Looking for some recommendations for engineering safety schools for my son, currently a junior. SAT 740 E, 780 M - only taken it once. Taking ACT in a couple of weeks. 35s on practice tests. 4.0 unweighted GPA. Will end up with 7 APs. 4 on AP Euro taken sophomore year. Taking AP Chem, APUSH, and AP Lang now and AP Physics, AP BC Calc and AP Lit next year along with multivariable equations. Possible valedictorian if he can keep it up. Very involved in drama and mock trial, and on the robotics team but his teams have not progressed beyond regionals. Leader in his class.
We are in Georgia so definitely applying to Georgia Tech but hardly a safety. Have formally toured UVA - he liked a lot but not really an engineering school - Georgia Tech, UT Austin and Rice. He liked Berkeley when looking at it a couple of years ago on a family trip. Also liked Duke on a school trip. Applying to NC State and Michigan for summer engineering camps, and may apply for college. Also wants to look at Carnegie Mellon. Legacy at UVA, GT and Rice, although the only one that makes a lot of difference I think is UVA.
After reading the acceptance threads and talking to other parents, I agree he needs to look at some safety schools that he would hopefully love to go to as the rest seems to be a crapshoot
No cost constraints. That being said we want to be cost conscious and get the best bang for our buck.
Also, what kind of engineering, or undecided?
That can affect suitability based on how hard or competitive it is to change major.
He thinks civil but really doesn’t know.
Not sure how to correct but SAT was 760E 780M total 1540. Typo in original post.
From Georgia I would suggest look at Alabama. Definately a safety but the engineering Campus is beautiful and the program seemed strong on our visit. With his test scores it would be very economical.
He is also a legacy there. UVA thru me. Alabama thru his Dad. Ga Tech thru his grandfather - apparently they recognize that, and Rice thru my brother and maybe sister in law - they recognize aunts and uncles. Not sure any of that matter except UVA which puts him in the in state pool. Roll Tide!
If he doesn’t really know which type of engineering he wants (and honestly, these kids are young and it’s hard to know!), he should take University of Texas OFF the list. At University of Texas engineering students are admitted straight to their specific major. Real life experiences with friends who have wanted to switch before that first year was up are not good. We very much perceived there would be a lack of flexibility.
Our daughter turned down her UT Biomedical engineering admission (we are in state) to attend University of Pittsburgh. So far we all have been very pleased with the schools commitment to making sure the students are exposed to all of the different types of engineering. The students then select their major at the end of the year.
Pay careful attention to how students are admitted to their major and ask about the school’s commitment to exposing them to all of the different disciplines. I know there are other engineering programs that function that way.
FWIW, after a year of seminars, a conference, speakers, etc. she has decided on Civil. Also, with his 1580 SAT he would be in line for some serious merit at Pitt. It isn’t guaranteed merit, but it would be enough to take the sting out of OOS tuition. Other schools where he would likely get merit are Clemson and Purdue. Mine got merit at Northeastern also but that was last year and it seems like this year was not as predictable.
With those stats may as well go for a scholarship, U Alabama, U Mississippi, UAH, U New Mexico, etc.
If not interested in scholarships, then Colorado School of Mines, UC Boulder, TAMU, VA Tech,
There are many obvious safeties based on automatic admission or scholarship criteria. A selection:
Alabama
Alabama - Huntsville
Arizona
Arizona State
Hawaii
Prairie View A&M
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Tuskegee
Most of the obvious safeties have a high enough wash-out rate from engineering majors that changing major is not an issue (but verify).
It is at schools that are as selective as popular state flagships that changing major may be difficult (because each major is full and there is little attrition – e.g. UT Austin, UCB, UCLA; GT for IE and ME), or where there is a weed-out process which may require a GPA substantially higher than 2.0 or competitive admission to get into or stay in an engineering major after enrolling (VT, Purdue, Texas A&M, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Washington, etc.).
Clemson is on his list as a safety possibility. Perdue has a very highly ranked program so I thought it might not be a safety school. I also think he should look at Virginia Tech as everyone I know who has been loves it. Their admit rate dropped significantly this year like many other places. Thanks for the advice about UT. He liked it fine but less than the others we have toured. I had not thought nor had he about the difficulty switching majors. At both Rice and GT you are admitted into your major but frankly they expect you to switch and it is easy to do so.
Clemson, like Purdue, Texas A&M, Minnesota, and VT, starts engineering students in a first year general pre-engineering status. After completing their frosh level courses, students apply to specific majors. It is not clear whether Clemson requires competitive admission to specific majors like the others, or if declaring a major is a formality if the student is in good academic standing (at least 2.0 GPA and C grades). You may have to ask the engineering division directly.
Both Iowa and Iowa State are pretty safe bets because of the state points system for admittance. We toured the engineering programs at both schools. Iowa State much larger than Iowa for engineering but both good options, comparable to many others we toured that were more selective.
If your son wants a California option on his list, you could suggest that he consider Cal Poly San Luis Obispo over UC Berkeley. It will cost much less and be a bit more of a match. It’s not a safety for anyone but he has a good shot with his stats.
I agree about Purdue. I know a couple of super impressive young people going there with merit and really enjoying it. Case Western maybe.
WPI is an option worth looking into.
One other thing to consider is he really has no interest in going to school in a small town. Not to say he couldn’t change his mind and he didn’t mind Charlottesville which is really not small but I am pretty sure Tuscaloosa/Oxford would be a no go and also probably West Lafayette. We live in a college town now which most people love but he is ready for the big city. I have explained to him lis life will focus on the school and the city will be an afterthought but somewhere rural would be a turn off.
Arizona State is in Tempe (Phoenix metro)
Arizona is in Tucson
Hawaii is in Honolulu
What about UMiami for Engineering? Toured there recently with my Jr. son and he was very impressed (our first college vist on a gorgeous day, so there’s that.)
I don’t see UMiami CoE mentioned on these boards, which makes me wonder.
http://www.coe.miami.edu/about/fast-facts/
Could look at San Diego State if he likes living in a city. There will be no money (merit or need) available so be warned.