Need help finalizing list of engineering schools to apply to this year

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>My Stats:</p>

<p>White Male starting senior year</p>

<p>I go to a public high school in rhode island</p>

<p>GPA UW- 3.9/4
SAT I - 1850 (630 CR, 620 M, 600 W (10 essay))
took it my first time in march without prep., I should definitely be able to get a score of ~2100 or higher if i study which I didnt the first time I took it, I am retaking in October
Rank - 2/188
i also plan on taking Math II and Chemistry subject tests in November
school doesn't offer AP classes but I took as many honors classes as I could
my only B's were in geometry freshman year and in english last year, all the rest have been A- or better</p>

<p>EC's:
National Honors Society 11,12
Tri-M Music Honor Society 10,11,12
4 years of baseball (3 years varsity)
2 years of basketball
4 years of saxophone, 1st chair 4 years, section leader for 3 years, band prez senior yr, and probable all-state band selection this year since last year I was one spot from being selected
student council representative for 2 years
active member of SADD(Students Against Danderous Decisions) for 3 years
member of the big brother/ big sister program for 2 years</p>

<p>Major: Mechanical Engineering </p>

<p>Colleges:
-MIT(top choice but its a lot of people's top choice)
-Cornell
-Michigan
-UVA
-Virginia Tech
-Villanova
-Boston U
-UConn
-URI(in state safety)</p>

<p>Any other colleges that I should look into? Obviously Im looking for a school that has a solid engineering program, but also one that isn't really any farther than Michigan is in relation to rhode island, and a college that either has good need or merit based financial aid for someone with my stats. I know I definitely want to apply to the first five schools on my list but im not exactly sure about the others. Any advice or other colleges to suggest?</p>

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<p>Don’t expect much aid from Michigan.</p>

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<p>SAT needs to go up like you said. Even with a 2100, MIT will be a long shot. Try the ACT too? I think you would have a good shot at Georgia Tech with a higher SAT score. You might also want to look at Penn State and Ohio State? Good engineering schools that are in reach of your grades.</p>

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<p>You don’t absolutely have to go to MIT, but if you want to be there try.
I think you can have a shot for any school with good SAT like 2100. Your math and science should be really good for top engineering schools there. CR and WR can be a bit less. It’s understandable.</p>

<p>

We are now back to the college choice 101.</p>

<ol>
<li>Make sure you have one safety school in your list.</li>
<li>Don’t over apply. Usually 5 is already too much.</li>
<li><p>Visit schools that are on your list - if you can. If you can’t, please google a lot. Look into the photos, and people’s opinion. Go to the corresponding forums here on CC for further information.</p></li>
<li><p>Consider FA, size of school, faulty research topics, location of the school, and the type of school. Also look into other divisions in those schools.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Some schools are large and you will very often sit in a lecture hall, and thus usually less interaction with your professors. You might like smaller schools instead.</p>

<p>You should cross out Boston U, IMO.</p>

5

<p>Gotta comment on jwxie who feels “Usually 5 is already too much”… so he thinks 4 might be the number to apply to? what 1 reach, 2 matches, 1 safety? A very dangerous approach.</p>

<p>If cost is an issue, which it is for you as you stated, whether it be need based or merit based aid you’re looking for… applying to only 5 is way too low. Need to apply to 12 to 15, especially since you have several reaches which you probably won’t get into and if you did get into them the aid would probably be poor making them unaffordable anyway.</p>

<p>I’d apply to 8-10 schools which would be classified as matches where your stats put you in the top 25% of the applicants. That way you increase your chances of getting someone with good need or merit aid. The aid you get (merit or need-based grants) just varies greatly beteen schools and between applicants at the same school, thus the need to apply to many schools. Yes that may cost around $700 in apps but the return could be substantial. </p>

<p>IMO you’re top 5 are too high a reach to be worth the application fees, and of those which you have a maybe 30% admit shot will not provide much $$ to an out of state student.</p>

