Which schools should I apply to that have great mech engineering programs and are in high ranking as well for a match?
If you are saying that I shouldn’t apply to these schools because it is a waste of my early action, could you please at least mention 2-3 schools where I might get it as a match.
Try Purdue which should be a high match.
Also, I could find where is your home state. It is critical for chancing at public colleges.
Your GPA is good while your AP scores are bad. It seems your school may have grade inflation and that would affect the perception of your GPA. Your ACT is fine within the mid 50 for most, if not all, of the schools on list, but it is not outstanding either. It is around the admission average at UMich CoE, for instance. However, your Math section score is at or below the 25th percentile even for UMich CoE. So vast majority of the schools on our list are reaches including UMich.
My home state is California, and there is no grade inflation at my school. I worked hard to earn my GPA, which is proven by my ACT score. I just took the SAT this morning and I know I got higher than a 2100 for sure. The only down side to my app is the AP scores. Other than that, I am preparing for my SAT subjects and am sure I can get at least 750 in Math 2 and Physics. It just the AP scores I am lacking.
Could you please chance me for the UC’s?
Heres your UC chance:
UCB high reach
UCLA high reach
UCSD reach
UCD low reach
UCI low reach
UCSB high match
UCSC match
UCR low match
UCM low match
Your ACT is average. Your GPA is fine, but your AP scores will cause admins to question how rigorous your school even is if you are unable to even pass a single AP test. If I were you, I wouldn’t apply to most of the schools on your list. As a reference, one of my siblings attends CMU and he had a 2400 SAT, 3 perfect SAT II, 10+ APs that were 4s or 5s, and time consuming leadership and ECs.
You should look into some middle to low UCs. Even if you by chance make it into one of your top schools, I’m positive that you will be miserable there.
The sad part is that you can be admitted to the top UCs, but if I was you, I would avoid them and would settled with the mid-tiers as suggested by the previous poster!
To bolster @Falcon1 's points, my older son got 2340 on the SAT, first try, no prep, all 5s on his AP tests, and struggled his first year at Harvard. Quantum leap in difficulty from a rigorous high school curriculum. My younger son, 2340 superscore, a bunch of 5s on APs, a 4, and one 3, took some pointers from his brother when he started Harvard. He did somewhat better but still struggled, especially first semester. He was positively lost in his first math class at mid semester. He made up for it eventually, but it was a tough slog.
I don’t see much to indicate that your academics are at the level of the top tier universities. Something mid-tier is more suitable. Good luck.
Can you please list a few colleges for my matches? @notjoe @uclaparent9
A good mechanical engineering program would be Univ of MD College Park, Clark School of Engineering. That’s if you get something close to 800 on your Math I I, and improve your SAT, especially the math score.
Will colleges consider that I took the hardest possible courses during my 9th, 10th, and 11th grade?
How about chances WPI? RPI? Georgia Tech? Northeastern? UIUC? UT Austin? I understand I am in a tight situation right now with terrible AP scores, but do all colleges consider AP scores for admissions?
Colleges will consider mostly what you give them. Your grades are good but so far, for top schools, your test scores are not. I’ve read that the engineering program at UIUC is very competitive. Same for UT Austin. I wouldn’t be optimistic for either, but who knows? You have to apply to find out.
I guess part of the problem is everyone wants to be an engineer, or so it seems. Thus, the engineering programs at even mid-level schools have become highly competitive. So, good test scores become imperative, especially in math.
Hi! I wanted to start off by saying that I for one am very impressed by your ACT/GPA combo. I know many students at my high school that would kill for that ACT score, and their desire to do so is not unfounded! The fact that some commenters are downgrading the “average” score, all the while thrusting the accomplishments of there perfect children in your face is disgraceful. Begone vicarious parents! You’re input is biased and irrelevant. Anyway, as I’m sure a student of your caliber knows, you will end up at a solid college in a competitive tract. Now, will that college be MIT or CALtech? Maybe not, but that isn’t the end of the world. I urge you to look at some less competitive options, many of which offer admirable engineering paths. I don’t know many specific engineering programs, as that is not my intended area of study, but in my area OSU columbus campus is offering comprehensive programs specializing in engineering. This may be something to look at- plus, they offer major out of state scholarships- $14,000/year for 28+ACT and 40% class rank. Best of luck with your future endeavors!
^^ Nice rant but how is your urging OP to look at less competitive colleges any different than what we’re saying?
@16cclark
Thank you SO much for that info. I will definitely look into OSU! I am glad at least you are kind about my chance in to MIT and top schools. Thank you again!
@Falcon1 - 16cclark is kind about it, unlike you guys, saying I will be miserable at top colleges. I know you guys speak truth, but at these stressful times, a little positive kindness goes a long way. Thank you for chancing me by the way. I really appreciate it.
Your AP scores suggest high amounts of grade inflation. That 3.98 isn’t really a 3.98, isn’t it?
@basedchem My ACT score proves that there is no grade inflation. The courses were hard, and I worked extremely hard to earn the grades I have and the GPA I have.
@Salutation sorry, a single standardized test does not offput those AP scores. In addition, your math subscore is lower than what these colleges want. If the courses were truly hard and you worked hard, then you should’ve been scoring 4s and 5s.
@basedchem What do you think my chances are for these schools then? They aren’t ivy league top, but they aren’t middle tier either: WPI? RPI? Georgia Tech? Northeastern? UIUC? UT Austin?
I believe you are competitive for UC Systems, but I would not be sure about CalTech or MIT because those are… Highly competitive. If I were you, I would still apply, though. They can take only 4.00/2400 students, but they rather make their undergrad class more diverse.
Your ACT is very good, and you have good extracurricular history. I am sure that you will be admitted to good number of schools on your wish list.
@16cclark, atcoms who evaluate you and others most likely will be one of those “vicarious” parents not your own peers!
Sorry, I apologize if my posts seemed unkind. This time of year is very stressful for seniors and most of you come on here looking for reassurance. That often results in you all trading positive comments with each other while the parents try to interject some measure of reality. I guess things can get a little out of hand.
You are obviously free to apply to whichever schools you want so best of luck! I hope you are successful wherever you end up.