Anonymous wrote:I’m assuming your child is a senior. If so, the window for studying and retaking the SAT may be closing, even for regular decision. As a full-pay family (meaning you have resources), you might consider working with a college admissions consultant, especially one with experience in engineering programs.

Given the emphasis on engineering, it might be helpful to look into test-optional schools with a strong engineering focus, such as RPI, Case Western, and Lehigh, where a significant portion of the student body is in engineering. While many schools now claim to be test-optional, it’s worth investigating how that applies specifically to engineering admissions.

Your child’s grades are excellent, but SAT and AP scores still carry weight in admissions decisions for many programs, which is where a consultant could be valuable. An experienced advisor can help you identify schools that match your student’s strengths and interests, potentially including top-tier programs. Ultimately, the goal is to find a school where they can thrive and succeed in earning an engineering degree, and expert guidance could be instrumental in achieving that outcome.

The biggest issue with working hard and testing poorly is that engineering programs pretty much only use tests for grades (with the exception of labs) so your grade for the class will be based on 1-2 midterms plus a final. You have to learn to test well to succeed.

OP, engineering isn't particularly prestige driven. He needs an engineering degree with a good GPA. It doesn't really matter if the school is prestigious as long as it's respected. Schools like Clarkson, WPI, Stephens, Rose Hulman, etc, are going to give your son an atmosphere and support to reinforce his calculus skills so he can do well in the upper level engineering classes. A 3 on the AP Calc exam is a good base but not sufficient to succeed without retaking calc in college. I wouldnt send him to a 3+2 program as they are a terrible indirect choice for a kid who really wants to be an engineer, or a big state school where he's likely to be lost in the masses, or a reach school and he'll be discouraged by the strong test takers. Find a good target where professors have regular office hours to help students and pretty much all students are in study groups. You want collaborative learning. Look for schools with engineering teams (e g., mini Baja, concrete canoe, solar car) where he can shine (and discuss in job interviews) just in case his GPA isn't the best.

I’m assuming your child is a senior. If so, the window for studying and retaking the SAT may be closing, even for regular decision. As a full-pay family (meaning you have resources), you might consider working with a college admissions consultant, especially one with experience in engineering programs.

Given the emphasis on engineering, it might be helpful to look into test-optional schools with a strong engineering focus, such as RPI, Case Western, and Lehigh, where a significant portion of the student body is in engineering. While many schools now claim to be test-optional, it’s worth investigating how that applies specifically to engineering admissions.

Your child’s grades are excellent, but SAT and AP scores still carry weight in admissions decisions for many programs, which is where a consultant could be valuable. An experienced advisor can help you identify schools that match your student’s strengths and interests, potentially including top-tier programs. Ultimately, the goal is to find a school where they can thrive and succeed in earning an engineering degree, and expert guidance could be instrumental in achieving that outcome.

Anonymous wrote:Morgan State

Or NC A&T. I’ve worked with a few great techy people (CS, not engr) from there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.Thank you to everyone who offered college suggestions! My son is diligent, engaged, and truly enjoys his math and science classes—he’s always engaged annd aska his teachers for help when needed, and consistently puts in effort without prompting. We haven’t done test prep or tutoring, so while his SAT/AP scores aren’t sky-high, we’re looking into options. We’re adding lots of safety schools to the list.

Shame on those who felt the need to suggest he “won’t make it” in engineering school. That kind of negativity isn’t helpful. Hopefully folks don’t put on that added pressure on their own kids who are less than perfect. Everyone has something to work on. Thanks, and have a great night.

Another thought is to consider HBCU engineering schools. See: "https://hbcu-colleges.com/engineering"

Good suggestion.

Morgan State

Anonymous wrote:OP here.Thank you to everyone who offered college suggestions! My son is diligent, engaged, and truly enjoys his math and science classes—he’s always engaged annd aska his teachers for help when needed, and consistently puts in effort without prompting. We haven’t done test prep or tutoring, so while his SAT/AP scores aren’t sky-high, we’re looking into options. We’re adding lots of safety schools to the list.

Shame on those who felt the need to suggest he “won’t make it” in engineering school. That kind of negativity isn’t helpful. Hopefully folks don’t put on that added pressure on their own kids who are less than perfect. Everyone has something to work on. Thanks, and have a great night.

Another thought is to consider HBCU engineering schools. See: https://hbcu-colleges.com/engineering

Anonymous wrote:OP here.Thank you to everyone who offered college suggestions! My son is diligent, engaged, and truly enjoys his math and science classes—he’s always engaged annd aska his teachers for help when needed, and consistently puts in effort without prompting. We haven’t done test prep or tutoring, so while his SAT/AP scores aren’t sky-high, we’re looking into options. We’re adding lots of safety schools to the list.

Shame on those who felt the need to suggest he “won’t make it” in engineering school. That kind of negativity isn’t helpful. Hopefully folks don’t put on that added pressure on their own kids who are less than perfect. Everyone has something to work on. Thanks, and have a great night.

Right. But you came out with Rice and Georgia Tech, which was totally unrealistic. Better to have the real world check in now.

I'm sure your kid is awesome. I have an engineering kid. And facts are what they are. It's tough out there.

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.

These are reaches for this profile.

Medicare = mediocre

OP - in the 90s I had excellent grades and a Medicare SAT (1130). It was mediocre then. Today, everyone would say I wasn't fit for college and should look at trades. I'm from FL. I went to FSU. The FSU-FAMU college of engineering is very diverse because FAMU is an HBCU. I graduated maga cum laude with a 3.5 in electircal engineering. I went to work for Lockheed Martin right out of college. I now work for Northrop Grumman. Don't let anyone tell you your son won't make it in engineering. He will have to work hard but he can do it. Are there schools that won't accept him with those stats, yes. But those same schools reject 4.0 uw with 36 ACT or 1600 SAT. It doesn't mean he isn't cut out for engineering. I'd recommend FAMU if he's black. FSU otherwise but may need to break 1350.

Consider having him prep for and take the ACT, or use khan academy and prep and retake the ACT.
Perhaps add to list:

Rose Hulman
Olin
Colorado School of Mines
Bucknell test optional ED
SUNY IT
Union
WPI

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?

My kid has:
4.0 uw GPA
34 ACT
Has never scored higher than a 3 on 4/9 AP exams. It happens. In social studies and English he doesn't do well on the exams but has As in the classes. In the math and sciences he gets 5s

OP, if he can get 750 or above in math, and a 4 or 5 on a physics AP and another math, better engineering schools are within reach. Don't worry too much about the verbal for Engineering.
Look at Rensselaer.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

PP. I think you're right. It was probably a typo for CNU.

OP here.Thank you to everyone who offered college suggestions! My son is diligent, engaged, and truly enjoys his math and science classes—he’s always engaged annd aska his teachers for help when needed, and consistently puts in effort without prompting. We haven’t done test prep or tutoring, so while his SAT/AP scores aren’t sky-high, we’re looking into options. We’re adding lots of safety schools to the list.

Shame on those who felt the need to suggest he “won’t make it” in engineering school. That kind of negativity isn’t helpful. Hopefully folks don’t put on that added pressure on their own kids who are less than perfect. Everyone has something to work on. Thanks, and have a great night.