<p>Add to your list, Drexler, Widener, TCNJ, RIT, UofRochester, UofBuffalo, UMBC UofMaryland Baltimore County, Stevens, Rowan.</p>

6

<p>MIT like with everyone will be a huge reach and it will be quite difficult for you to get into. Cornell is POSSIBLE, but still a high reach. The rest of your list is fair game. UMich and UVA might be a little hard to get into, but I think overall you have a great chance and at worst those two schools are reach. </p>

<p>As to jwxie’s comment about Boston U… I honestly don’t see what the difference would be between applying to BU and any of the last four schools. The engineering is about the same.</p>

<p>I would personally add Georgia Tech, University of Illinios - Urbana Champaign, Purdue, Northwestern, and probably a couple from FooMonChew’s list. I personally don’t see why you would only apply to 3-4. I think the amount on your list is fine. Check out a couple of the schools mentioned and add one or two.</p>

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<p>University of Maryland, College Park has an excellent engineering program. I was there my freshmen year. I only transferred out because I wanted to do Petroleum Engineering and I wanted an Adventure!</p>

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<p>^</p>

<p>Most people don’t go to Alaska in search of adventure lol.</p>

9

<p>Alaska is an amazingly scenic and adventurous place. Easily in the top 3 most adventurous US states. Alaskans are very nice people compared to the East coast. The stereotypes are not true.</p>

<p>People have the wrong impression about Alaska. I also had the wrong impression until I visited and now I am in love with it! I originally planned to go to Texas A&M but I did not like it when I visited.</p>

<p>Alaska is a cold place but it is well worth it!</p>

<p>There is just something awesome about being 400 miles from the next city.</p>

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<p>FooMonChew, I know common apps saves time. But I don’t think applying to 12 schools is a good idea.</p>

<p>A reach school, 3 safety are good enough, and at least one local.
I could be bias because I live in NYC, so I can attend any SUNY, CUNY with okay SAT.
CCNY, SUNY Stony, SUNY Binghamton, and Columbia. All accepted.</p>

<p>However, word of caution. A better student that I knew got rejected by all SUNY schools. Maybe I was just lucky?</p>

<p>If you are living in the middle of desert, then I am not against 12-15 schools. Well. It’s my preference anyway.</p>

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<p>Since we’re all making suggestions of where you should apply, I’d recommend not bothering with MIT and Cornell, use that $100 for a few more realistic applications. Don’t apply to Michigan if you’re not going to be able to be full or almost full pay or aren’t willing to take on a lot of debt.</p>

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<p>Applying to 12-15 schools is unnecessary and a waste of money. 5-8 is perfectly fine.</p>

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<p>For the class of 2014, the avg VT student has a gpa of 3.95. Engineering school applicant consideration begins with both M/CR at no less than 600. They heavily favor in-state (70/30) so the admission for oos is tight. Work on the SAT. They are very numbers driven. Unless you have won a national award your ECs are in the background. Merit aid isn’t a big draw. You would have to look at their financial aid page to see what their commitment is. You should know your familys EFC. </p>

<p>UVa has a strong tradition of meeting 100% of a students need. This will be based on your EFC. Merit aid is slim and highly competitive. The avg gpa is 4.1 and SAT is closer to a 2100. They use a holistic approach where your ECs, LORs, & essays are going to matter a great deal. Their admission also favors in-state (65/35), making it very tight for oos. </p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

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<p>just like to comment that I applied to Purdue, VT, Texas A&M, U of michigan, Georgia Tech, and VCU. Since I live in VA, VT and VCU gave me nice financial options but for all of the OOS schools Michigan gave me the best aid. So from my experience Michigan’s aid really isn’t that bad…</p>

15

<p>why would MIT and cornell be unrealistic options for me? if i was able to get my sat scores up high enough why wouldn’t i have at least a chance of getting in? i mean, they do actually accept student dont they?</p>

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<p>I think unrealistic is too strong, but how can you be so sure that you can pull it up to as high as like 780,780, 780?
That’s should be a realistic concern, though.</p>

