<p>I was wondering what schools are a slight reach/fit for me regarding my stats. i have a 4.0 un-weighted GPA, 4.5 weighted GPA. SAT was 1730 (took it a week ago and i expect around 1850). I will be taking the SAT one last time and i should be able to get 1900+ because i have been studying a lot. I took the ACT once and got a 27 with no studying at all. I also should mention i got a 22 on the reading because i was completely jostled by the short amt of time given. I am taking the ACT this Saturday and practice tests show i should get 29-32 composite. My extracurriculars are "meh." I am applying to most UCs and CSUs. I was wondering what other colleges will fit me as a Mechanical/Biomed Engineer (not sure yet). </p>
<p>Thanks for reading and hopefully responding! :)</p>
<p>To save others the trouble, how much can you afford? Realistically you can get into most ABET accredited engineering programs with a 4.5 GPA 27 ACT although many may not be affordable.</p>
<p>My Dad said 20,000-30,000 a year should be my range. Probably topped out at 40,000.</p>
<p>The UCs and CSUs should include the full range of schools from reach to match to safety for you. Assuming that you are a California resident, they should be in your price range at list price, although you may want to check the net price calculators to see if would get any financial aid.</p>
<p>Cheaper would be some of the schools with <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-20.html#post16451378[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-20.html#post16451378</a> . South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology may be worth a look if you want a smaller low cost school that is safety level for you.</p>
<p>Other big universities with engineering that could be affordable at non-resident prices include:</p>
<p>Iowa State
Minnesota
North Carolina State
Stony Brook
Virginia Tech</p>
<p>As a California resident, you also have options in the WUE agreement, where you would pay 1.5 times resident tuition at many western region state universities (if that is less than the normal non-resident tuition). These include Colorado State, Hawaii, Utah, Utah State, Washington State. These are likely to be mostly safety or low match level for you.</p>
<p>[WICHE</a> - Student Exchange Programs](<a href=“http://wue.wiche.edu/search1.jsp]WICHE”>http://wue.wiche.edu/search1.jsp)</p>
<p>If you are applying in CA and you plan to focus on the UC’s and CSU’s don’t forget to add Cal Poly, SLO (reach/match) and Cal Poly Pomona (match/safety). Also, you don’t have much time left so make your decision regarding mechanical or biomed quick. If you are truly undecided then go for mechanical which is the basis for many other disciplines and very much a general engineering education. That will give you a solid base to branch out and specialize later on.</p>
<p>ucbalumnus above has a lot of very good suggestions. Take particular note of their post.</p>
<p>I would also add Oregon, University of Washington, University of Arizona and possibly ASU as well. All four would be match/safeties for you if you up your test scores a trifle. Good luck and get those applications out ASAP!!</p>
<p>My Dad said 20,000-30,000 a year should be my range. Probably topped out at 40,000.</p>
<p>I think when your dad gives you a range, you should assume that’s it…with $30k being his high/uncomfortable end. Ask him if that’s the amount that he’ll pay or if he expects you to take out a $5,500 student loan towards that range. If that’s the amount that HE will pay, then you can add a $5500 loan to get yourself to about the $35k range.</p>
<p>Anyway…your title is a bit “off”. You should not be looking for “mediocre programs” because that sounds subpar or inadequate. You should be looking for good programs that will accept you. </p>
<p>Do you have any geographic limitations? </p>
<p>Sounds like you’ll get a better ACT score this time, that can make a difference for schools that have more competitive admissions to their Eng’g programs.</p>
<p>Which UCs and CSUs are you liking and why? </p>
<p>Tell us more about what you’d like in a college.<br>
Large rah rah
Small quiet
rural
city
are Catholic schools ok?</p>
<p>M2CK, I also thought that the title of his post was odd, and…I laughed when the OP said he just presumed that his parents would exceed their stated $$ limit for tuition. Ah, to be young and optimistic!</p>
<p>The title is a poor choice of words - my bad. I was meaning i wasn’t looking for any top tier schools like most people who post on these forums seem to be. Also, regarding the price, i only pushed the price up a bit because possible scholarships/grants that i may qualify for and loans I may be willing to add.</p>
<p>For specifics if anyone is still interested:
I am applying to UCSD, UCSC, UCSB, UC Davic, and UC Irvine with my major in mechanical engineering. I am also applying to UC Berkeley as undeclared and UCLA as undeclared engineering.
Other colleges im applying to so far include ASU, University of Arizona, Texas A&M, University of Texas, Cal Poly SLO, Cal Poly Pomona, and SDSU (All as ME). As you can see, I am definitely looking for a larger school. As for geographic limitations… I would like to be closer to home (San Diego), but anywhere is fine if it fits ,me well enough. </p>
<p>I am pretty sure my list of colleges i’m applying to is rather large, i just want to know if i’m overlooking any strong engineering programs that I have a chance at getting into. Other than that, my list is pretty solidified.</p>
<p>Thanks for your responses!</p>
<p>Are you applying to Berkeley as engineering undeclared? If not, you may find it very difficult to get into an engineering major after enrolling.</p>
<p>I just wanted to apply to Berkeley because that is where many of my friends think they will end up. I applied as undeclared/pre-business. I would have applied as engineering, but i think there is practically no chance i will get in as an engineering major with a 30 ACT</p>
<p>If you get into Berkeley L&S, your chance of getting into an engineering major is very small (and dependent on a high college GPA in the prerequisites for the major to even have a chance).</p>
<p>However, if your interest is CS, then you can major in L&S CS as an alternative to EECS; if your interest is operations research, then you can major in ORMS as an alternative to IEOR. However, both are capped majors, requiring a 3.0 (CS) or 3.2 (ORMS) GPA in the prerequisites to declare.</p>