Anonymous
Post 04/22/2024 15:11     Subject: anyone apply to ~5 universities for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:This question is for my HS class of 2025 kid.

Very strong student in a Maryland public HS (16 AP/IB, ~4.9 WGPA, 1550 SAT) but weak ECs (school clubs and dabbles in music). Wants to study engineering. Only wishes to apply to a handful of schools.

We are advising to choose one top school as a reach (e.g. Cornell, GA Tech) and schools like UMD, Purdue, UIUC for targets/safeties. We think kid may be able to get some merit aid at UMD. Cost is not a concern.

Is there a smaller engineering school that anyone recommends? Preferably one where someone has a student there now or has a recent grad.


With that profile, he should consider applying to Stevens Institute of Tech, Drexel and Pitt. All would be safeties and he will get merit at the first two, maybe also at Pitt.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2024 15:06     Subject: anyone apply to ~5 universities for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Please stop calling it UIUC.


My god, no one wants to type out Urbana-Champaign and "U of I" is vague to anyone not from Illinois. Everyone understands "UIUC."


Ok, well, as someone from Illinois, I'm telling you that you sound like an idiot. It's U of I.

Lol. I’m sure PP is going to change her ways now that she knows a rando from Illinois thinks she’s an idiot.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2024 15:02     Subject: Re:anyone apply to ~5 universities for engineering?
For actual safeties in engineering in the region I'd think UMBC, UWV, UDel
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2024 14:43     Subject: anyone apply to ~5 universities for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Smaller schools for engineering:

Colorado School of Mines
RPI
Rochester University
WPI
Rose Hulman
RIT
Olin
Harvey Mudd
Stevens Institute of Technology
Bucknell
Lehigh
Lafayette
CWRU

I think UIUC engineering is a reach for everyone. UMD and Purdue are probably matches.


Can someone rank this list?


Harvey Mudd is at the very top.

The other ones are good, but not even close to HMC.


Harvey Mudd is only at the top for kids who want that kind of experience.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2024 14:43     Subject: anyone apply to ~5 universities for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Laughing at the prospect that UMD is a safety and that child will get merit. Just laughing.


OP here. This is based on friends' and neighbors' kids (HS classes of 2020-2023) with similar stats who did not get into top eng programs but were accepted to UMD eng (some with merit, some not).


It's possible; but did you also talk to all the similar kids who did not get in?
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2024 14:43     Subject: anyone apply to ~5 universities for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Please stop calling it UIUC.


My god, no one wants to type out Urbana-Champaign and "U of I" is vague to anyone not from Illinois. Everyone understands "UIUC."


Ok, well, as someone from Illinois, I'm telling you that you sound like an idiot. It's U of I.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2024 14:42     Subject: anyone apply to ~5 universities for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Smaller schools for engineering:

Colorado School of Mines
RPI
Rochester University
WPI
Rose Hulman
RIT
Olin
Harvey Mudd
Stevens Institute of Technology
Bucknell
Lehigh
Lafayette
CWRU

I think UIUC engineering is a reach for everyone. UMD and Purdue are probably matches.


Can someone rank this list?


Why? They are all great schools.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2024 14:38     Subject: anyone apply to ~5 universities for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:Laughing at the prospect that UMD is a safety and that child will get merit. Just laughing.


OP here. This is based on friends' and neighbors' kids (HS classes of 2020-2023) with similar stats who did not get into top eng programs but were accepted to UMD eng (some with merit, some not).
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2024 14:14     Subject: anyone apply to ~5 universities for engineering?
My kid's friend applied to more than 20, OP.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2024 14:14     Subject: anyone apply to ~5 universities for engineering?
Laughing at the prospect that UMD is a safety and that child will get merit. Just laughing.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2024 14:10     Subject: anyone apply to ~5 universities for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Smaller schools for engineering:

Colorado School of Mines
RPI
Rochester University
WPI
Rose Hulman
RIT
Olin
Harvey Mudd
Stevens Institute of Technology
Bucknell
Lehigh
Lafayette
CWRU

I think UIUC engineering is a reach for everyone. UMD and Purdue are probably matches.


Can someone rank this list?


By size?
Ease of transportation back and forth?
Friendliness to service animals?
Likelihood of getting a single?
By strength of your child's particular engineering focus?

Oh, you mean you prefer someone else to rank based on what they deem to be important?
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2024 14:07     Subject: anyone apply to ~5 universities for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Smaller schools for engineering:

Colorado School of Mines
RPI
Rochester University
WPI
Rose Hulman
RIT
Olin
Harvey Mudd
Stevens Institute of Technology
Bucknell
Lehigh
Lafayette
CWRU

I think UIUC engineering is a reach for everyone. UMD and Purdue are probably matches.


Can someone rank this list?


Harvey Mudd is at the very top.

The other ones are good, but not even close to HMC.
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2024 14:05     Subject: anyone apply to ~5 universities for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:Please stop calling it UIUC.


My god, no one wants to type out Urbana-Champaign and "U of I" is vague to anyone not from Illinois. Everyone understands "UIUC."
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2024 13:10     Subject: anyone apply to ~5 universities for engineering?
Anonymous wrote:Smaller schools for engineering:

Colorado School of Mines
RPI
Rochester University
WPI
Rose Hulman
RIT
Olin
Harvey Mudd
Stevens Institute of Technology
Bucknell
Lehigh
Lafayette
CWRU

I think UIUC engineering is a reach for everyone. UMD and Purdue are probably matches.


Can someone rank this list?
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2024 13:09     Subject: anyone apply to ~5 universities for engineering?
Those are very good stats. Aiming for reach public schools works well for those that are stronger by GPA/SAT. Publics tend to do their cuts by number thresholds due to the volume of applicants.

Top public schools include GA Tech, Berkley, Cal, Michigan.

DS is at Purdue now. His safeties were Penn St, Michigan St, and Ohio St. He also considered NCST, Texas A&M, VA Tech, and Wisconsin.