Would I Able To Get Into A Good Engineering School With My Schedule?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

Hello my fellow CC peers!

I’m starting to be skeptical about my chances of getting into a good engineering school (ex. Cornell, NYU, Berkeley, MIT, UCF, list a few if you like) because apparently I’m behind what most top kids are doing who are heading for an engineering degree. I’ve been thinking that I want to study and get a degree in either Computer Science or Computer Software Engineering. I also want to know from you guys which classes would be necessary/pointless to take if I’m going for a degree in engineering.

Note: I’m a high school 11th grade junior and rising senior

My 11th Grade Schedule:

AP English Language
JROTC III
AP US History
Interning
AP Human Geography
Algebra II Honors
Chemistry I Honors

My 12th Grade Schedule:

AP English Literature***
Pre-Calculus Honors
Physics I Honors
AP Microeconomics & AP US Government/Politics
AP Chemistry
JROTC IV
AP Computer Science A

***I’m contemplating whether I should take AP English Literature because I don’t like literature all that much (not too great at it either) and I don’t think you need it if you’re aiming for Engineering. Although I’m aware that universities look at your schedule to see that you’re challenging yourself but I really don’t know what they are really looking for: challenging yourself while being competitive with top students or take APs that are towards your major?

Also would I be at a disadvantage taking Pre-Calculus and Physics senior year without taking AP Calculus or AP Physics if I’m aiming towards a Engineering degree at a top school. I’ve heard those classes are must if you’re ever to be considered at a top or even good engineering school. What would you suggest in this scenario?

Any help, advice, or criticism would be highly appreciated! Thank you!!!

2

Only a few colleges require calculus in high school. The vast majority only require up to precalculus in high school for engineering majors – their curriculum templates start in calculus 1. High school physics is advised as a prereqisite for physics in college.

It can be advantageous to have calculus in high school and start in calculus 2 or higher in college, due to greater scheduling flexibility that this gains. But it is not required – you just need a strong knowledge of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and precalculus math so that you are at least ready for calculus 1. Most colleges realize that a math placement decision in 7th-8th grade should not shut you out of majoring in engineering.

3

Most engineering programs are set up to start with Calculus, even though now days many students enter having taken calculus in high school. You could skip pre-calculus, but I’d strongly advise against it. Math is so cumulative it is important to properly build the foundation at every level.

As for getting into a “good engineering school,” there are LOTS of them. Don’t narrow your focus based on name recognition or the USNWR ranking, but rather do it by what you want to get out of your undergraduate experience.

4

Why would you pay NYU tuition to go to NYU Poly? At best, it’s a middle tier engineering college (I know, I graduated from there). So many good state schools with ABET accreditation that would cost a fraction of NYU’s tuition.