School Selection

<p>I would have thought there would be a lot more of these posts, so maybe I'm posting in the wrong place... Anyway, I'd like a little help selecting schools to apply to.</p>

<p>I will be applying as a transfer student for next spring (2009) or maybe 2009 fall at the latest.</p>

<p>I have been attending a community college since high school for two reasons, first I had no idea what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go after highschool, and second, my grades in high school were subpar.</p>

<p>Anyway, I finally realized what I wanted to do with my life last semester, which is engineering. Most likely mechanical, but maybe electrical or industrial. My current GPA is 3.3, but that includes about 15 credits that don't count towards my new engineering major. My GPA towards my major is 3.72, which is what I expect to get from now on. I have over 16 credits in honors classes, if that means anything.</p>

<p>My SAT scores are 800 math, 670 reading, and 610 writing.</p>

<p>I currently reside in Virginia, and have a guaranteed admission agreement with Virginia Tech, and if I want to take more Spanish, UVA as well.</p>

<p>Since these two schools are excellent already, I really just need help deciding on some out of state reach schools. No need for safeties, or targets, guaranteed admission to VA Tech or UVA takes care of both of those... I need a list of reaches.</p>

<p>Are you basing your decision on any specific criteria? I mean, those schools are already good based on prestige alone.</p>

<p>One of the problems with me deciding on a school is that I am not very picky. I don't really care about the size of the school, or how competitive it is, or where it is... Anything like that. I suppose there are really only three things I care at all about, the prestige it has, the quality of the education, and the relationships developed with the professors. In that order. In some schools the professors never even learn the names of their students, that would suck.</p>

<p>So anyway, my guidance councilor is a tool, and I know you guys know a lot about colleges, so can you maybe come up with a list of like 6-10 schools that I might be able to get into? Like I said before, I already have guaranteed admissions to two excellent schools, so I'm only looking for reaches now. Perhaps once I look into these schools more in depth I'll get a little more picky.</p>

<p>MIT and CalTech</p>

<p>you won't get into MIT or Caltech unless you are a black/hispanic/native american woman...no point of wasting the money on apps, transcripts,scores etc...i'd say you have a shot at UCB, USC, Carnegie Mellon, Northwestern, Michigan, Rice, Georgia Tech, and Johns Hopkins</p>

<p>Could really use some more opinions if you guys are up for it!</p>

<p>Remember, I only need reaches.</p>

<p>I'm planning to retake my SATs as well, my 800/670 I got was without any prep at all. I am very very confident I can raise my score to 1550ish with at least 2250 composite. Do you think this would give me a reasonable (25%ish) shot at MIT or Caltech?</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
I'm planning to retake my SATs as well, my 800/670 I got was without any prep at all. I am very very confident I can raise my score to 1550ish with at least 2250 composite. Do you think this would give me a reasonable (25%ish) shot at MIT or Caltech?

[/QUOTE]

From a CC with your GPA? Not really. Caltech does not even want SAT scores for transfers.</p>

<p>I doubt that you have a reasonable chance at many of the schools ChamilTitaryMayne mentioned. I'd say almost no chance at CMU and Georgia Tech. The other are reaches, but rather far reaches.</p>

<p>Thanks for the response. I didn't even think about caltech or mit until this thread, like you I doubt I'll get in, but I figure I'll apply anyway. I hate hearing about people who thought they wouldn't get in anywhere, then get in everywhere they apply and wish they had applied to tougher schools, lol. I'd rather know I can't get in than guess.</p>

<p>Are those other schools worth getting into though, since I already have guaranteed admission to vatech?</p>

<p>I agree, don't let the naysayers deter you. If you get into CalTech or MIT we will be surprised and some will have to eat their words, but heck you would have gotten in! You wanted stretches, I say go for it.</p>

<p>I will, thanks. I really appreciate all the feedback this thread has generated. I'll be applying to about 6-9 schools in all, some of which are in this thread, and if the only ones I get into are uva/vatech I promise I wont be heartbroken.</p>

<p>Once I have my complete list I will post it here and see what you guys think.</p>