@alooknac Thanks for the heads up!
When I was taking AP Art my portfolio wasn’t scanned well and I put too much filters to try and fix it, much to my mistake… made a 2 but I learned!
@SatchelSF Hey thanks, I’ll be sure to do my best!
@momofsenior1 I live just an hour away from the campus, and have visited there twice! I absolutely love the libraries and their art exhibitions. Their lecture rooms, however… the tables had so much trashy perverted graffiti! In terms of education and curriculum, they’re alright. But all in all, I wouldn’t mind attending FGCU. I’d be near my parents, and get to study in a decent and quirky environment.
I think the only drawback is that they don’t offer computer engineering or CS, the closest is Software Engineering. I know a person (cousin’s boyfriend to be specific) who dropped out of FGCU because that program was apparently confusing and he didn’t learn crap at all.
Awesome that you have already started making some visits and know that you have a relatively decent safety not too far from home. Are there are other FL options (as safeties) that would be a better fit for your intended major?
@AroundHere said it well: “The problem with being too Asian isn’t really about having the wrong activities or profile. It’s about the very short list of schools that are “acceptable” to Asian families.”
Harvard is not realistic, not even as a high reach. Nor is MIT. You need schools that you would be happy to attend and that are affordable, that will give you the education you are looking for. It shouldn’t be Harvard, MIT, or community college, with nothing in between. Bear in mind also that impacted majors even at state flagships can make admittance difficult. Work hard to get your test score up, because it will help you have more options.
I know we aren’t supposed to suggest LACs, but… There are a lot of very high quality LACs and Asians tend to be underrepresented at them. Grads of LACs often have high rates of acceptance into grad schools and PhD programs. These colleges are all well-regarded for their offerings in engineering. Smith (women’s college) might be a good fit for you. https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering-overall
https://blog.■■■■■■■■■■■/blog-0/cant-choose-these-colleges-combine-liberal-arts-and-stem-education
@Lindagaf God I know about Smith, and would also not mind attending there, it seems pretty cool! However, I don’t know how my parents would feel about me in an all girls college given some… circumstances.
I’ll definitely apply there though, it almost slipped my mind!
The OP seems to have the impression that all students at LACs study… liberal arts. Funny enough, it’s simply not true. Many LACs have more students majoring in science/math than studying humanities. Don’t discount them based on a misunderstanding, at least.
@kareUdon
Do not apply to universities where you have little or no true interest. One of those “backup” schools could end up being your option. No matter what your test scores, attitude counts and your own success depends on it. This is one of the dangers of becoming fixated on one university. Select quality programs where you feel you educational objectives can be met. If you think only one school will meet your needs, you are wrong. You can do yourself more harm than good. It can become a self-inflicted injury!
Don’t give up on MIT, but learn more about your other options. Take the full spectrum of your application process seriously and you will learn. Learning is not a bad idea while searching for a university.
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@donnaleighg I didnt mean to imply that all LAC students only study liberal arts. I mean to say that the science and engineering major studies there are often not as good or emphasized as quality liberal arts programs, hence my wanting to apply to good engineeering and tech focused schools.
@retiredfarmer I’ll be sure to look into education quality when I do some more research into safeties, thanks 
@gallentjill I think for me, on the SAT, I was familiar with all the formulas, I knew them for sure. I scored a 700 on the math. I think it was because I couldn’t quire figure out how to manipulate or use them in different ways to figure out the problem. I scored lower on reading because it was hard choosing between two answers since they’re so so close (and yes I know, the answers are in the text). I really do gotta improve on that!
No other Florida publics, including those with more engineering options than FGCU (e.g. UF, FAMU or FSU, UCF, FAU, FIU, USF)?
Check the net price calculators of each school. NYU in particular is known for not very good financial aid.
@ucbalumnus Well, there are those, but I want to stay close to my parents if I don’t get into the other colleges I’m applying to. I know there are many colleges and opportunities, but it all boils down to circumstances. My parents want me to have a good education and career, but if all else fails, I’d like to be by their side while going to school to help them out. Maybe UCF I’ll apply to, but FGCU and/or FSW is my main safety for a reason.
I used to want to go wherever out of state, like to Washington state for instance or California. But then I later learned that it’s better to venture out far while still being by family for support when you need it. I’ve known a few people who’ve tried to go out of state for college and either end up feeling miserable and homesick and scared of the new environment, or they flat out drop out and return home and go to the community college near their parents.
I’m choosing Boston and New York because they’re near my mom’s side of the family, who I can go to for support. I want to be independent, but I also want to have a circle of friends and family to turn to when I need someone to lean on, y’know? And of course the education system up in New England is great. Very tough and rigorous, but I’m aiming for tough and rigorous, as well as a fit and nice environment that cultivates curiosity and passions and intelligence.
