<p>I just finished my Sophmore year in high school and I'm pretty unsure about what I want to do. I think I have an interest in engineering so my question is for schools where you apply to separate engineering schools, should I apply to those if I think I might want to do engineering? I've read that it is difficult to transfer from arts and sciences to engineering. I enjoy sciences a lot and am very strong in math. I'm looking at all ivies plus Stanford duke Michigan MIT Cal Tech Berkely UNC-CH U-Chicago and JHU. I live in NC and I have 4.0 gpa, 5.0833 weighted, I've taken ap calc bc, chem, apes and stats. Ill have taken calc 3, vector calculus, differential equations and linear algebra at my local university by the time I finish high school. I got an 800 on chem sat 2. The issue is with my sat score. I got a 1900 when I took it in December. I'm not a great test taker with the sat and at most will probably get it at most to 2100. Should I apply to the engineering schools? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated</p>
<p>Yes, apply to engineering schools. Start in the engineering college and if you don’t like it transfer out. It’s harder to do it the other way around because of required classes. Also, try the ACT. Some people just do better on it.</p>
<p>With a 1900, you look good for majority of colleges. If you can get your SAT to 2100, you look good for all the ivy’s and other top colleges that you mentioned. Make sure you get 750+ on the Math II subject test.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions! I’ll be taking the ACT this year so maybe my scores will go up. I’ll take the math 2 in November and I’m generally better on single subject tests so I hope I can get 750+.</p>
<p>If you’re considering engineering, it makes sense to apply to the engineering school within Universities. Lots of people change their mind and transfer from engineering to business or something in the College of Arts & Sciences, but it is typically impossible to graduate in engineering in 4 years if you didn’t start in engineering. </p>
<p>The schools you list as being interested in are all reaches even if you get your SAT up to 2100. So make sure to apply to a range of safety and match schools also. Taking the ACT is a good idea, since some people do better on one than the other.</p>
<p>Thanks! I’m pretty sure that I will apply to engineering schools. UNC is my safety since I’m in state. People in the top 10% of their class at my high school get in and I’m currently #1 so I’m pretty sure I will get in there.</p>
<p>Look at NC State for engineering, not UNC.</p>
<p>Does UNC even have engineering? </p>
<p>You have a lot of OOS publics on your list. How much will your parents pay? </p>
<p>If your parents will pay all costs, then fine. If they won’t then your OOS publics list may not be affordable.</p>
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<p>UNC-CH and Chicago do not have engineering. Also, many of the Ivy League schools are relatively weak in engineering (selection of majors and courses may be more limited).</p>
<p>As a resident of North Carolina, North Carolina State University should be on your list.</p>
<p>You do need to talk to your parents about what they are able and willing to contribute, and what the parameters are to put into each school’s net price calculator.</p>
<p>You may want to try the ACT to see if you can do better on it than the SAT.</p>
<p>I don’t think it does so if I go there I would have to give up on doing engineering. My parents have agreed to pay for any college so money is not a problem. I was thinking about NC State and probably will apply but if I decide not to do engineering then UNC would be better. I’m hoping I can at least get into Michigan. I’m a girl so I hope that helps a little bit.</p>
<p>thanks for the suggestions. I’ll probably register for the ACT for the fall.</p>
<p>Unless your ACT really comes up UMich is a major reach.</p>
<p>^Definitely not. Michigan’s 25th percentile is 1880. Having a 1900 mean she is above the 25th percentile. She might not get into the engineering college but she should get in as an undecided major. (GPA is 4.0, Chem 2 SAT is 800 and i am hoping some decent ec’s)</p>
<p>I am aware of the fact that transferring into engineering at Michigan is extremely competitive but if she maintains a high GPA, its not an impossible feat to achieve.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>I don’t think you can look at stats that way for OOS students. Public flagships give more leeway to instate kids by weighting GPA more heavily than test scores (so that all seats aren’t taken by the more affluent coming from better K-12 schools). </p>
<p>I don’t think that same standard is used for accepting OOS kids.</p>
<p>OP - ACT is a more straightforward test of what you have learned.</p>
<p>When DS first started looking he was also on the fence re Engineering. Most Engineering (esp in Mechanical) programs are ABET accredited. ABET has strict guidelines as to what subjects are required. Many build upon one another. It is difficult to more into Engineering because of this need for sequential courses.</p>
<p>What helped my son:
If you have a school Engineering Club, join it.
Talk to those in the field.</p>
<p>You have some great, albeit, high reach schools that you are looking into. Also look into state flagships and honors colleges. </p>
<p>You are starting early enough that you should have a good handle on your list next year. Get your parents involved NOW to look at the financial end and run some Net Price Calculators. You don’t want to fall in love with a school only to learn you cannot afford to attend.</p>
<p>DS started the process early. He made many changes as we progressed in the process and discovered the top name schools could not offer him as many opportunities as some of the lower ranked schools. Keep an open mind. Focus on what you want out of your education, not the school name.</p>