<p>My high school days are numbered. Overall, my performance could be described as sluggish.
I had no passion or motivation to excel in my academics am left vulnerable predicament. I am now a high school senior, with a current gpa of 2.3, SAT Reasoning Test Critical Reading 510, Math 540, and Writing 400. I go to high school in a Boston, MA exam school. I would like to get into a college. Perhaps a college with a good engineering program and in New England. Guys.....where should I apply to? My high school days are numbered.
I would really appreciate the help.</p>
<p>Extracurricular activities:
Seed Academy- 4 year Saturday engineering program at MIT
NSBE- The National Society of Black Engineers.
Volunteering- in the School engineering workshop.
Soccer- 3 year starter. </p>
<p>I think you should consider U Maine, Orono. This school has a very good engineering program. Your SATs are in-line. Your GPA may be low, but they do accept over 70% of their applicants. Kids I know are very happy there. My step-grandson got in there with lesser SATs than yours. He did have a 3.0 GPA but from a high school of no particular quality. </p>
<p>Questions: Has your GPA trended up by any chance? Do you think you can be strong on your essays? Will you have good recommendations/can your GC make a case to support you? All of these could help. I don't know waht the Seed Academy is, but it sure sounds good - would there be a good recommender there?</p>
<p>Thanks for the prompt response.
Well my gpa was once a 3.8 it has been a victim of a steady decline. I definitely can produce a strong essay. Yes I will have good recommendations.</p>
<p>Are you in Ventures Scholars yet? I think that you qualify due to your SAT scores. It's for URMs and first generation college students who wish to have math/science majors. If your SAT and proposed major qualify, membership is free.</p>
<p>You get lots of info about colleges, and some colleges also offer fee waivers and scholarships for Venture Scholars. Many colleges also recruit them. It's worth finding their site on the Internet and contacting them so that you can get their info and contacts.</p>
<p>I was always under the impression that Ventures Scholars was akin to Who's Who - something not really worth considering an honor. Have I been wrong?</p>
<p>Ventures Scholars do not charge any fees to students and Northstarmom is correct about the fee waivers. Boston College, Swathmore, Fordham, Gonzaga, WPI and others all grant fee waivers to Ventures scholars. My son just used them in his recent applications.</p>
<p>Ventures Scholars also provide weekly and monthly newsletters, forums to ask adcoms and professors specific questions about their programs and schools. Several schools have contacted my son by way of the program; Duke, Northwestern, Dartmouth, Amherst. So no it is not like the Who's Who thing. No money required on behalf of the student and a certificate is mailed to verify for a fee waiver.</p>
<p>Kuddos to Northstarmom for highlighting this!!!</p>
<p>I second UMass Lowell. At least take a look. Their engineering program is very good. And if you aren't admitted to Lowell immediately, they have a very good program with Middlesex Community program that once you complete, you are guaranteed admission to Lowell. While you are in this 'prep' program you can live on campus at Lowell and participate in all campus activities. Niece was considering this program she had a little higher gpa but lower SAT scores.</p>
<p>How about University of Hartford? I would guess you would be in the ballpark for acceptance to the university. They have a fine engineering program.</p>
<p>If your weighted average is 3.0, you should qualify for Ventures Scholars. S did not have an unweighted 3.0, yet got Ventures Scholar.
It's also well worth it to study for the SAT and take it over. The scores that you have gotten make it very possible for you to reach 550 for m, v -- if you study for it and take it again.</p>
<p>You may want to think about a year or two in a community college as a chance to show the universities you can do well at the college level. Get good grades there and you can tranfer into many excellent universities.</p>
<p>I 2nd the community college idea
Engineering requires calculus for application to the school- at least at our local public u</p>
<p>Most engineers I imagine have much higher math scores- of course if you are in pre calc or calc as a senior, it has been a while since you have had the lower level algebra that is on the SAT- that may be a reason for the low math scores- brush up and retake- or if you need to build stronger math skills a community college can be a good place to cover gaps that you missed in high school- and much cheaper than taking those classes at a 4 year college</p>