After receiving my latest SAT score, I’ve become really worried about getting accepted into UT or A&M’s engineering programs (specifically chemical engineering).
My current SAT score is 1300 which is very low compared to current engineering students in these schools (as far as I know), and this has been driving me crazy, questioning whether or not I will be accepted. My rank in school is 30/526 (top 5.7%) with a GPA of 5.45/6.0, so I am automatically admitted into both schools but whether I will be accepted into my major of choice is uncertain.
I am involved in various extracurriculars including, National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society (President), National Technical Honor Society (Historian), HOSA (Historian), Student Council (Historian), Book Club, UNICEF, and other volunteering organizations. Would these help in getting me accepted into the engineering schools?
I also have taken various engineering courses in school, as well as develop an engineering portfolio.
If anyone has gone through something similar or knows how admissions will be judging applications, please help. I would just like to know if I have a chance of getting into the engineering programs at these schools. I know Cockrell is pretty much out of my reach given my low SAT score, but I would still like to try. If anybody has any suggestions or tips on ways to increase my chances of getting accepted, I would really appreciate it if you shared that information with me. Thank you!
ChemE is very competitive for entry. The good news is, you are directly admitted to your major at UT. At A&M, you are are not accepted into your major of choice but instead are put into general engineering your first year. A student stays in General Engineering until they satisfy the requirements to Entry to A Major (ETAM) not to exceed 4 semesters. You will get your first choice major with a 3.5 GPA overall. Your required engineering course GPA is also considered. Getting into a major is a very competitive process.
It’s possible you could get into A&M general Engineering. It all depends on your whole application file. You could get full admissions or you could be offered Blinn Engineering Academy. We saw many academic admits and top 10% admits be offered TEAB (Blinn Engineering Academy) last admissions cycle on this forum.
Getting in to any engineering school is one thing. Staying in is another thing entirely. A&M Engineering has a 55% retention rate after the first year. Engineering calculus I and II usually knock most out. It is nothing like any of your high school classes. Physics also places a role. A&M has restructured the classes for Fall 2018 freshman in hopes of having higher retention.
This past summer, during New Student Conferences, nearly half of incoming freshman did not pass the math placement test in order to enter Calculus 1 and so they had to register for into to calculus class. This puts the student behind a semester in applying to a major. Students were allowed to retake the MPE during Howdy week and while many then passed it, there were not enough class seats open in Calculus I for everyone.
Definitely apply to some back up schools. Also financial safeties. Every spring, when the financial offers come in for folks who accepted their admissions, they find that they are offered nothing but loans in order to attend. Your stats won’t earn you any merit awards at all.