Anonymous
Post 10/27/2024 14:52     Subject: College list for engineering schools
Anonymous wrote:Scratching my head. Is the school handing out A’s? Because all the other measures indicate this kid is NOT cut out for engineering.


Come on. Cut it out. The kid is high performing even with so-so scores. Could also suggest that he is a smart, hard working kid who's score underestimate his performance. There are plenty of engineers with SATs in the 1200s.

OP, you've been given some good suggestions (GMU, UMBC). I'd add Fairfield in CT.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2024 14:51     Subject: College list for engineering schools
VT and ODU are mostly sink-or-swim for Engineering. So those would not be ideal for OP's DC.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2024 14:48     Subject: College list for engineering schools
Anonymous wrote:If he gets into an Engineering school, it would be MUCH better to be in a smaller E school with a supportive environment and a very high graduation rate. Also, be prepared for him to go onto a 5-year undergrad track.

With those scores, DC is really not a strong E School applicant. Test Scores really DO correlate strongly with success/failure in any E School.


Following up my own post...

I forgot to say that, with those test scores, DC needs to be mentally prepared to "camp out" at faculty office hours to get help.

And an E School where actual faculty do all the teaching and having regular faculty office hours (i.e., not some grad student doing the teaching or handling office hours) would make a huge difference in graduation odds.

I have seen poor students from low quality public schools in Appalachia get through E School with a BS Engineering degree. It was a lot more work for them than the top students - and even the best students study all the time in E School.

And forget any ideas of DC having a part-time job during E School. He will not graduate if he has to work in addition to study.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2024 14:45     Subject: Re:College list for engineering schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Longwood
Towsend
VMI
CMU

I don't believe Longwood and Towson have engineering.
CMU= Carnegie Mellon? Incredibly competitive, even though it's "test optional."
VMI only if he has a sincere interest in becoming a military officer.


CMU may be Central Michigan University. That is more likely.

One of the robotics team members at our school chose a full ride at Central Mich for engineering vs. paying to go to U of M. If he wants to work in Michigan, it will work out fine.

For OP's kid, I would definitely recommend a school that has excellent supports for remediation and retention vs. a focus on weeding out freshman engineers. Many people get weeded out of engineering as freshmen. It's a miserable process. And sometimes a big waste of talent. Kids do the best they can in their local environment only to find it's not even enough to stay afloat at a tough school.

Somebody above mentioned FAMU engineers. I had a couple classmates from that program in my MBA program. I was impressed by them. I would second taking a look at that.

A friend of mine who wanted small classes and personalized attention for her engineering major kid sent him to Marquette. It's going well so far.


Christopher Newport has an ABET EE program.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2024 14:44     Subject: College list for engineering schools
Another option is Milwaukee School of Engineering. They have a special summer program for kids with a less strong academic background.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2024 14:17     Subject: College list for engineering schools
Anonymous wrote:If he gets into an Engineering school, it would be MUCH better to be in a smaller E school with a supportive environment and a very high graduation rate. Also, be prepared for him to go onto a 5-year undergrad track.

With those scores, DC is really not a strong E School applicant. Test Scores really DO correlate strongly with success/failure in any E School.


+1

Especially the Math score for engineering. Kids with 780+ Math often struggle in engineering courses---it's not easy. But if you cannot score higher than 650, you belong at a school where most of the engineers have that Math score. So there will be supportive environment to help you do well and graduate. Otherwise, engineering is perhaps the major most people start in and then drop, some very smart kids drop because it's hard.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2024 14:13     Subject: College list for engineering schools
If he gets into an Engineering school, it would be MUCH better to be in a smaller E school with a supportive environment and a very high graduation rate. Also, be prepared for him to go onto a 5-year undergrad track.

With those scores, DC is really not a strong E School applicant. Test Scores really DO correlate strongly with success/failure in any E School.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2024 13:07     Subject: College list for engineering schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What about RPI, WPI or RIT?

ODU?


My kid with a slightly higher SAT was offered only a non engineering acceptance at RIT.. Went to Clarkson. Is working as an engineer!


Clarkson has been an amazing engineering school for years. A bit remote and smaller but excellent program---their graduates do well with job placement
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2024 13:05     Subject: College list for engineering schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:No shade on OP's child, but how do you get an A in AP classes and then get below a 3 on the actual exam?

Grade inflation. My kid is the same. But, also, they don't test well, and has learning disabilities that impact reading long text.


My NT kid got a couple of 3s. His SAT one and done was 1430.

Just like SATs, this board is skewed towards parents that report high scores.

Some ways you get 3s are:

1) Not much prep for exam
2) Course was fall semester, exam in May
3) Teacher's class is not pure AP compliant
4) Wide ability levels in the class, resulting in a curve

Somebody has to get the 1s, 2s, and 3s.

