If you are a member of the Society of Black Engineers because you are African-American, then your chances for admission are very good. Your GPA is not nearly as important as your class rank – even if your school does not rank, the admissions office will estimate rank if at all possible. Make sure that you take the most rigorous courses available in math, science, English, social science, and foreign language. Some students don’t test well because of circumstances beyond their control, but every student (scheduling logistics permitting) is expected to demonstrate that she took the hardest courses offered at her school and did well in them. Piling up a list of activities is not nearly as important as demonstrating leadership and achievement in a handful. If the NASA internship was highly competitive, that is great, but a full-time paid summer job doing ANYTHING will also set you apart from many other applicants. Working during the school year is also a plus, because few students have regular jobs. If you have family responsibilities (taking care of younger siblings, for example), that will also “count.”
Start thinking NOW about which of your teachers can provide the best recommendation for you; it doesn’t have to be the class in which you got the highest grade, but instead a teacher who can provide some insight into your strengths that will not appear elsewhere in your application. The earlier you ask her, the more time she will have to put together a thoughtful letter that will set you apart from your classmates. If your school has sent other recent graduates to ND, ask your counselor to evaluate your credentials as compared with theirs. Don’t hesitate to contact ND directly for information about special summer programs for minority aspiring engineers or other programs aimed at minority applicants. That might be far more productive than trying to add a point to your ACT score.
Wneely is correct that there is no guaranteed formula for admission, and thousands of perfectly acceptable applicants must be turned away for lack of space. Competitive minority applicants are in demand, however, so don’t stress quite so much. Take advantage of the university’s interest in attracting you to ND; there is no need to guess about improving your application when plenty of folks on campus will be eager to give you a hand. Good luck!