Suggestions for Engineering -- mediocre grades
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Anonymous
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Kid would qualify to get the in-state tuition rate & thousands of $ in automatic scholarships at Texas Tech, which, despite what some people will tell you, is a beautiful & well-run university in a lively college town.
Note that scholarships shown here are IN ADDITION to getting the in-state tuition rate: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/scholarships/incfreshman.php |
Anonymous
ED Santa Clara? You're selling this student short. It's a good school, but OP's child is competitive at all but maybe 10-15 schools nationwide. My son just finished the application cycle with similar stats (comparable unweighted GPA and 1450 SAT) and did very well, only getting waitlisted at our state's unpredictable flagship. Our mistake was applying to too many target schools and not enough of what we considered reaches. Here's a better approach: Start with the top 100 engineering schools ranked by U.S. News. Remove the Ivies, other privates in the top 30, plus Michigan, Georgia Tech, UCLA, Berkeley, and Tufts. The remaining schools are where your child is genuinely competitive. Expect significant merit aid at private schools outside the top 30 and at public universities beyond the top 50. For example, places like Case Western, RPI, and RIT should offer approximately half-tuition scholarships, though some schools like Lehigh might be less generous. Also, identify a rolling admissions safety school that you genuinely like. Minnesota (which is excellent, by the way) provides decisions by early September with just a week's turnaround time. Once you secure a safety, you can be more strategic with additional applications rather than applying everywhere out of rejection anxiety. Your child has impressive stats and shouldn't limit their options. Feel confident applying to most engineering programs—you'll likely receive substantial merit aid from many schools if that's important for your decision. |
Anonymous
| OP's student ought to apply to both UMCP and UMBC for openers. UMCP Engineering is a lottery but the described student has a chance. UMBC is a very solid E School, esp for Cyber, but has a more limited range of engineering degrees than UMCP. |
Anonymous
RPI is 100% within range. My DS was accepted with a 3.3uw and very few APs (34 ACT). WPI is test blind but your son definitely has a great shot there (my DS was accepted at WPI also). I would consider Union and Lafayette as well, and Stevens in Hoboken, NJ. GPA is a little low for Lehigh, but he could probably get in ED. I don't know about UMass specifically, but my son was accepted to UConn (OOS) with enough merit that COA would have been like paying in-state tuition. If you do upstate NY, also consider URochester and Syracuse. |
Anonymous
| That GPA is not competitive for engineering especially if based on freshman and sophomore year (junior year classes are harder!). Will be up against many students with close to 4.0 UW in rigorous classes. You are right to aim lower. |
Anonymous
This is untrue... A 3.5-3.6 UW GPA coupled with 1500-1550 SAT and AP physics and calculus is super competitive at all but the best colleges. Again, I can only speak from experience through this past admission cycle. Furthermore, if I put OPs weighted GPA and SAT in my kids Naviance, I struggle to find a school outside of the Ivies and the UNC, UC type schools that heavily tilt towards in-state, where there is a rejection. Likely, a different high school, but worth noting for need perfect grades set. |
Anonymous
These stats are very competitive for VT out of state. In-state form northern Virginia, I would say 50-50. Should be solid for NC State as well but with NC's. heavy preference for in-state students and the popularity of the south nothing is certain. This kid also will have much better options than NC State. |
Anonymous
I'm assuming that you have a student with similar stat's as OP's that was shut out of engineering schools with similar stats? If not, how would you know? |
Anonymous
If you're going up, stop at Clarkson too. It's a prettier and friendlier version of RPI. I'd skip UMass, as it's just another big state school. There are better options. |
Anonymous
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https://afford.ua.edu/scholarships/out-of-state-freshman/
Your son would qualify for a massive scholarship at University of Alabama (almost the entire cost of tuition.) I know many on DCUM love to hate on it, but I'd recommend checking it out. My son and I did and we were really impressed; my son liked it more than Virginia Tech (which is in state for us.) My son ended up choosing Purdue, but also would have been very excited about going to Alabama. |
Anonymous
This is good advice. My son's friend is at Alabama with this scholarship, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Chose Alabama over VT (OOS). |
Anonymous
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with grades like that, community college for sure ... if he can even get in!
give me a break! |
Anonymous
Adding to that: WPI (although the GPA might be the killer here. Their avg GPA is 3.89 UW!!!! and they do not consider SAT scores at all--Test BLIND) Visit and show interest, and it might work RIT RPI Drexel CWRU Rochester |
Anonymous
While Gonzaga is an excellent school, know that their engineering is limited in majors. So make certain they have what your kid is interested in first. |
Anonymous
His SAT score along with that GPA will get him into most T50+ engineering programs. WPI might be difficult because avg GPA is 3.89UW, and they are test blind. But otherwise, Mich State, Marquette, Gonzaga, etc will all be excellent choices. |