Am I qualified for a geology major? UConn, Lehigh, Allegheny, etc.

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Long Post

Hi,
I’m a HS Junior- a few weeks ago, one of my teachers told me I should be an engineer. However, engineering has a TON of quantitative skills, and I don’t think I could survive 4-5 semesters of math + thermo, fluids, vibrations, etc. So I looked into one the other things, and the science of dynamic earth history (aka…geology) is something I’ve always been interested in (since I was like…4).

I’m an outdoorsy person, a Scout, and I work with the environment. HOWEVER…I have a few red and yellow flags on my transcript, and I need some advice.

Info: HS Junior. Took the ACT’s back in February. I’ll be taking them again, but for now: I have a 29 composite. Math: 27, Science: 28, Reading: 31, English: 30. (SAT Conversion: 1340, math score: 640). I’d call this a “yellow flag.” It’s not that great a score- I can maybe improve, but is this too low?

Historical Grades: I had health issues freshman and sophomore year. My poor, poor math grades…(Standard Algebra 1: C-, Standard Algebra 2: C). Yes, it hurts…Sciences are better…(Hon. Intro Earth + Physical Sciences: 94, Hon. Bio: 89).

Current Grades: So far, half of a semester (and some quizzes and tests) into Junior year: Geometry: 90. Standard Chem: 96. (I have A’s in every other class besides APUSH this year).

Freshman and Sophomore GPA: 3.37 unweighted, 3.68 weighted.

Junior Year (so far): 3.83 unweighted, 4.03 weighted. Combined Junior/Freshman/Sophomore if I keep these grades: 3.52 unweighted, 3.82 weighted.

Possible Senior Year Classes (if I work hard): AP Gov, AP Lit, AP Environmental Sci, Hon. Pre Calc, Hon Physics, and an Hon. Music (I’ve been in music for years now). I could also take AP Latin or AP Stats, any advice? There is like a very slim chance that I might be able to get into AP Chem. Once again, any advice?

Some EC’s: Almost Eagle Scout, for my Eagle Scout Project I’m establishing control and management options (mechanical and biological) for invasive species. Also in Marching Band, Jazz Band, and 100+ volunteer hours in general.

Phew, that was a LOT. Sorry. So now back to the main question: Is geology out of reach for me? Should I go for another undergrad degree? Am I setting myself up for failure? Would I get admitted anywhere? Would I get into a BS program?

CHANCE ME: Possible Schools: UConn (in-state), UVM, UNH, Clarkson, URochester, Allegheny, Bucknell, Lehigh, Union.

Thanks. You’re a trooper if you read this whole thing.

2

College Transitions offers a “best colleges for geology” list, should you be interested in diversifying your choices (separated by type below for ease of viewing):

Amherst
Bates
Bowdoin
Carleton
Colby
Colgate
Colorado College
Hamilton
Lafayette
Macalester
Oberlin
Occidental
St. Lawrence
Union
Whitman

Brown
Caltech
Columbia
Cornell
Duke
Lehigh
MIT
Princeton
Stanford
UPenn
Yale

Colorado School of Mines
Colorado State
CU (Boulder)
Miami (Ohio)
Penn State
Texas A&M
UArizona
UC–Berkeley
UC–Davis
UC–Irvine
UC–Santa Barbara
UC–Santa Cruz
UFlorida
UMichigan
UMinnesota
UNC–CH
UPittsburgh
UTexas (Austin)
UWashington
UW–Madison
William & Mary

1 Like
3

I love your list! My kids applied to many of those schools, and D attended Roch freshman year (left due to big drop in FA). No, geology is not out of reach for you. If that is where your passion lies, go for it. Do you have a budget you’re working with because there are a lot of expensive schools on that list. I think Allegheny and Clarkson are safeties; UConn, UVM, UNH are matches. Roch, Bucknell, Lehigh and Union are reaches but within reach. Your improved gpa is great-congrats! I would try to get the test scores higher.

