Help with this list for an engineering major?

Anonymous
GPA 3.96/4.85 from MCPS, AP Calc BC and AP Physics C as the strongest for engineering, 9 APs at the end of 11th. I think 5 next year but I'm not sure. Female, if that makes a difference. 1510 SAT (780 math), will take again in June. We can afford about $250K total (tuition + room and board), can go up a little with cash flow if needed. She still isn't sure which type of engineering, but leaning towards mechanical or nuclear.

I promised to help her with her list and this is what she gave me:

Reach-
USC (can get tuition exchange program through my work which would make it affordable if we get it, but may be a long shot)
Georgia Tech (I went there)
UIUC

Target-
UMD (in state)
Case Western (tuition exchange if we get it)
University of Florida (again tuition exchange)
Cal Poly (I thought this would be a reach?)
NC State (she may want nuclear engineering, still not sure)
Purdue
Colorado School of Mines

Safety-
University of Pittsburgh (has tuition exchange if we get it)
University of Delaware (has tuition exchange if we get it)
Penn State (not sure if safety??)
Virginia Tech (not sure if safety??)

Any others she might want to add? Or ones she should take off? Or is she off on the distribution of reach/target/safety? She also put UC Berkeley and Cornell as reaches but I don't think those are affordable (and not attainable) so I feel like I should discourage her from those.

Anonymous
I know this is a bit odd but when I see nuclear engineering, I immediately think Annapolis. That is obviously a very unique place and you are either all in or not - sounds like you are very well educated so I'm sure you know much about it, but just throwing it out there. The price is obviously right.

Similarly, it is likely a reach and a very unique culture, but what about Cooper Union for ME? Again, the price is right and it is an incredible school academically though very small and in NYC.

Also RPI and WPI, especially if you get a tuition exchange or think maybe she could get some money?
Anonymous
Congratulations on a very strong student. Being female will almost certainly help as she will be applying to a predominantly male major.
How are her extracurriculars?

How did she come up with this list, what were the criteria?

IMHO, you should add 2-3 high end privates to the list.
Anonymous
I would add Stony Brook.
Anonymous
If interested in nuclear, consider University of New Mexico as a safety (and probably would get a lot of aid tbh)
Anonymous
Duquesne safety for ME.
Anonymous
Wisconsin?
Anonymous
I’d look into adding Wisconsin and UC Boulder as safeties. But I’d also consider applying for FA and adding some more private reaches like Northwestern, Rice, Penn and Duke. They all have good aid and engineering is so competitive everywhere. So you never know how things end up shaking out in the end. Lots of Ivy students are Georgia Tech and UIUC rejects. For engineering, it’s good to apply pretty widely.
Anonymous
Others to consider:
1. Rose-Hulman (great undergraduate engineering, excellent teaching, small school that sends many on to top graduate schools, strong merit offers)
2. UT Knoxville (nuclear)
Anonymous
Don't do nuclear. Nuclear power sector is too unpredictable and too sensitive to political situation. Do mechanical.
Anonymous
I was surprised when I learned as a student that Penn State had a nuclear reactor on campus since 1955. The first one actually licensed one in the United States. I was curious how common that was, so I actually googled it. More than I thought, but not many.

https://neup.inl.gov/infrastructure/university-research-reactors/
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I was surprised when I learned as a student that Penn State had a nuclear reactor on campus since 1955. The first one actually licensed one in the United States. I was curious how common that was, so I actually googled it. More than I thought, but not many.

https://neup.inl.gov/infrastructure/university-research-reactors/


NIST in Gaithersburg has one too. Not many people know it.
Anonymous
What about Embry-Riddle?
Anonymous
NC State is very tough to get into for engineering
Anonymous
I think BU is also on your tuition exchange, so another possible reach.
+ likelies: WPI, RIT, Pitt
+ target: Union

Pretty sure these are all in your network and work checking out. Some bump for female in engineering.

Good luck!
- IEC who helps lots of female engineering students
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