I just wanted to let you know I agree with this sentiment 100%.
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If she’s OK with CMU, I would add Cornell to the list. They are the strongest of the Ivies for mechanical engineering and have a super program. Similar kind of intensity to CMU.
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1510 is on the lower end of the SAT spectrum in TO cycles at the top schools. Being a female in STEM will be a huge boost at programs that care about sex ratios. Frankly, MIT, Caltech and CMU for ME might be reaches. GT might be good match. I am seeing insane stats in our school district for kids that are considering these schools including a ton of ECs and internships, jobs etc. related to major.
Why not consider undergraduate focused engineering schools? Olin, Rose Hulman, Harvey Mudd could be great fits. Then there are schools like the Cooper Union and Swarthmore.
As many on here have pointed out, unless your daughter is harboring lateral entry ambition into management consulting or IB, any of these programs will do the job. For graduate school admission, there is a huge shortage of US born students seeking PhDs.
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I had the same thought, but the OP said upthread that she probably wouldn’t attend Cornell if she was accepted. I’m trying to wrap my head around what unifies the list. It does look like a nice balance of safety, match and reach, but I wouldn’t necessarily expect CMU and SCU on the same list. Really different experiences.
Given that Georgia Tech, Binghamton and the Arizona schools are on the list, I wonder why Purdue and/or Michigan isn’t for example.
That said, my son had Utah and WPI on the same list. If you didn’t know they both had similar curricula and that he ski raced, you might think they didn’t belong on the same list.
These are all great schools. All were certainly ones my son vetted. They are all niche schools, Olin in particular, as it is VERY small. I think they often get overlooked because they aren’t ranked with the doctoral granting schools.
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That is very true and what I wanted to highlight. If you look at OP’s list, I would only consider the top 2 on that as elite schools. I think with her stats, she could do a lot better and the reputable engineering schools focused on undergraduate studies should be considered.
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Not for a URM. I would encourage OP’s D to submit scores to all schools, with the caveat that the opinions of the HS GC and/or school AOs > mine.
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Pitt is a school that sometimes flies under the radar and surprises students once they visit and research. It offers Rolling Admission, which gives a chance to apply early and hear back earlier. With your D stats, she could be a candidate for honors and possibly merit.
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I missed the URM part, in which case, absolutely. It is a great score for anyone but these test optional cycles have been crazy!
Based on the number of recitations for various MIT math courses in the fall, it looks like the median MIT frosh had a 5 on calculus AB:
- 18.01, 7 sections, no advanced placement
- 18.01A, 7 sections, 5 on calculus AB
- 18.02, 7 sections, 5 on calculus BC
- 18.022 (more theory than 18.02), 3 sections, 5 on calculus BC
So, while many MIT frosh have advanced placement, it should not be assumed that every one is so advanced that having “only” calculus BC is barely keeping up.
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One other element that is useful in this assessment is how well do kids from her schools place into the schools that she cares about. This gives context to evaluate the GPA.
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As you know, MIT has a path for students that haven’t had ANY calculus. That said, those are sections for students who did well enough that they felt they should place out of courses at MIT.
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Just wondering, are there high schools in this country where Calculus is not offered?
My daughter was looking for MechE 5 years ago, I can’t imagine it has changed that much. Others on her list
Purdue (graduated last year)
Maryland
Michigan
Virginia Tech
Lehigh
Ohio State/Penn State as safeties.
She chose not to apply to the long reaches, as her stats were a bit lower, but if CMU/GT are on your list, then Cornell, MIT, Stanford could at least be considered.
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So do we. We took UMichigan off the list for this reason and for our '24 have rethought long and hard about cost before we make lists.
The lists will be more focused and focus even more on fit and programs than the first kid around.
I don’t think so, but based on circumstances and opportunities, there are certainly students who don’t have the opportunity. I think that’s why most curricula are structured that way.
That said, it would be rare for a student to get into a highly rejective school as an engineering major without it.
My D’s freshman year roommate went to a very small, very rural, high school where the highest level of math was pre-calc. So yes, there are high schools that don’t offer calc.
(She graduated as a STEM major and did just fine in Calc I in college).
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What schools are currently on her list? As she is a strong candidate, I’d change the question from where can she go that is prestigious to where can she go where she will thrive? While a school like WPI is certainly in her target, and not reach category, going in with her APs and with their open curriculum, she’d be able to really explore and or “go deep” in a subject of interest. Ohio University has an Honors Tutorial program that is quite unique. She would also get a lot of merit at both. If a school is prestigious, you’ve probably heard about it. Take the time to search out the special programs and opportunities that are truly value added to high performing students.
Please return focus to the OP’s question. The discussion of calculus in HS / colleges requiring calculus/ personal anecdotes about calculus has been adequately covered in other threads