I know that all of my threads are about “can I get into [insert name of university]”, but I’m just worried about my future. I’m worried that I won’t be an engineer like everyone in my family has (except my mom - she was a biology professor). But anyway, I finished my junior year a month ago, and I went from having a 2.935 cumulative GPA to a 3.2. I know, it’s a 0.265 increase, but it’s still showing progress. So here’s my story: when I started my freshman year, I was very arrogant, and for some stupid reason that I don’t know, I felt like I didn’t need to turn in my homework. I procrastinated everyday and turned in my homework at the last minute. This cost me my GPA to go to a 2.9. When I became a sophomore, I was still arrogant 1st semester, and I failed English Honors and Algebra II Honors, and barely passed Chemistry Honors. 2nd semester came and I took it very seriously, and I again ended up with a 2.935 GPA. Junior year came around and I worked really hard studying for Honors Physics, pre-calculus, PLTW POE, and English. I did very well both semesters, and like I said, my GPA increased by 0.265. Up until now, I have taken 3-4 honors classes and no AP classes.
I took the ACT and got a 23. I’m taking it again this fall and aiming for a 29-33. I also took the SAT Subject Test Math Level 2 and I felt confident about it after I left the testing center. I’m retaking the subject test with physics and hoping for a much better score.
Here’s some background about me:
[QUOTE=""]
Indian male (born and raised in India, and still a citizen of India. I moved to the US 9 years ago.)
I’m in math team at my school and have helped a lot to reach state for two years
doing community service at the moment
was in Science Olympiad but for a very short amount of time
[/QUOTE]
That’s basically it. I haven’t done anything special, and basically nothing compared to students who attend MIT and other ivy leagues.
Here are the classes I took junior year:
1st Semester:
[QUOTE=""]
Junior English
Spanish II
Pre calculus
PE Team Sports
Honors Physics
PLTW POE (counts as an honors class in my school)
US History Honors
[/QUOTE]
2nd Semester:
[QUOTE=""]
Junior English
US History Honors
Pre calculus
PE Team Sports
Honors Physics
PLTW POE (counts as an honors class in my school)
Spanish II Honors
[/QUOTE]
My classes for senior year (first time I’ll be taking AP classes:
[QUOTE=""]
Senior English
AP Physics 1
AP Government
AP Stats (after I pass a precalculus course at my local CC, I’ll be able to take AP Calc. AB)
AP Human Geography
Economics
Guitar
Honors Spanish III
PE Team Sports
Personal Finance
[/QUOTE]
I used a GPA calculator and hypothetically, if I get all A’s in these classes, my GPA is projected to be a 3.9 or 3.85.
During my senior year, I’ll be applying to 15 colleges. When I was a freshman, at the beginning of the school year, I dreamed about attending Stanford and MIT. But because of my poor grades and GPA, I bottled my chances. I live in Illinois now and my dream university is UIUC.
So here’s my list of colleges I’ll be applying to:
- UIUC (first choice if I get accepted into CoE)
- Iowa State
- University of Iowa
- Illinois Institute of Technology
- University of Michigan (foolish of me for putting it on my college list)
- Stanford (I know I look like an idiot for even trying there but why not)
- Penn State
- Michigan Tech
- University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
- University of Vermont
- UMass - Amherst
- University of Washington - Seattle
- Washington State University
- Michigan State University
- University of Delaware - Newark
Like I said, UIUC is my first choice if I somehow get accepted into their mechanical engineering program. I’ve heard that their engineering program is the hardest to get into out of all their colleges. I know that I literally have a 0% chance of getting into UMich and Stanford, but I feel like I have a chance at UIUC. I know that admission officers don’t reply here, but I just want to know if I have a chance at these universities (except Stanford and UMich), especially at UIUC for mechanical engineering.