1 Like
4

College Transitions offers a “best colleges for geology” list, should you be interested in diversifying your choices (separated by type below for ease of viewing):

Amherst
Bates
Bowdoin
Carleton
Colby
Colgate
Colorado College
Hamilton
Lafayette
Macalester
Oberlin
Occidental
St. Lawrence
Union
Whitman

Brown
Caltech
Columbia
Cornell
Duke
Lehigh
MIT
Princeton
Stanford
UPenn
Yale

Colorado School of Mines
Colorado State
CU (Boulder)
Miami (Ohio)
Penn State
Texas A&M
UArizona
UC–Berkeley
UC–Davis
UC–Irvine
UC–Santa Barbara
UC–Santa Cruz
UFlorida
UMichigan
UMinnesota
UNC–CH
UPittsburgh
UTexas (Austin)
UWashington
UW–Madison
William & Mary

5

Supporting courses for geoscience majors may include chemistry, physics, math, computer science and biology. However, in most geoscience programs, you would not be required to take courses in all of these disciplines, nor would you be required to take courses in any of these supporting areas on a very advanced level.

6

@merc81

Thanks for commenting on both threads. I was worried about not having enough visibility, I may have been slightly wrong on that.

Thanks for the list, that can help me diversify my choices. St. Lawrence looks like a cool school! And Penn State is a classic (I wouldn’t mind marching in their band!).

From what I understand, geology typically has Calc 1, and usually Calc 2 freshman year. I might be able to pull that off. It’s just that in engineering, I would also have Calc 3, differentials, etc.

Thanks again!

7

@taverngirl
Thank you!

Would St. Lawrence be considered a match? I heard they give some aid.

One of my friends has a sister that went to URochester- she liked it, but like you said, I don’t want to get cheated out on aid (also, I actually have to GET IN before anything else).

8

As you research further, you will discover that some geosciences programs do not require math at all, e.g., https://www.stlawu.edu/geology/majorminor-requirements.

1 Like
9

Ha, D also applied to St. Lawrence (twice, once for freshman year and once for transfer). I’d call it a high safety/low match for you. If you like the outdoors, both Clarkson and SLU are good choices with the Adirondacks right there. Their outdoor clubs are very vibrant. Very different types of students at the two schools though. And you’ll get a lot more merit at Clarkson.

1 Like
10

You might look at Hobart & William Smith too.

1 Like
11

Hi,
I’m a HS Junior- wasn’t really stressed about college, (I used to be, but not anymore). A few weeks ago, one of my teachers told me I should be an engineer. However, engineering has a TON of quantitative skills, and I don’t think I could survive 4-5 semesters of math + thermo, fluids, vibrations, etc. So I looked into one the other things, and the science of dynamic earth history (aka…geology) is something I’ve always been interested in (since I was like…4).

I’m an outdoorsy person, a Scout, and I work with the environment. HOWEVER…I have a few red and yellow flags on my transcript, and I need some advice.

Info: HS Junior. Took the ACT’s back in February. I’ll be taking them again, but for now: I have a 29 composite. Math: 27, Science: 28, Reading: 31, English: 30. (SAT Conversion: 1340, math score: 640). I’d call this a “yellow flag.” It’s not that great a score- I can maybe improve, but is this too low?

Historical Grades: I had health issues freshman and sophomore year. My poor, poor math grades…(Standard Algebra 1: C-, Standard Algebra 2: C). Yes, it hurts…Sciences are better…(Hon. Intro Earth + Physical Sciences: 94, Hon. Bio: 89).

Current Grades: So far, half of a semester (and some quizzes and tests) into Junior year: Geometry: 90. Standard Chem: 96. (I have A’s in every other class besides APUSH this year).

Freshman and Sophomore GPA: 3.37 unweighted, 3.68 weighted.

Junior Year (so far): 3.83 unweighted, 4.03 weighted. Combined Junior/Freshman/Sophomore if I keep these grades: 3.52 unweighted, 3.82 weighted.

Possible Senior Year Classes (if I work hard): AP Gov, AP Lit, AP Environmental Sci, Hon. Pre Calc, Hon Physics, and an Hon. Music (I’ve been in music for years now). I could also take AP Latin or AP Stats, any advice? There is like a very slim chance that I might be able to get into AP Chem. Once again, any advice?

Some EC’s: Almost Eagle Scout, for my Eagle Scout Project I’m establishing control and management options (mechanical and biological) for invasive species. Also in Marching Band, Jazz Band, and 100+ volunteer hours in general.

Phew, that was a LOT. Sorry. So now back to the main question: Is geology out of reach for me? Should I go for another undergrad degree? Am I setting myself up for failure? Would I get admitted anywhere? Would I get into a BS program?

Possible Schools: UConn (in-state), UVM, UNH, Clarkson, URochester, Allegheny, Bucknell, Lehigh, Union.

Thanks. You’re a trooper if you read this whole thing.