Wow you really picked as many non-targets as possible. But if you really want to know Colorado Penn State Maryland Second tier: Ohio State Florida Bottom tier Wisconsin( hardly even has an engineering program) |
What does a target vs non-target mean? |
Wait - you said out-of-state for all. Are you actually in-state for Maryland coming from MCPS? And are you saying he was admitted to UMD-CP but not engineering? He should go to UMD-CP. Although you said cost didn't matter, it will still be the cheapest. Save the money for grad school. https://www.lep.umd.edu/engineering.html He takes MATH141 and PHYS161 in the fall and should be able to get a solid grade B+/A- if he's currently taking AP BC Calculus and AP Physics C. Round that out with high interest but easy Gen Eds to boost GPA freshman year. He needs a cumulative GPA of 3.0 to be admitted, but only has to maintain a 2.0 after that. |
I mean, just sit down with him and talk. You can pull rankings and all that, but it's also X factors like feel. While you say money is no cost would he be taking out any additional loans himself? As someone who just cleared that millstone, it's easy to wave it off when you're 17/18 and not realize the effect.
He's going to be fine. He has many good choices. |
All fine, I would look at the interning/ co-op options. |
What are you talking about? University of Wisconsin is Wisconsin’s land grant university and happens to be the state flagship. It has a very complete offering of engineering majors. |
I am OP, thanks for the replies.
He was able to finish out MCPS but we have a unique situation where we are/will be OOS for UMD, though we may be able to fix that. Long story. Like the poster above, I am not clear about target or not, is that for hiring? He did not get into Michigan, GA Tech, Texas, UC schools. He would have liked to see one come through. We are a bit surprised to be honest. I realize it is competitive but thought he had a shot. We are grateful to have choices though and just trying to figure out the right one. As for our student, I think if Cal Poly was not so distant or also far from larger cities, he would like it and had a good visit. Though he is uncertain also given the difficulty some have discussed re getting classes. Colorado and Florida are interesting to him, but for VA Tech it is also a bit isolated and Colorado he is a little concerned about party scene though loves the outdoors. We do not know much about engineering and are grateful for input! Have read a lot of threads here? |
A lot to process OP but I will try to help.
Target here likely refers to schools where companies are more likely to recruit from - so GA Tech and Michigan would certainly qualify. It is easier when there is a pipeline of employers who historically have ties to the school and come to fairs. In your case, these schools will 100% give a solid degree. Maryland and VA Tech are better for DC area - think contractors and federal government. Ca Poly for companies in CA. The schools you have are slightly more regional and less national. Where does your student want to be and where will they thrive and that is the likely answer. |
In your original post you said all were OOS? |
Your DS did fine. Engineering and computer science - particularly for OOS - are pretty much the toughest admits there are these days. Albert Einstein would have a hard time today getting into Texas or the UCs as an OOS applicant. I suspect the poster referring to "target schools" was referring to investment banking and consulting recruitment, which has an antiquated focus on Ivy and Ivy-adjacent schools. For anyone actually interested in pursuing a career in engineering, pedigree degrees don't matter that much. There really isn't much of a difference in career outcomes between an engineering degree from Michigan and one from Colorado. There's no easy way through an engineering degree regardless of where one goes to school. The Maryland engineering students are suffering as much as the Berkeley students. So choose the best fit. Freshman year is going to be a grind no matter what. |
“Let him pick between those.” LOL |
I’m a mechanical engineer who loves the outdoors so I’d pick: 1. Colorado 2. Virginia Tech Cal Poly if he gets in. Maybe if he loved them: Wisconsin Maryland Big fat no to FL and OH. |
To PP, are you saying Cal Poly would be #3 or that it would move ahead of Colorado or VT if accepted? Thanks. |
Move ahead. |
Engineering is going to be very similar at all of these. He should consider things like the network (Penn State) and environment (Colorado). I doubt the engineering party scene at Colorado will be much different from the engineering party scene at Florida; they both have equally scarce free time. |