I’m a black female from a small private school in east Texas. I plan on majoring in computer engineering in college. My GPA is at a 3.87 weighted and my ACT score is a 32. I didn’t get into GA Tech–my dream school but I got into the following:
SMU
UT Austin
FAMU
Spelman
Howard
GA State
TCU
LeTU
I got rejected to GA Tech, Emory, and Carnegie Mellon. I don’t care where I go but I just can’t decide
I went to Spelman for undergrad. The thing to remember about Spelman is that the engineering program there is a 3/2 program. So you’d have to spend 3 years at Spelman majoring in a science - probably physics - and then two years at an engineering institution. That can be Georgia Tech, if you like! Spelman has an agreement with them. There are also other places, like Columbia, Dartmouth, NC A&T, RPI, RIT, Michigan, Notre Dame and USC. If you meet the minimum requirements (including a 3.3 for computer engineering at GT), I believe you are automatically admitted.
There are pros and cons. If you are interested in having both a liberal arts education and an engineering experience, going to Spelman can give you that. There’s also something very empowering about being in an environment with a lot of other black women studying STEM fields. The DDEP program at Spelman is pretty supportive, and most of my friends in it went on to transfer to their engineering schools and complete the two years (I don’t know anyone that didn’t). Also keep in mind that financial aid is handled separately at the engineering school - if you got a good package at Spelman, it doesn’t necessarily travel with you.
FAMU’s engineering program is native and joint with FSU, so you get the HBCU experience connected with a top-notch engineering program. Howard’s engineering is also in-house. So those are both more traditional 4-year (in theory) engineering programs, and you don’t have to transfer anywhere.
UT-Austin is an excellent engineering school. Really probably the best one on your list. And SMU and TCU are good schools, too.
Really, it kind of depends on what you are looking for in an experience. FAMU, I know, is a disproportionate producer of black engineers - they have a strong engineering program for black folks, and the HBCU experience is out of this world. UT-Austin is just a high-caliber school both all around and in engineering. Spelman will potentially give you the opportunity to transfer easily to your dream school and finish your engineering education there, as well as a uniquely tailored and supportive environment.
What are you looking for in an undergrad experience?
Which ones can your family afford?
How you get rejected from Georgia Tech? Your scores are above their average, You have to be dang near perfect to get into some of these non-Ivy schools nowadays … 20 years ago you could’ve got in easily to any non-Ivy. I hate how competitive college has gotten.
I’m an advocate for HBCUs first and foremost. And Spelman’s Dual Degree program sounds like the best fit for you (if you can afford it). Spelman will provide you a once-in-a-lifetime liberal arts education steeped in black excellence and an opportunity to transfer to Ga. Tech.
SMU, TCU and UT Austin are not known for being black friendly and inclusive (despite their false claims they are). Rice University, University of Houston, and UT-Arlington have been known to be more black friendly and inclusive hence blacks tend to strive their socially (black homecoming kings/queens, black SGA officers, black cheerleaders, etc) and academically.
I like FAMU and Howard too, everyone else I have no comment on.
Can you visit these schools? UT would be my choice.
@Amib91: I am confused. Are you a junior or senior? Your other threads suggest the former, so I am perplexed by your acceptance at the above named schools, given your Junior-year standing. Up to a few weeks ago, you have not even taken the ACT exam. Could you clarify?
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/georgia-institute-technology/1956747-ga-tech-ea-2022.html#latest
@Jamrock411 Being a senior, I didn’t want colleges knowing that I have a cc account so I just share an account with my younger sister