Assuming you can keep the gpa above 3.0 University of Akron might come in budget. International students are awarded their merit aid scholarships.
They do offer paid undergraduate research positions and when we visited they were doing some interesting work.
https://www.uakron.edu/engineering/bme/undergraduate-program/index.dot
Right⊠med school is seeming less like an option. Especially considering my parentsâ financial budgets- we cannot predict the cost of med school exactly but we know it will be very high. I think I should rather seek to find a job that concerns the healthcare industry but does not require so much expensive schooling. I think @WayOutWestMom is right, I will try to explore different career paths.
I have taken an appointment with with schoolâs guidance counselor so I will be able to ask her about my issues with immigration and everything else mentioned.
I do want to add though that I recently took the SAT and got 1420 on it. How much will this help?
Sorry for double reply, but I also want to add that my gpa this quarter has improved significantly. Iâve gotten weighted 95 (which Is weighted 4.0) this quarter and itâs a huge upward trend.
Another update is my march SAT which I did without studying and itâs 1420, I will be studying for the may SAT and trying to do better.
english 740
math 680
my senior schedule is honors english, 2 AP physics (2 and C), AP history, no foreign language, and honors technology electives. These are all classes that my counselor and I are very confident in that I will be able to have a 4.0 for my senior year
unfortunately I am not eligible for working in this country, which I found out the hard way. I was offered a research assistant position in my local university but could not take up the job. I still am looking for opportunity, though!
Have you completed Calculus (AB? BC) this year? Itâs necessary to be comfortable with calculus in order to do well in Physics C.
Your schedule would need to include
Honors English â good
AP Physics 2, C â why 2? (Have you taken AP Chem?)
No math???
AP history-> good
Have you reached level 4 in a foreign language?
Typically, on-campus jobs are treated differently from âregularâ jobs. Perhaps talk wit an immigration lawyer to see whether working in a lab on campus would be allowed.
The 1420 WILL make a big difference compared to your previous score. Now, try to get +30 in math 
I took calc BC this year, and I havenât taken Ap chem. Iâm deciding to take AP physics 2 because itâs my favorite subject and I think it would help me a lot if I were to go into engineering, Iâm also just interested in it
Math, I will have to take multivariable calculus. And yes Iâve reached level 4 in a language.
And yes for sure, after the march SAT I thought I did so bad on the math, but it wasnât bad at all. If I thought I did badly then I should be able to do way better next time!
Honors English
AP Physics 2 + C because you love the subject (make sure your counselor knows s/he should write it as part of your recommendation, that you love physics so much you wanted to take 2 AP classes in it the same year!)
AP history
MVC
Technical electives
(already has Level 4 FL)
=> excellent schedule for your proposed major.
All SUNYs are now possible, although of course the big ones for STEM remain reaches. You could even throw a hail mary pass and apply to URochester.
(Would you qualify for HEOP?)
Ohh, I see. I have very good LORâs (teachers from my clubs and robotics that Iâve worked almost every single day for a few hours with). What do you think about Bing? What about possibly transferring?
I think right now what matters to me is college that has a strong program for engineering where I can find enough opportunity and flexibility. Also, I think being able to network with companies is also super important to me!
Bing will be tough - COE at Suny Buff, SB, or Bing will be tough admits. Your upward trend and your SAT score (if you can get that +30 in math in particular) should help a lot, bc the most recent results indicate an ability to handle the tough Engineering curriculum.
But you canât count on it. It becomes a possibility but it goes from nil to possible, not plausible.
Apply widely - including the SUNY Broome->Bing program, Alfredâs Ceramics (BioMaterial Engineering) program, etc. And complete these applications as soon as possible, starting with the lowest ranked SUNYs so you can refine and improve the hardest ones through the process. Apply in time for Honors or Scholars programs if those are offered (you never know!), especially at the lower-ranked SUNYs.
Do you qualify for HEOP? If you donât know what that is, ask your GC.
