@sevmom
I missed that. My bad. Thanks.
A student interested in engineering at a small school can consider LACs with native engineering, or small engineering focused schools, rather than just 3+2 programs.
If you want to become an engineer, you are best served by starting out in engineering from the beginning. The curriculum in engineering has many required and prerequisite courses, and they rely on a specific, somewhat “lock step” sequence. If you start out in a different major or in liberal arts, it will almost certainly take you longer than four years to graduate with your engineering degree. The “3-2” program of course assures that. You aren’t limited to taking only science and engineering courses as an engineering major, all accredited engineering schools require a significant liberal arts component, and there are at least some elective choices with which you can pursue non-engineering coursework and interests.
There is not an insignificant number of small and midisize technological universities and colleges that have reputed engineering programs. These provide the “small college” feel that a large university may not, while still allowing you to major in engineering and take liberal arts/humanities courses. You aren’t limited to large universities if you want to study engineering.
Thank you all for your kind advice. I am told that blasian (half African American / half Asian American) is considered underepresented minority and we canc check African American since its 50/50. You all are giving me some great advice! When you are mentioning LAC’s or small t midsized technological universities, do you have suggestions within those categories? This is sort of embarrassing since my daughter is a junior, but what is an LAC?
@SMidgeon LAC = Liberal Arts College.
She can check multiple categories if she wants. However, any effect of ethnicity on admissions should not be relied on by the applicant to move a reach down to match or match down to safety.
You and she can use https://www.collegedata.com/cs/search/college/college_search_tmpl.jhtml to search for colleges by size and the major(s) of interest to get a first pass list, from which you and she can then narrow down further using other criteria of importance.
LAC = liberal arts college.
@Smidgeon I also recommend Case Western - there are generous merit scholarships available and a few full tuition awards by separate application.
As you’re in state - VA Tech and U VA would be worth a look.
Regarding the test score, my kid did much better in % terms on the ACT so you might want your child to take a timed official practice test at home to see how it compares. 1460 is by no means a bad score but if you’re aiming high, 1500+ or ACT equivalent would be better still.
She sounds like a great kid!
No guarantees. But please don’t pressure your student over the 1460. Not sure where everyone is getting their info. Sure a 1500 is better. But Stanford avg sat is 1465 and Nd 1445. Now obviously that includes a whole bunch of kids with other advantages. Sports legacy or background. But there are so many doors open already. Keep up the good work supporting your student and don’t let the rarified air in these threads create unnecessary anxiety.
Regarding the test scores, note that some colleges have a reputation of weighting test scores more heavily than others. So whether to try the SAT again (or the ACT if practice tests on the ACT suggest a higher score) can depend on whether the colleges that really emphasize high test scores are of strong interest.
She is planning junior summer. Which looks stronger generally: summer study at a top notch university like Johns Hopkins or similar as either credit based or talent search, or going back to the dojang where she earned her third degree black belt at age 12 and paid work as a math tutor? She loves both learning and giving back. She could also do a noncompetitive pharmacy tech program at home over the summer to prepare for part time work while in college
I agree on not pressuring her. She is internally driven, the kind of kid who does not need to be pressured. Most of the teens in our community are likewise driven from inside.
Since finances are an issue, apply EA to Ohio Stare She has a great shot at merit aide there including up to a full ride with some of their scholarships (the Morrill scholarship requires a short essay on diversity).
@smidgeon What does she prefer? If she tends to pressure herself, maybe something more low key for the summer would enable her to rest and recharge?
I have heard that the Duke TIP and JHU CTY face to face summer programs are a lot of fun for smart kids, assuming they are affordable through your own means or financial aid.
Paid summer programs for HS students at prestigious universities generally don’t carry much weight for admissions. However, being brought on to a research project or getting into a competitive program like MITES would.
University of Maryland-Baltimore County: A STEM powerhouse. OP would be an awesome candidate for the Meyerhoff Scholarship.
@SMidgeon - Check out UMBC. Great STEM school that mentors URM’s in the sciences - PhD. track versus medical school. It has awesome research opportunities and outcomes. Check out the Meyerhoff Scholars Program. https://meyerhoff.umbc.edu/
NC State has a joint biomedical engineering degree with UNC.