<p>Apply by all means if you are interested in. You don’t know the result unless you apply.
Score is not the only thing admission staff look at. The admission to MIT is very competitive. </p>

<p>Read blogs from MIT and Cornell admission staff members They state that scores aren’t the cut off (well obviously a failing SAT score is a cutoff) LOL.</p>

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<p>I agree you should apply to 5-10, not 12-15 (12-15 implies you have no idea where you want to go or who will let you in).
As far as your stats assuming you get the SAT to 2100, which wouldn’t be terribly hard with prep, I think you have a good shot at most of these schools (your GPA, Rank are great, and ECs are good)
The one thing to worry about (not so much for admission, but for actual success in college) is that you have no APs. Since you school doesnt offer them it wont hurt you in admissions, but it will be more difficult for you to graduate on time at some schools because of the fact you wont start out with any credits. I would recomend self studying one or two if you feel that you can.</p>

<p>As for the colleges:
MIT (big reach, if you love it apply, but its super competitive and you dont really stand out. If its not absolutely your first choice, then i would save the money and effort)
Cornell(mid-reach, but more realistic. They are a little easier to get in and if you get your sat up you could have a chance)
Michigan(See Cornell.)
UVa(not sure why you are applying here. It isnt that good for engineering or mechE, but is also really hard to get in out of state. you could do better to aim elsewhere)
Virginia Tech (Match. with at 2100, Your stats are there. They have a high acceptence rate, and I dont think they would reject you, even out of state)
Villanova(I wouldnt apply here if i was you. Its not a great engineering school at all. Its also fairly difficult to get in, though i think you stand a good chance. but I wouldnt do it. There are cheaper schools with more upside.)
Boston U (not a bad choice. expensive. I would put it as a match/safety for you. Its a decent engineering school, but I have no idea about their MechE program)
UConn(a safety for you. Its alright with engineering.)
URI(not strong in engineering at all, but is instate. Def a safety)</p>

<p>To recap:
Apply to (assuming SAT is up):
URI (Safety, plus cheap),Virginia Tech, Cornell, UMich
Mabey apply to:
MIT, UCONN, Boston U
Dont apply to:
Villanova, UVa</p>

<p>In addition look at:
Georgia Tech (not too expensive OOS, top 5 MechE program, match/reach for you)
U of Illinois (not too expensive OOS, Top 10 MechE program, Match for you)
Purdue (not too expensive OOS, Top 10 MechE program, Match/Safety for you)
PennState (not too expensive OOS, Top 20 MechE program, Match/Reach for you)
UMaryland (not too expensive OOS, Top 20 MechE program, Match for you)
OHIO ST (not too expensive OOS, solid engineering programs, safety for you)
NCST (not too expensive OOS, solid engineering programs, safety for you)
Michigan State (not too expensive OOS, good engineering programs, safety for you)</p>

<p>In my opinion you should look at/apply to (6-10) of the following:
reaches: Cornell, Michigan
Matches: Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Purdue, PennState, Maryland, Illinois
Safeties: URI, OSU, NCST, Mich St</p>

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<p>I agree with the UVa consensus. My son had a 2130 SATI, ended up a National AP scholar (8-5’s, 1-4), SAT Chem 780, SAT Math II 800, good extracurriculars, a 4.0 unwaited GPA, and got waitlisted. He is now happily attending Case Western with lots of Merit Aid.</p>

19

<p>thanks everyone for the advice</p>

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<p>anyone second the bchristian post that Villanova does not have a good engineering pgm? I saw that it was number 9 in the US NR list of nonphd granting colleges.</p>

<p>[Best</a> Undergraduate Engineering Programs - Best Colleges - Education - US News](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-engineering]Best”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-engineering)</p>

<p>My son is trying to find good schools that have a bigger suite of offerings, including engineering, but that are under 10 K, maybe 15k students. I was kind of going off of that list (highest=masters) from USNR , at least as a starter list.</p>