I am a junior and I want to get into mechanical engineering in college. Since freshman year my guidance counselor told me that I couldn’t bring up my grades up enough for a decent engineering school with undergraduate research. I’m likely gonna apply to these 3 or (if accepted to none) take a gap semester and try again. and I want to know if anyone has advice on how to be more “admitable” in a hostile review to the following schools. Any recommendations? And any tips on what these schools look for in a student?
Texas A&M
University of Southern California
Texas Tech
Back up - Texas State university
My Stats
Goal - SAT 1300 (m 650 and cr 650)
Goal - ACT 30 (m27 and cr27)
Goal - Top 25% of graduating class
PSAT – 1270 (600m, 670cr &w)(Will improve)
GPA – 3.42 w, 3.28uw (Will improve – I’m bringing up a 1.9 gpa freshman year)
Class rank: 176/702(Will improve) (magnet school)
My Classes
Spanish 2 Spanish 3(H) Comp Sci 1(IB) Comp Sci 2 (IB)
Geometry(H) Algebra 2(H) Precalculus (DC) Calculus AB (AP)
Biology 1 (AP) Chemistry 1(H) Physics 1 (AP) Chemistry 2 or Physics 2(AP)
English 1(H) English 2 (Pre AP) English Lang (AP) English Lit (DC or AP)
Human Geo(AP) World History (AP) US History (DC) US Gov (DC) / Psychology (DC)
Ac Oct Ac Oct Ac Dec(H) *Algebraic Music or Engineering Design
Art 1 (IB) Film 2 (IB) Film 3 (IB) Film 4 (IB)
Soccer Construction mgnt Color guard Color Guard / Ac Dec (H)
My Clubs
Church youth group – founder / president (2010-present) and 1500 hours of community service
Academic Decathlon – President and winner in math, science, music, and economics (2013(or 2011 if you count lone star) -present)
Book Club – President (2014-present)
Film making society – Officer and music composer (2014 – present)
Color Guard / Winter guard – (2014 (Composer) and 2015(member) – present)
Technology Student Association (structural design) (2015-present)
Your GPA is too low for USC.
@uclaparent9 do they not look past average GPA? Because my GPA (aside from freshman year) increased a lot and and my course load increased a lot. Does that have help my application a little?
If you can interview well and had any circumstances for a 1.9 then you will be able to attend. Just score as high as you can on the sat to try and get as close to perfect. That will offset it a bit, also take ap tests and try to get as many 5s as you can to show your academic abilities.
You could be a better candidate for a UC, which ignores, mostly, the freshman year than USC!
Top 25% and those scores will get you into A&M - If you apply early. Those stats will get you a little money at Texas Tech.
@SeniorStruggling
Interview? I live in texas and am unfamiliar with the admission process at USC.(If I did well academiclly) would the interviewer come to texas for me? Or do I go there?
And I don’t think I had a valid circumstance or reason for my freshman GPA. I really wanted to win the ISC (international Songwriting contest) and 14 years old was the last year to enter junior class, so i dropped everything else to make semifinals(Stupid, but in my eyes worth it). But that wouldn’t be relevant to a someone applying to the engineering department… or would it?
@uclaparent9
whats a UC school?
^ I was referring to UCLA, UCB (Berkeley), UCSD, … group of schools in California which compete with USC!
it could be relevant. Explain to them why you did that and they might understand. You can interview with an alumn in texas
My son applied to USCs Viterbi school and was accepted as Undecided (transferred into Viterbi after a semester). He was also admitted as a spring admit and so just squeaked in. His stats were 3.83 uw, 31 ACT, 8 APs, 10% rank and very strong and related ECs.
Your low GPA, even with an upward trend, is a deal-breaker. Also their interviews are just informational.
@GamerGal27
Understand that I am not a a suitable applicant for any of these schools, but in my junior year I’d like to try whatever it takes to make me a better applicant. Do you have any suggestion?
Take a leadership roles in activities directly related to your major. Internships, start a mech enj club, competitions related to it, etc. you get the idea… Stand out.
@dallastxmom
I forgot to say thanks for the info on A&M and tech. Do you think I would survive a&M’s hostile review for the school of engineering?
@GamerGal27
I can try to start another club, but will the USC care if I start it this late? (When I was talking to an A&M admissions person they said that how long you’ve managed the club matteres more than what kind of club it is) Will USC care if my clubs around for less then a semester by the time of application (Since it is spring of junior year and deadline is December 1)?
Also a I live in dallas and I can’t seem to find any engineering internships in my city for high school students. (they seem mainly for 3rd/4th year college students and they are expecting people for UT-D or SMU. Any advice to make the hire me? Or do you know where I could find an residential summer internship outside of my city? Also, I do plan on applying for Texas A&M’s Engage summer camp. Does that help?
And I’m afraid I need more examples of standing out. Do Academic decathlon and TSA not stand out as engineering events? I always metal in math and science (state runner up) & I’m the founder of TSA at my school (Competed at nationals last year). Its just since I was president last year, I can’t be president this year. Should I try to do another event besides structural design? what do you recommend?
Here’s a list of the events I can choose from for TSA
http://www.tsaweb.org/High-School-Competitions
Don’t mind this post I’m just updating my classes and when I took them
9th__________10th__________11th _______ 12th
Spanish 2_______ Spanish 3(H)Comp Sci 1(IB)_ Comp Sci 2 (IB)
Geometry(H) Algebra 2(H)_Pre-Calculus (DC) Calculus AB (AP)
Biology 1 (AP)Chemistry 1(H)Physics 1 (AP) Chemistry 2 or Physics 2(AP)
English 1(H)English 2 (Pre AP)English Lang (AP)English Lit (DC or AP)
Human Geo(AP)World History (AP)US History (DC)US Gov (DC) / Psychology (DC)
Ac OctAc Oct________ Ac Dec(H)*Algebraic Music or Engineering Design
Art 1 (IB)Film 2 (IB)____ Film 3 (IB)________ Film 4 (IB)
Soccer________Construction mgnt Color guard Color Guard / Ac Dec (H)
guys, he will get into UT or A&M
they both have over 50% Acceptance.
@seniorstruggling
I’m not sure thats safe to guess since my gpa is below average for both.
USC would be unrealistic.
UCs are extremely expensive, 50K+.
You may have a shot at Texas A&M & Texas Tech.
Bump. I Get @newjerseygirl98 's point, but can I please get more examples or advise?