Safety schools list for engineering?

Hi, I’m interested in engineering and most of the colleges in my list are reaches and few matches (Harvey Mudd, Olin, Cornell, Carnegie, etc.). Currently I only have two actual safety schools, which are Alabama and Auburn. What would be some other safety schools (and matches) that I should consider? Also, can Georgia Tech be seen as a safety for me?

My stats are:
SAT: 2300 (M: 800, CR: 700, W: 800)
SAT Subject: Chemistry: 800, Math 2: 800
Qualified for AIME
GPA around 4.4, UW 4.0
Did robotics and science olympiad for 3 years
Varsity sport for 4 years

There are more leaderships and awards, but they are pretty minor and either within the school, region, or state.

Thank you!

Georgia Tech is not a safety for anyone. It’s a match for you. What state are you from? Your state university would be the first place to look for a safety.

I’m from Alabama, so I have Alabama and Auburn as my safety. Also, I think that I can get NMSF (guaranteed commended) with my score (1490).

You probably will be NMSF given that score. You can also look at University of Oklahoma or Arizona State University as they also give NMF scholarships.

What is your PSAT selection index score?

RPI is excellent for engineering and would be an easier admit than the first four schools you listed.

@jym626 it was a 223

That would be a certainty for NMSF for Alabama.

Do you like Alabama and Auburn? You only need one or two safeties, which by definition are schools you will get into and can afford. If those two schools (which are both very good for engineering) are good for you, no need to find more safeties. Concentrate on match and reach choices.

@Chardo Yes, I go to both campuses a lot and I liked them, although I would like to leave the state. What would be some solid match schools that I should consider then?

There are many. What are your preferences (size, setting, vibe, activities, etc)? What is your budget?

RPI won’t be that easy to be admitted to. Many, many kids from the northeast with high marks apply. Yes, admission to RPI is a bit less competitive than Cornell and the other private engineering schools on your list.

If your dead set on leaving your home state, consider these engineering universities (Mechanical? Robotics?); schools where you stand an excellent chance of admission and possibly not insignificant financial aid.

Illinois Institute of Technology
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Clarkson University
Rice University
U of Rochester
Texas Christian University
Ohio University
U of Maryland-Baltimore County
Vanderbilt University
George Washington University

Ultimately, your best bet, especially for Mechanical Engineering, are your two state schools; UAlabama and Auburn U. Both have good contacts with automobile engineering firms.

What are your cost constraints and state of residency? Safeties must be affordable.

Are there any particular school characteristics that you want, other than your major and affordability?

Since you have Harvey Mudd and Olin, there are some other small engineering focused schools that are less selective (e.g. SD Mines, NM Tech).

Safeties much be known FOR SURE to be affordable; otherwise they can’t be safeties. How much will your parents pay each year?

Just a small plug for Auburn Engineering in the auto field - http://ocm.auburn.edu/newsroom/news_articles/2016/06/auburn-universitys-formula-sae-racing-team-wins-national-competition.htm

Is this student interested in the auto field? If so, Tuscaloosa has the nation’s only Mercedes plant, which is being expanded

<<<
Mercedes-Benz today announced a $1.3 billion, 300-job expansion of its Alabama auto assembly plant.

The project represents one of the largest single investments to date for the German automaker at the Tuscaloosa County site.

Crews already have begun moving dirt for the project, which will include the construction of a new 1.3 million-square-foot body shop, the rebuilding of part of the existing body shop, an expansion of the SUV assembly shop and various logistical and information technology upgrades.


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Alabama also has that program with Daimler where the student spends a year in Germany. One of Daimler’s former executives is now a prof at Bama.

http://students.eng.ua.edu/programs/two-steps-ahead/

Also
http://alabamanewscenter.com/2016/06/21/university-alabama-team-takes-fourth-national-ecocar-competition/

My parents are willing to pay for my college, as long as I go to a school with some “prestige” (which means that if I go to schools like Alabama or Auburn, I need to get a full ride). I am debating between mechanical and chemical engineering. I do prefer the coast and schools at least somewhat nearby a major city, but that’s not the most important for me.

I don’t think Auburn offers Full-Ride to anyone - you might be able to get full tuition but not even sure about that. Alabama has better merit money. Good luck.

Alabama’s well known scholarships are mostly full tuition, not full ride.

It is certainly possible that your parents’ “prestige” requirement means that they are unwilling to pay for any school that is an admission safety for you, since “prestige” is typically associated with high admission selectivity. So your only safeties could be automatic full ride scholarship schools. From http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/ , there are the following with engineering:

Tuskegee
Florida A&M
Louisiana Tech
Prairie View A&M
(Howard is listed, but its own web site indicates that the full ride is now competitive.)

If you make National Merit Finalist, based on http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/ :

Alabama - Huntsville
Central Florida
Idaho
Wichita State
Kentucky
Mississippi
Nevada - Las Vegas
New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Mexico
North Dakota State
Oklahoma Christian
Oklahoma State
Texas Tech
Houston
North Texas
Texas - Tyler

I think this student will be a NMF and eng’g major. If so, then the award from Bama will almost be a full ride. 5 years of tuition (can use extra semesters for summer abroad), one year of housing, plus 3500 per year, plus other bennies…plus 2500 per year from engineering.