Personally, I have a passion for the Investing and doing Financial Analysis. I would probably stress this on my app as I have accomplishments in this field (i.e First at BPA Nats, creating my own Trading Analysis Page w/ over 55k views).
Feel free to give advice and your opinion on what would be good to emphasize or express on my college apps. I’m currently a Junior.
Top School List:
UMich Engineering (I have a parent teaching here and my sister goes here so might count as legacy)
Stanford University
Columbia University
UChicago
University of Toronto
UCLA
NYU
Cornell
Carnegie Mellon
Stats:
GPA UW: 3.76
W: 4.03
SAT: 1500 (800 M 700 RW)
PSAT: 1460 (750 M 710 RW)
Senior Yr Courses: Dual Enroll (3): Calc 3, Calc 4, Calc-based Physics I and II, Intro C++ and Gen Chem.
High School (3): AP stats, Advanced Composition, Cybersecurity
Completed APs: Calc BC, Comp Sci A, Lang & Comp, Psych, Micro/Macro
Extracurriculars: (In School):
- Investment Club (Co-Founder and Co-President, Started in 11th)
- Math Club (Captain Member since 9th, Captain next year)
- Business Professionals of America (member Since Junior Yr)
- Debate Club (member since Sophmore Yr).
- Varsity Cross Country Runner (since Freshman Yr)
(Out of School):
- Weekly Library Volunteer
- Volunteered 100+ hours every other summer in India at Disabled People Shelter (Pingalwara Society) and Grade Schools (teaching English).
- Co-Organized 5k run and donated all proceeds to Shelter (Pingalwara).
- Won First place at Business Professionals of America Investing Competition.
- Part of a Competitive Bhangra (cultural dance) team and have competed/placed at multiple competitions across North America against many collegiate and independent teams, I was Captain and Head Choreographer for our team.
- Going to Attend UMich Engineering Camp (20% admit rate)
Feel free to provide feedback.
None of these schools are safeties. Add some like Purdue, Ohio State, WPI, RPI, etc. They are just as good (Purdue ranks almost as high as Michigan for engineering. Same for the other two) but easier to get into. Your list is mostly reaches. Even Michigan is a match/reach school since you said you want to hear about engineering schools, I’m assuming you’re applying to their highly competitive engineering program. Also look into UT Austin and Georgia Tech, though they are also very hard to get into OOS for engineering. Create a more well-balanced list. You don’t want to be in a situation where you don’t have a lot of choices.
Agree with “Keriell.” The competition is very stiff across a broad spectrum of universities, particularly in the STEM fields. Try using the Common Data Set (CDS) on the last entering class to obtain a clearer picture of the competition when you are applying to a university. Most college websites have this information somewhere on their website. In most universities, GPA counts more that SAT/ACT in the admissions process. The listed GPA’s in these reports are not weighted.
Using Michigan for comparison, check this out:
Michigan: 79.6% class has GPA>3.75 with average of 3.84 and mid range SAT 670-770 M and 660-730V;
Stanford: 94.83% class has GPA>3.95 with average of 3.95 and mid range SAT 700-780 M and 690-760V;
NYU: 43% of class has GPA>3.75 with average of 3.64 and mid range SAT 620-720V and 630-760M;
CM: 63% of class has GPA>3.75 with average of 3.77 and mid range SAT 700-760V and 730-800M;
WPI: 76.78% of class has GPA>3.75 with average of 3.86 and mid range SAT 620-710V and 660-730M;
RPI: 66% of class GPA>3.75 with avg of 3.78 and mid range SAT 640-730V and 680-770 M.
Sorry, I did not do them all!
Based on this data alone, your “safety” might be NYU. You are an outstanding student and could compete anywhere given the motivation and opportunity. Some schools seem more interested in GPA’s than others. Rankings for engineering schools are largely driven by large graduate school programs. These rankings do not reflect the employment opportunities and graduate school placement opportunities for their BS graduates.
You like business and science…great! Look for some strong engineering programs which interface well with strong on campus business programs and an entrepreneurial mind set. You may be surprised to find an excellent and new-to-you opportunity. That would be your “backup.” Check it out just as carefully as the other programs.
I’m from the NE area. Have you heard of Union College or Clarkson University? Stevens Institute of Technology is a very respectable option and has a stronger student profile than NYU. You might take a look at Olin College, but it is not a safety… just a fun place to learn about with great opportunities and next door to an excellent business school which specializes in entrepreneurship.
I hope this helped. Don’t get lost in the “rankings.” If concerned about grad school or job placements, ask for the hard data. Address your questions directly and you will find a wide world of options that you may not have known are out there.
Stevens: 82% of class >GPA 3.8 with an average of 3.9 and midrange SAT 660-790 M 600-780 V
I’m obviously biased, but OP Is an excellent student with deep connections to Michigan. If you get in, I’d commit and be extremely happy about it. Best luck and let us know where you land. Oh, and, GO BLUE!
@gsgill580 Question: If you have a passion for investing and finance, why do you want to apply to UMich engineering? How about their business school? Or Econ etc.? If parent is a prof, and that carries some weight with admisisons, perhaps you have an “in” at any one of the departments at UMich and so it will all work out fine
As far as the others on your list, they seem like reaches to me. Others have already commented on the GPA and I will add that your EC’s may be ho hum for a competitive demographic- I think the AO’s by now know all the different ethnic dances of India (FWIW, I am of Indian background, before someone accuses me of being a xenophobe). The trading stuff looks interesting, but if you apply to engineering, it seems like some sort of a mismatch.
In defense of engineering and entrepreneurship, it is a powerful combination. Look for programs where you can blend the two. It is easier to fit in a business minor than an engineering minor. Many programs offer combinations. See https://www.wpi.edu/academics/study/entrepreneurship-minor
And yes, you are an excellent student! Just don’t underestimate the level of your competition when selecting your targeted universities. You want a big smile on your face in May! Cover both ends.
UMich Engineering (I have a parent teaching here and my sister goes here so might count as legacy)
Stanford University
Columbia University
UChicago
University of Toronto
UCLA
NYU
Cornell
Carnegie Mellon
I know nothing of Toronto.
GPA is on the lower side for most schools.
I would say there are no safeties. All reaches except for possibly NYU and CMU.
My best interest would be to pursue Computer Science (engineering) as well as Finance (Ross business) as a dual degree mainly because I believe I could enter the Finance industry with a valuable CS degree. I would plan on applying to the Ross Business School via Engineering.
Also, I’m personally conflicted about expressing my passion for Trading as I know many Colleges like to see ECs that serve a greater good and furthermore it is common belief among profs to look down on Speculators (Traders).
You are a competitive applicant. Your stats and ECs are great. Write amazing essays and you could get accepted to any of these schools