Will I get into any of these schools for engineering?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi guys,

I’m a rising senior, and I will be starting to apply to colleges in about a month. I am a little bit nervous about whether or not I have a chance at these schools.

Schools I am applying to: University of Michigan (I have legacy here - my dad and my sister went to this school), Purdue, Ohio State, UCSD, UC Berkeley, Northwestern, Carnegie Mellon, UIUC, University of Toronto, and Michigan State (I have legacy here - my uncle went to this school).

GPA W: 3.8
GPA UW: 3.5

Freshman Year Core Classes: AP World History(B-/C+), Honors Geometry(A/A), Honors Biology (B-/C+), 10th grade English (A/A) GPA W: 3.8/3.5
Sophomore Year Core Classes: AP Psychology (C+/B), AP US History (B/B), Honors Algebra 2 (A/A), Chemistry (B/B+), 11th grade English (A/A) GPA W: 3.5/3.7
Junior Year Core Classes: AP Chemistry (B/A-), AP Economics (B/A-), AP English Language and Composition (B/B), Honors Precalc (A-/A) GPA W: 4.0/4.3
Senior Year Core Classes: AP Biology, AP Physics, AP Calc BC, AP Probability and Statistics, Honors English

Note: My grades have an upward trend. I didn’t really know how to study freshman or sophomore year. I really only got my act together junior year (specifically second semester). I know this is kind of late to start getting better grades, but hopefully it still counts for something.

ACT score: 34 (English 36, Math 35, Reading 33, Science 31, English/Writing 34)
SAT Subject Tests: Will be taking Math Level 2 and Chemistry in October
SAT score: 2040 (won’t be sending to any colleges)

Honors and Distinctions:
National Honors Society 11, 12
Filed 6 Patent Applications with Ford Motor Company
Startup High School Finalist

School Activities and Leadership:
Science Olympiad 9, 10, 11, 12
Science Olympiad Co-Captain 11
Interact Club 9, 10, 11, 12
Key Club 9, 10
Indian American Student Association 9, 10, 11, 12
Indian American Student Association Co-Choreographer 9, 11
Student Council 9, 10, 11, 12

Community Service:
ACT tutoring 11, 12
Interact Club 9, 10, 11, 12
Key Club 9, 10
Local Museum Volunteer for 2 years
Local Food Bank Volunteer for 5 years
Another Local Food Bank Volunteer for 3 years

Employment:
Tutor at Kumon Math and Reading Center for 3.5 years
Intern at Ford Motor Company for 9 weeks (worked with Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing, and Autonomous Vehicles)

Other Interests/Activities:
Java Programming
C++ Programming
Python Programming
SPARQL Programming
Piano Lessons since 2001
Voice Lessons since 2006
Guitar
Ukulele
Local Singing Competition 9, 10, 12
Pilates since 2013

2

That 3.5 GPA is not going to help you, especially at the more selective schools on your list. Your ACT score is good, obviously.

Are you a Michigan resident?

You’d have to check for sure, but I doubt you would be considered a legacy at Michigan State.

3

NickFlynn:
I am a Michigan resident.
What would you consider as the more selective schools on my list?

4

UC Berkeley, Northwestern, Carnegie Mellon

Not sure about UIUC, but coming from out of state is going to make it a tougher admit for you.

5

UIUC engineering has very similar admission stat as UMich CoE, so that would be a reach for you too due to poor GPA.
Your ACT is near the 75th percentile for UMich CoE, however, UMich considers GPA to be more important. Legacy helps a little bit though. It would be a low reach for you.

6

UCB/UCSD: Reach
GPA is on the low side for being competitive for Engineering. Can you pay $55K/year to attend? Little to no FA for OOS and stats not competitive for merit.