<p>I came up with a college list. Please help me balance it.
I'm interested in studying science, mathematics, and/or engineering in college. I have some areas in mind, but i'm undecided.</p>
<p>I'm trying to apply to many diverse colleges not only focused in engineering but well balanced. Location and size aren't much of a problem.
My lists right now lacks safety and matches. Can you help me change my lists?</p>
<p>Courses: decent till junior year. 6 APS senior year. 4.0 so far.
SAT: 2150 range. I'm confident of bringing the total score 50+ points on next test.
SAT 2: very good on two. one more to take.
ECs: Average (CC standard). Although my ECs aren't spectacular i thought moving around different countries might make me seem unique(?) and compensate for the lack of ECs.</p>
<p>You might notice that I added some colleges without engineering major because I might consider studying science/math in undergraduate and do engineering in graduate school.</p>
<p>Your list is solid. I had a similar list and it turned out well for me. I'd say you should apply to Mudd. MIT, Caltech, and Stanford may be out of your range. Mudd is a more possible reach.</p>
<p>Just a few less-reachy schools - and there are many - WPI, RPI, URochester, UMiami, Santa Clara U, Case Western, Purdue, Vanderbilt, Lehigh, Villanova, Trinity (CT).</p>
<p>Help me out here, cpt? Why would one safety be okay if the OP doesn't have any UCs or CSU's on his list, other than UCSD (which I don't think is safe)? Are you saying that Vtech would be a safety and then he would have some of the less selective UC's or CSU's as other safeties?</p>
<p>Well, that would make sense, unless he's not interested in them.</p>
<p>Give serious thought to RPI as a good solid match with some great engineering programs. They have gotten a lot of donatiaons in recent years and are doing some innovative hands-on stuff.</p>
<p>
[quote]
So do you think VA is the only safety in my list?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Reaches for everyone: UChic MIT Caltech Stanford Princeton
Reach because you are out of state and maybe anyway: UCSD
Reach/match: Rice Carnegie Mellon UVA
Match: Vanderbilt U MichiganAA UIUC Ga Tech
(Mich, GaTech and UIUC might be safeties if you are instate)
Safe: VTech</p>
<p>JMO</p>
<p>If you are a female, it could up your chances at places like GaTech, I would guess</p>
<p>Apply right away, as the above poster said, to places like UMich and any other rolling. If you get an acceptance and you still like the school, you've got your safety issue covered. Some kids have already heard from places like Purdue, a top Engineering school with rolling admissions. It's a good feeling.</p>
<p>DO NOT WAIT on any schools whose applications are open now and are rolling. This includes Purdue. Early applicants have greater chances of admission.</p>
<p>You are not in the top 25% of stats for GaTech, so I don't think I'd call it a safety. It could be a match.</p>
<p>As long as you are excited and happy at the prospect of attending UIUC, GTech or Purdue, your list is good. They are all great schools</p>
<p>Has Univ of Chicago fallen OFF your list? initially you had it as EA....then it was gone in post #11.....seems to me that applying there early action is a great way to get a sense of your viability as an applicant....my guess is they would take you early......anyone else think so? </p>
<p>Chicago is a major city....EC's don't matter to you as much....and your history of moving indicates that you know 4 yrs in any one place is only 4 years... I like Chicago for you....for what its worth.....</p>
<p>MIT and Stanford are very, very tough ... enough that I would think the lack of strong EC's might stop you at these schools....CalTech is also unlikely because their classes are SOOO small.....</p>
<p>UIUC has "priority filing" with a due date of 11/15. Push it up to your early application list. It's a good idea to start with the state schools like Purdue and UIUC because their applications are not complicated and you'll get better at the writing as you go along.</p>
<p>Dont' wait until November to apply to Purdue. Some of its scholarships are available only to students who are ACCEPTED by December 1. </p>
<p>Have you considered Rose-Hulman? It's an outstanding engineering school with rolling admissions, excellent teaching professors (professors are hired for their teaching ability) - and a great sense of humor. I wish I'd known about them decades ago when I was applying for college.</p>
<p>Sorry, Jmom, I was not clear. Many CA residences have a safety in a UC school, and I was assuming that UCSD was his but did not state this in my short post. I have mentioned safeties to CA residents who have informed me that due to some CA law that they have a safety in some UC college due to their stats and locale. I am not good about west coast schools particularly UCs. Not that it matters since the OP says he is not a CA resident which means UCSD under any circumstances is a big reach for him.<br>
Basically, he needs at least one safety in his group, and he should apply early to it. Engineering programs tend to fill up early, especially in state school and once they fill up, even Einstein would not get in. I think the other posters have the situation well covered.Early is the key for most engineering schools even some of the not so selective ones.</p>