<p>Hi everyone,
I was wondering what my girlfriend's chances are of being accepted to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as an electrical engineering major. I'm applying to the architecture school, so I'm new to this part of the forum, but I've been told that the rest of the school is only 30% women (which I can only assume betters her chances).<br>
Anyway, here are her stats.</p>
<p>Female
GPA: 3.6/4.0 (unweighted; over a 4.0 weighted)
ACT: 30 composite score (with 30's in math and science)
Girl Scout (Gold Award, 12 years or so involvement)
Varsity Soccer Captain, All-District Winner
SkillsUSA competitor
President of our SWE (Society of Women Engineers) chapter
4 years of PLTW engineering highschool credits; 1 college credit in Digital Electronics
Top 10% of our senior class of over 170 students</p>
<p>Let me know what you think. It would be much appreciated.
Thanks, Jake.</p>
<p>She does have SATs, but they weren't great. Somewhere in the 1900-1970 range I think. Anyway, Do you think she has a good chance? Personally, I feel that she's a great catch for RPI, considering everything she's got going for her.
Any quesses?</p>
<p>BTW - she's really not that weird. She's got the brains, but not the obsession that a lot of engineers that I know have. That's beside the point.</p>
<p>I would say that she has a good chance. Her credentials look good. Indeed the SAT could have been a little higher, but I think that the extracurricular activities are great. </p>
<p>And I know plenty of engineering guys and girls that are outgoing and not weird.</p>
<p>My son applied to about 8 engineering schools other than USC where he goes. Every info session I was at, and at college fairs in the Bay area, the speakers at times acted even desperate to attract any woman who showed an interest. At Santa Clara Univer they even implied that it may be a little easier for a woman to get in and that more aid would go to females.</p>
<p>See Dr. Sheila Widnall's 2000 presentation/paper on the MIT website. 5 out of 8 engineering departments at MIT are more then 50% women. Olin is nearly 50% women. Most of the newer, integrated curriculum are attracting more women. Fewer women are signing up for the old "kill'em in freshman year with endless, mindless math" schools. </p>
<p>MIT took a look at outcomes from AERO graduates verses their admissions statistics (ie. who graduated with the best jobs/grades etc.) They found that relying on just SAT scores, women who were equally successful with men had 30 points lower average SAT. IE SAT did not correlate directly with success. ie2: the women in the chair next to you might have 30 points lower on the SAT but she can still whip your butt.</p>
<p>Therefore, MIT shifted its admission criteria to being more holistic, and based on what they found were more accurate predictors of success. The result was, without quotas or manipulation or lowering of standards, that the percentage of women just naturally shifted to closer to 50/50.</p>
<p>I think your friend has a very good shot at RPI. Her ACT is stronger than her SAT, so she should send them her ACT, of course. I believe they may also throw a bit of $$$ at her, to encourage her to attend. </p>
<p>Has she looked at Olin College of Engineering? I think she should. That school would be a reach for her, but not by so much that she shouldn't apply if she likes it. And if she gets in, it's free of tuition. Free... </p>