yourself as prepared as possible for college especially in engineering. It’s tough for anyone. Ask your teachers now what you can do to improve now and do it. If that means meeting after school with them then do it.

In college go to the professor hours like right away. Let them know you want guidance and accept it. This can make a huge difference. Go to math /science labs tutor sessions. They are there for a reason. You won’t be the only one there, trust me… Lol. Do study groups whether you need it or not. Great way to meet people also.

Again, I think your doing great.

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I have a brother with an engineering degree from Wentworth and he has done very well for himself!

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@Knowsstuff Thank you so much for the reply! I really appreciate all the advice that you have given me. I will absolutely take advantage of all the resources that I have available to me and definitely start using khan academy more!

The cost is not a huge factor personally (luckily) and the coop experience will absolutely help offset the remaining cost for me. Also, the scholarship that they seem to give everyone will help with costs immensely.

So far I have eliminated Seton hall for its 3/2 program and also WPI for its unrealistic possibilities and probably a bad fit. I did just hear back from Roger Williams and was accepted but most likely will not attend because of my major choice and also the scholarship that they provided (it was $500 lower than what they post as the min online, like huh???).

Anyways, again I appreciate the response and I will absolutely take advantage of everything you mentioned! Thanks!!!

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@FarmerMom Thanks for the reply! I was going to send in an application to Clarkson as an option but decided not to because of distance and also interest levels. I will definitely take a look at the University of Dayton, as I’ve never heard of it personally. Thanks for the suggestions!

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