Do you qualify for the SUNY fee waiver?
https://www.suny.edu/attend/apply-to-suny/fee-waiver/
If you do, it means youâll be able to apply to 7 SUNYs for free. Bing, Buff, SB, Alfred = 4, youâll have 3 more to find that are easier to get into than these and that you like.
Hi yes I think I do qualify for the fee waiver, so I will utilize that.
I talked to my mentor (who is a surgeon). She said where I go for undergrad does not matter as long as I can do really well and gain admission into a good graduate school.
Do you have any more advice?
Also, I am asking this with very little knowledge but how competitive is admission to UMD engineering?
Are you asking about University of Maryland engineering? UMD is pretty competitive for admissions. Plus they admit a very high percentage of their incoming class in the early admission round.
How will you pay for UMD? At the out of state rate?
Yes, I am, I heard UMD has a very good engineering program so I am interested : )
(Just asking without much knowledge if I have a chance or not.)
My parents have been trying to save more money since January but I think my grandparents are now able to aid my tuition costs.
Why arenât you considering one of the NY state IN state public universities??
The annual cost of attendance for UMD-CP for an out of state student is over $59,000 per year.
UMD is pretty competitive for admissions. And like I said, they accept the bulk of their freshman class in the early round. They provide no need based aid for international studentsâŠand merit aid is highly competitive.
And read this:
https://financialaid.umd.edu/resources-policies/international-students
UMD Engineering would not offer you any financial aid and usually requires a 3.75+ GPA with lots of science APs.
In NYS youâre considered a state resident and if you can rank in the top 10% of your class you could get the STEM scholarship, but anywhere else youâd compete in the International Applicant pool, which is insanely competitive, especially if you donât have 200K laying around for your college costs.
So your best bet is SUNYs (applying widely) (+ CUNYs if you live in NYC and can commute. Even these will be difficult to get into for engineering. Graduating from a SUNY/CUNY will not hinder your professional success at all, these are highly respected.
I am considering in state SUNYs and that is where I will most likely go, since it is cheap and they are also very good universities. I see now that UMD is not an option- thank you!!
Thank you!! I do not live in NYC but I think I will also apply to cunys anyways.
What do you think about Cooper Union? Is that an option?
As of right now my main priority is my GPA and increasing my SAT score. I am also unable to visit campuses, but is there anything I can start doing to stand out?
Cooper Union : worth a shot. A reach, of course, but could be among your reaches.
The main issue is housing, unless you have relatives or friends willing to house you in exchange for housework or low rent - otherwise the rent is going to be quite high.
If youâd qualify for the 7 SUNY fee waivers, youâd likely qualify for the CommonApp fee waiver (your GC will have to check a box about your income or other qualifications). It means you could add 20 free applications, including Cooper Union plus universities where your SAT score (if you can get it to 1450 or even higher) could get you merit scholarships.
Most will have Nov 1 deadlines (EA = Early Admission or âpriorityâ) so youâll have to be efficient.
If one if your absolute favorite, you can check whether theyâve got ED (early decision: they examine your application in priority but you promise to attend if the admit you with enough scholarship).
If SUNYs are affordable, make sure to apply by the EA deadline.
Which makes me think: talk with your parents, if you can, about college costs in the US. If you can, donât let them tell you âweâll figure it outâ. College costs in the US require a solid plan.
So, whatâs affordable if they look at their monthly income - can they set aside $300 for you each month? more? less? Can they start right now? Do they have college savings for you already?
Sit down with them and run the NPC on a few universities: SUNYs, URochester, Union⊠Are the results affordable for them? (They generally arenât, and parents have a heart attack when they see how much theyâre expected to pay - kidding, but you get the ideaâŠ)
To demonstrate interest, look up âZ university join the mailing listâ, register for the mailing list (and email you check often, several times per week if not every day, could be a âcollege specialâ email like âgluson.college@ZZZZ.comâ), and when they start to send you stuff, open them and click on a link that looks interesting: they track that.
Will you be able to visit some private colleges (where âinterestâ matters most)?
Just be awareâŠthe net price calculators are not particularly accurate for international students.