Hey! So I’m finally finalizing my college list, and was just wondering if there are any places I should obviously apply to and have missed. As reference, I’m from Ohio, have a 31 ACT, and a 4.0 unweighted. (Not sure about weighted for reasons I won’t get into).
Safety:
University of Colorado Boulder
Virginia Tech
Borderline Safety:
Ohio State
Target:
University of Wisconsin Madison
Illinois Institute of Tech
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Purdue
For admissions stats to engineering it’s better to check profiles.asee.org. Look at the test scores for each school under Undergraduate-New Applicants. These are the test scores and admits for the engineering school portion of each university. It can be far different from the school as a whole.
Your ACT composite is in the 25/75 range for each school, so basically they all look like matches to me. None is a safety. Virginia Tech did not supply data, but I doubt it’s any less selective than Colorado or Ohio State.
Cost constraints? Have you talked to your parents and run net price calculators?
Many of your schools like VT, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Purdue require you to earn a high college GPA after enrolling for a year to enter or stay in an engineering major.
In Ohio there should also be Toledo, maybe U Cincinnati, Case Western.
You don’t have to go to the “hardest to get into” school for Chem E.
It is going to be plenty rigorous no matter where you go, as long as the program is ABET accredited.
Affordability should also be considered.
With your stats you could get merit at some of the Ohio schools.
?? Is this true? Are you low income? If so, then why would you think that UC Boulder and VT are safeties? A school is NOT a safety if you have no means to pay. A Safety MUST BE AFFORDABLE.
If you were rejected by your other schools, what good would it do to have an acceptance from UC Boulder or VT?
If you are from a poor family, consider as safeties schools with chemical engineering where you can get automatic full ride scholarships. Possibilities include Tuskegee, Florida A&M, and Prairie View A&M. With a slightly higher ACT or SAT score, there may be a few more possibilities. But check school web sites to be sure that the listed scholarships are still offered. http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
OSU seems to be the default choice, among the best on your list, and very low/no cost for low income students and within driving distance. An important component is also travel costs - have you considered how you will get to/from home during breaks?
It’s hard to see any benefit to going to the other unis on your list over OSU unless cost is equal or lower.
If your family is low income - as in you qualify for a fee waiver on the common app - then apply to private colleges that meet full need. Most are very selective and your ACT score would not be in range, but you might make it in to one considering your high GPA depending on other factors (ECs, APs, etc.), and if you are accepted, your EFC could be 0. You can search online for a list of schools that meet full need. Rice is one.