Engineering - choices

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would take a very close look at how each school handles entrance-to-major requirements. I have a kid at Purdue and, strictly from an aerospace engineering standpoint, the only true peer on this list is Georgia Tech. My kid loves Purdue.

That said, among these schools and most engineering programs, Purdue has one of the least forgiving pathways into aerospace or mechanical engineering. To guarantee first-choice major, Purdue requires a 3.2 engineering GPA and a 3.2 overall GPA at the end of the first year. You can apply later, but at that point it becomes competitive and usually requires a significantly higher GPA. There are nuances to the process, but the bottom line is that Purdue leaves very little room for a rough first or second semester.

Maryland and Illinois are direct-admit, and VT's major application process is much more forgiving with a lower GPA threshold. Case Western is simply a different type of school and sits in a different tier engineering wise.

I tried to push my kid toward a direct-admit option, but if aerospace is their passion, it is almost impossible to move them off Purdue.

What stats does an applicant need to get into these aerospace engineering programs? Kid is a junior and close to 4.0UW and getting full IB diploma but SATs low 1400s. Will retake but wondering what is realistic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would take a very close look at how each school handles entrance-to-major requirements. I have a kid at Purdue and, strictly from an aerospace engineering standpoint, the only true peer on this list is Georgia Tech. My kid loves Purdue.

That said, among these schools and most engineering programs, Purdue has one of the least forgiving pathways into aerospace or mechanical engineering. To guarantee first-choice major, Purdue requires a 3.2 engineering GPA and a 3.2 overall GPA at the end of the first year. You can apply later, but at that point it becomes competitive and usually requires a significantly higher GPA. There are nuances to the process, but the bottom line is that Purdue leaves very little room for a rough first or second semester.

Maryland and Illinois are direct-admit, and VT's major application process is much more forgiving with a lower GPA threshold. Case Western is simply a different type of school and sits in a different tier engineering wise.

I tried to push my kid toward a direct-admit option, but if aerospace is their passion, it is almost impossible to move them off Purdue.

What stats does an applicant need to get into these aerospace engineering programs? Kid is a junior and close to 4.0UW and getting full IB diploma but SATs low 1400s. Will retake but wondering what is realistic.

Low 1400 would be okay as long as the math score is 730 or higher. Make sure to take AP calc and AP physics C and your kid should be competitive. It can be a bit of a crapshoot at state schools depending on their preferences for out of state students.