ETS has done an analysis that supposedly shows that even students who get a 1 or 2 have an advantage when taking the college class.


No "nobody has to get the 1s, 2s, and 3s". They earn those scores by not knowing the material.

But all 1,2,3s for AP courses does indicate the kid might struggle at a top school, especially in engineering. 650 for math on the SAT is a bit low for engineering. If you want any chance to succeed, you must look at Schools ranked 80+, where your kid will be with similar stats kids. Not a school where 75% of the kids start in Calculus 3 or above freshman year (because they got 5s on BC) and another 20% start in Calc 2 (only took AB)

As a parent, I want my kids to succeed. So if they want engineering, then find somewhere that your kid's stats fit the college.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2024 13:03     Subject: Re:College list for engineering schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Longwood
Towsend
VMI
CMU

I don't believe Longwood and Towson have engineering.
CMU= Carnegie Mellon? Incredibly competitive, even though it's "test optional."
VMI only if he has a sincere interest in becoming a military officer.


CMU may be Central Michigan University. That is more likely.

One of the robotics team members at our school chose a full ride at Central Mich for engineering vs. paying to go to U of M. If he wants to work in Michigan, it will work out fine.

For OP's kid, I would definitely recommend a school that has excellent supports for remediation and retention vs. a focus on weeding out freshman engineers. Many people get weeded out of engineering as freshmen. It's a miserable process. And sometimes a big waste of talent. Kids do the best they can in their local environment only to find it's not even enough to stay afloat at a tough school.

Somebody above mentioned FAMU engineers. I had a couple classmates from that program in my MBA program. I was impressed by them. I would second taking a look at that.

A friend of mine who wanted small classes and personalized attention for her engineering major kid sent him to Marquette. It's going well so far.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2024 13:01     Subject: College list for engineering schools
Anonymous wrote:What about RPI, WPI or RIT?

ODU?


My kid with a slightly higher SAT was offered only a non engineering acceptance at RIT.. Went to Clarkson. Is working as an engineer!
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2024 12:59     Subject: Re:College list for engineering schools
Anonymous wrote:Whoops OP here, SAT score is 1290, 650 on math portion. Yes I know it’s still not stellar; that was his first rake. Also realized he did get a 4 in AP History.
Trying to focus on the assignment of a good list, no need for snarky comments about that’s why TO is bs. The kid is doing the best he can. Thanks for college suggestions.


Yes, he is doing the best he can. All the more reason, you want him to attend a school where he can succeed!! You do not want him in over his head. And most schools in the T75 he would not do well, certainly in engineering.

I would consider WPI as a target. They are test blind, so his gpa is in alignment.

Drexel and RIT would be good lower targets/safeties and would likely be a bit "easier" for him academically
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2024 12:57     Subject: College list for engineering schools
Anonymous wrote:This is why the TO policies are such a BS.

well this is a student who if admitted to a school above them, would likely struggle mightily.

As a hint: my 1280, 3.5UW, 1 STEM AP (got a 2 on the test, and a D then B in the course by semester) went to a T100 school, started as a premedical major. They struggled mightily with Bio and Chem (only survived Bio with a C because that was the AP course---Chem they had to drop, take remedial and try again the next semester).
That was at a school ranked in the 80s....my kid was 50% for scores. My kid struggled mightily, and hint, did not graduate with a premed major---that was dashed first semester.


So if you are struggling with AP courses in HS, then you likely won't do well in a school ranked below 80. Do not set your kid up to struggle.

Anonymous
Post 10/27/2024 12:53     Subject: College list for engineering schools
Anonymous wrote:Case western, u of Rochester (I would Ed at both of these) and wpi or rit are if you don’t want to Ed. Others you mentioned are high reaches which could (maybe, if ED) work out in terms of admissions since urm but might not be best academic fit.


All good schools. But he would struggle at Case or Rochester if he got in. They would be good Reaches .

WPI can be a Reach/Target. They are Test Blind. However their GPA UW is 3.89, but that is without GPA inflation. The average SAT before Covid (and they went test blind---they were on the way to test blind since 2012) was ~1390, with 97% of kids having a 600+ on Math (63% having 700+). So unless your kid has a 700+ in math, they might get in but struggle still.

RIT and Drexel would be good targets.

Anonymous
Post 10/27/2024 12:49     Subject: College list for engineering schools
Anonymous wrote:those are uber reaches


yes with those scores even if he somehow got in (not likely) he would struggle at GaTech or Rice

The GPA is obviously inflated. 6 AP but no score above a 3? That indicates he would be getting a C or lower in the college course. So the AP scores and 1190 are more indicative of his levels vs the 4.0UW.

Engineering is hard, you don't want to get in over your head. At those schools (or any like them) 75%+ of the students will have multiple STEM courses with AP credit (of most likely 5s and maybe a 4 here or there).