Lets talk Florida public schools…
By far, the best programs are at UF, UCF and USF. You can go to the ASEE website and look up each college engineering program. It’s the easiest way to see which majors are offered, etc.
The larger schools will have far more resources (faculty, facilities, design teams, etc.). UF does offer decent need based aid, while UCF and USF both offer generous merit based aid. For example, here is USF’s merit based scholarships and requirements (note that some scholarships do stack).
http://www.usf.edu/admissions/freshmen/admissions-scholarships/
At $35 dollars an application, I would recommend you apply to UF, and to either USF or/and UCF as matches. Have your reaches, and safeties (FGCU), but you also want a few matches.
Maybe you’ll still select FGCU, but you’ll want to know if you can get accepted into the other schools, and if so, what financial aid package they may offer. Here’s the link to FGCU’s freshman scholarships:
https://www2.fgcu.edu/Admissions/Prospective/scholarship.html
Note that the “President’s Gold” scholarship is $5,000 per year up to four years and only requires a 3.9 weighted GPA and 1320 rSAT (Evidence Based Reading and Writing plus Math) or 28 ACT;
Make sure you apply early, when scholarship funds are still available to any of the Florida publics.
Good Luck!
FGCU isn’t what I think of when I think CS and quirky in Florida - I think of NCF (the state’s honors college.)
FGCU is the Florida university that decided to cut courses and academic investment in order to build a football team. They justified it by saying they know who they recruit (presumably, kids more interested in watching football than in academics.)
So, apply to FGCU but keep in mind it’s not the college where you’ll have lots of peers. You should absolutely apply to UF, FSU, and UCF or Famu or usf, in addition to NCF. Give yourself instate choices.
You can find your own community at college - in fact, LACs are built on the premise of close knit communities. You’d get lots of support. And fortunately there are lots of them in New England.
I’d make a pitch here for Grinnell, because they meet full need, are very wealthy, offer a close knit community, are very strong for science, and you’d be URM there.
For CS or Engineering, look at Smith, Scripps (national model for women in CS), wpi, RPI, Union, Lafayette, Case Western, Rose Hulman.
I understand the challenges of attending a low performing school and your 29 is quite respectable. It’s well above the requirements for Questbridge and I bet it’s well above the school average (in Florida low performing schools that average may be 17, perhaps 18 at best.) Check whether the school average’s on your school profile as it’ll help you at your selective, non Florida colleges - showing how strong your profile is ‘in context’.
That being said w add the MIT application as a cherry on the cake, after you’ve applied to all other colleges. Go read the results thread on this website to have an idea.
My guess also is that your list of colleges derived from doing it all yourself, without much guidance from parents or GC. College confidential is very good at suggesting colleges that are good fits and potentially affordable.
What’s your EFC?
A 3.9/4.9 is terrific - it means almost straight As. Keep at it, having good grades is essential.
Florida has an excellent system whereby all students with minimum qualifications (which you exceed) can take community college classes for free. Take advantage of that.
Can you list he classes you’ve taken so far in highschool, by subject ?
English=
Math=
Science=
Social science=
Foreign Language=
school requirements=
Personal picks=
@MYOS1634 I didn’t know that about FGCU, what a crappy thing to do… Well then I guess it’s UCF or USF for me.
Smith is one I’ll definitely apply to. Along with WPI and perhaps RPI. I’m looking them up right now and they don’t seem so bad.
Questbridge’s ACT requirements is lower than I thought? I thought you still had to get a 30 at least or above… Maybe I’ll actually consider applying. And I’ve read all the results and stats of MIT applicants on here numerous times, I like to do my homework on what it’s like, so I already have a big idea of who they do and not accept, and surprisingly, im taking that risk of applying even if I’m not a match right now.
I don’t know my EFC, however, sadly it’s expected that my parents don’t have to pay a dime for college, much like my aunt who sent two kids to Boston College and Boston University on full scholarships.
Yeah the FSW college near me offers two free years for my associates, it’ll be my last resort for sure and then I can transfer.
English = English I Honors, English II Honors, currently in AP English
Math = Algebra I Honors (8th grade), Algebra II Honors, Geometry Honors, currently doubling up in AP Statistics and precalculus right now.
Science = Biology I Honors, Chemistry I Honors, currently taking Physics Honors.
Social Science = AP Human Geography, AP World History, currently doubling up in AP Psychology and AP US History
Foreign Language = Took French I first year, skipped out in sophomore year, and completed French II online recently.
School requirements = US Gov, HOPE (PE/Online class) and art classes (which I enjoy)
Personal picks = intro to info tech, art classes, jazz band, French, and I can’t remember the rest…