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 wrote:Any thoughts on whether places like Union or UMass or RPI would be within range? I was thinking of doing an upstate NY/Western MA tour with him this summer but if those don’t seem realistic, I won’t go out of my way.

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.

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 wrote:Some not mentioned…. Santa Clara (ED), CU Boulder, University of Utah, Arizona State, University of Denver, San Jose State. Definitely apply EA to WPI

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.

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 wrote:Rose hullman, WPI, RPI, state flagships outside of the top 20 for engineering. You’ll be fine.

This. Maybe add Stevens in NJ and RIT and Union College in NY.

Anonymous wrote:NC State, VT, UMBC, NJIT

Not NC State or VaTech.

Any thoughts on whether places like Union or UMass or RPI would be within range? I was thinking of doing an upstate NY/Western MA tour with him this summer but if those don’t seem realistic, I won’t go out of my way.

NC State, VT, UMBC, NJIT

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is mediocre about his grades?

At McPS his HS, I don’t think that UW GOa is even in yje top half. I think UMCP is probably out which is why I’m sort of swimming. I’d assume Michigan, Wisconsin, UICU, Florida, UCs also out but don’t know enough other state flagships to know what’s reasonable or where to look.

You are exhausting. They did great.

Some not mentioned…. Santa Clara (ED), CU Boulder, University of Utah, Arizona State, University of Denver, San Jose State. Definitely apply EA to WPI

Michigan is probably looking for unweighted 3.8 and Michigan State can be lower. Maybe in the zone of 3.5-3.6.

Apply early everywhere for best results.

Anonymous wrote:What is mediocre about his grades?

At McPS his HS, I don’t think that UW GOa is even in yje top half. I think UMCP is probably out which is why I’m sort of swimming. I’d assume Michigan, Wisconsin, UICU, Florida, UCs also out but don’t know enough other state flagships to know what’s reasonable or where to look.

What is mediocre about his grades?

Vatech?