Hi, looking for some additional schools to apply to. I already have a list built but want some unbiased realistic options for reaches/matches. For example, I know MIT is one of the best engineering schools in the world, but it’s probably a heavy reach for me.
What I’m looking for :
-lots of opportunities for involvement (particularly Baja and formula sae teams). Interested in anything team based.
-decent location, love outdoors activities (skiing). Not a huge factor though.
-less than 20k students
-AFROTC available. This is a must
-collaborative rather than competitive.
My stats - I’m not going in depth on ec/awards
ACT- 32 (32E, 35M, 31R, 30S)
GPA - 3.954 UW
Subject test - 650 math, 660 chemistry (low, I know)
AP’s - taken all offered at my school (not many), passed all of them except one my sophomore year.
Few college courses in flight and sciences
-Won a few national level awards for hard work stuff
participated in extremely selective full scholarship flight academy program
-varisty baseball - captain
-conglomorate of activities and clubs with leadership
I’ve already applied to
Cornell ED
Colorado School of Mines
Utah State
-University of Utah
USAFA
So yeah, taking into account my engineering/physics desire, and stats, what are some match/reach schools that are somewhat realistic for me!
Rensselaer would be excellent for engineering and physics, participates in Formula SAE and offers a location that places it within range of an Olympic skiing venue. ROTC is also available.
Colorado School of Mines does not offer aerospace engineering, but U of Colorado Boulder does and offers AFROTC https://www.colorado.edu/afrotc/contact-us
CU Boulder Engineering is now almost as hard to get in as Mines is. Your score of 35 on the math portion of
the ACT will help at all these schools (CWRU, RPI, Mines, CU engineering, U of Utah etc )
Yes, WPI popped into my mind–very project-oriented, hands-on. Great campus, nice part of Worcester, skiing nearby and a beautiful region. Impressive students, great vibe. Seems like what you are looking for, just don’t know about AFROTC. Good luck!
Awesome, so what about reaches like Duke, Carnegie Mellon, USC, or Yale?
Perhaps not all are top engineering schools, but they can perhaps provide me a more diverse student body and experience? Maybe? And are schools like this possibilities or am I wasting my time?
Duke, CMU, USC, and Yale don’t fit the criteria of your title, and with your profile, Duke, CMU, and Yale are definitely reaches. When people say they are reaches for everyone, it does not mean they are equal reaches for all applicants. I don’t know enough about USC to say. But, your subject test scores are low for the Profile of those schools. A 650 on the math is definitely not going to help you.
Your background is solid, but it is not so super competitive that you should lose focus on schools that are strong matches. For a true realistic safety, I would suggest schools like Auburn with a background of Formula SAE wins. https://wp.auburn.edu/aufsae/news/ Your ACT score would qualify you for automatic $13,000 per yr.
Based on the direction in which your list has developed, I’d also recommend the University of Rochester. As suggested by your own follow-up post, it represents the type of school that would offer a more diverse student-body experience than more tech-focused schools. Nonetheless, UR would be an excellent choice for engineering and physics.
Btw, your ACT profile may appear stronger to some schools than your composite indicates based upon the value they may place on your English and math sections.
We don’t know OP’s financial situation. Are any of these schools affordable? Many of the suggested matches may not be a better deal than in-state tuition at the University of Utah. The current list of schools applied to isn’t bad, what is the primary objective in adding more to the list: more Cornell like lottery tickets? Or schools that would be better value for money than the in-state flagship?
Also, is OP listing super-reaches (and applying to Cornell ED) because they offer better need-based aid or because they are the only schools perceived to be worth paying more for? I see some suggestions above where the price will be primarily dictated by need and others where it will be dictated by merit. It’s important to distinguish between them.
@Twoin18 I have a type 1 afrotc scholarship. So 100% tuition plus a monthly stipend for fees is paid for. Any extra merit aid is just icing on the cake. So any school that either has afrotc, or a crosstown agreement with a school that does, is affordable for me.
Does the AFRTOC adds some kind of hook for such a lot of reach suggestions for OP? The SAT math subscore of 35 vs the SAT 1 of 650 is not pause for thought? So far U of U and USU are the only matches applied for? You have acceptance to these already, I assume?
@Sybylla could add something, but nothing significant. And the reason I “think” I can conaider many of these schools matches is because they do not require subject test. Therefore all they will see is my act and the 35 in math. So I will be above average for most of these schools for uw GPA and act, and potentially above average for ec/leadership.
Also, I’m curious as to what you consider a safety if my state schools are matches? Utah State is practically auto admit and I am well above u of u act range. And yes, I already have acceptances to state schools.
@Kbat11700 I did not read @Sybylla’s post that way. I agree with her point that you have a lot of reaches. Only a handful of schools consider the English and math scores vs composite, so most will be looking at your 32 which is a fine score but not passing an AP in 10th grade combined and your lowish subject test scores really boils down to apply but don’t be overly confident. Too much over estimation could result in disappointment.
You are competing with kids nationally. You cannot estimate your chances based on your local perception. Your leadership accomplishments may make you stand out, and that will be fantastic for you. But until you receive acceptances, you just don’t know for sure. And we can’t offer any real assessment based on your post.
Considering the title of your thread vs the schools you are mentioning (CMU, Duke, etc) it reads like a disconnect. That is how I read @Sybylla’s post. I think the fact that you have those 2 acceptances is great–as long as you’ll be happy to attend if you don’t have other options. Hopefully you’ll be accepted to one of your to choices.
Given you’re in Utah, have you considered other schools in the West and Northwest that participate in the WUE were you pay instate tuition, Washington State, Colorado (not the Boulder campus though), Oregon colleges? A few are matches, some could be safeties with your 32. Good luck!
