I have a 31 on my ACT(Writing 34 Math 34 Reading 26 Science 30 ), 800, 790 and 780 on my Math Level 2, Physics and Chemistry SAT subject tests respectively, a 4.0 GPA throughout my 9th, 10th and 11th grade ,and I plan to give my TOEFL next month.
I have performed 300+ hours of community service which includes
Teaching English , Mathematics and Science to 8th, 9th and 10th Graders in a shelter home .
Working in a youth organization which holds various programs that benefits the society.
I have had been an active sportsperson at the high school level and have represented my high schools in Basketball for the past 4 years . Along with Basketball, I have also represented my high school in Cricket and Soccer for some years.
I also held the post of “Prefect Sports” in my High school for a single academic year.
With the given profile in mind I was hoping to get information on which schools I have a good chance to get in, and the schools I can apply to as safety…
What can your family afford? You’ve been asked this before but did not answer.
You’re an international applicant, right? Will you require financial aid? Or can your family afford US$40-50,000 each year?
Based on stats, you’re viable for some very very good engineering programs. Maybe not MIT or CalTech or CMU or UMich – but there many many excellent engineering programs throughout the country. Again, much depends on what you can afford.
Stanford. They have one of the best engineering schools, and with your resume you shouldn’t aim low. I was always told to think about the experience before the price. College is an experience thats one in a lifetime and shouldnt be dictated by how much money you have. I have friends who live in a trailer park off campus at the college they go to, but they dont regret it one bit due to what it’s like. Purdue is a good school, Stanford is ranked higher though. MIT even higher, but no one gets in
@JManHeyman With ACT 31 applying to Stanford, that would be aiming too high. @4kidsdad Purdue is not particularly expensive when compare to other top public engineering schools. With CoA at ~$45k, It is still cheaper than UIUC ($50k), UCB, UMich ($55-$60k), and a bunch other schools. At its CoA, it may still be the best buy for OOS options. Of course, it would be cheaper for in state schools, but for that, OP probably does not need any advice on. Also, Purdue will keep their tuition rate at the current level for the next couple years (UIUC would fix the tuition rate for the 4 year at the same rate), while other schools will likely have tuition increase every year. http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2015/Q2/purdue-trustees-approve-tuition-freeze-for-west-lafayette.html
Safety: Cal Poly Pomona, Penn State?
Good engineering schools:
UT Austin, Cal Poly SLO, UCSB, Penn State, Georgia Tech, UIUC ,UCB, Stanford, MIT, Caltech
The last 4 are extremely difficult to get into while the first couple are within your reach. Penn State should also be a safety I think with your stats.
Ultimately comes down to if you can afford these schools and if you want merit based aid or not.
NONE of the schools listed are SAFETIES. A Safety must be AFFORDABLE and we have no idea about that for the OP who has been decidedly silent on that aspect on multiple threads.
@rdeng2614 UT Austin for OOS and International is also very competitive. Don’t be fooled by the admission stat as it is dominated by the in state auto admission. UIUC would also be a low reach as ACT 31 is only the 25th percentile for engineering there.
@T26E4 no financial aid… my family is looking to get me into the best mechanical engineering program possible even if it means that they have to dish out loads of money as it is ultimately an investment. Plus can you gauge my chances of getting into UCLA,UCB,UMich without requiring financial aid?
UCB & UMich will be very tough with a 31ACT. I don’t know about UCLA. Since finances aren’t an issue, I concur with Billscho – Purdue is attainable and a top ten engineering college in the USA. A Purdue degree will get you anywhere UCB, UMich, UCLA will take you.
Others to consider: Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Univ Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Rose Hulman, Rensselear Polytechnic
@Rahulbarcafan Purdue is relatively easy to be admitted among top engineering schools. For most of the other top engineering schools, your stat is rather marginal. ACT 31 was only the 25th percentile at UMich and UIUC, for instance. You can definitely give them a try, but don’t have much expectation since you are not from in state.
@T26E4 But the ACT score isnt the only factor in getting into a good university… i stand first in a class of 220 students and have good community service and Sports in comparison with other Indian students… Your thoughts?
@billcsho But the ACT isn’t the only factor is it? I stand first in a class of 220 students and have good community service and Sports in comparison with other Indian students… Your thoughts?
@Rahulbarcafan It is true that test score is only one of the parameters, however, most students applying to top engineering schools are rather strong in all aspects. There are plenty of Indians applying too. For sports, it would be very helpful if you got recruited. Otherwise, it is just a good EC that may not get you too far. Note that there are still ~25% of admitted students at UIUC or UMich engineering with ACT at 31 or below, it is just too competitive for OOS candidates and particularly tough for international students.