Chance Me: Civil Engineering for T20s [NY resident, 96.33/100 GPA, 1530 SAT]

Chance Me / Match Me
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1

Demographics

  • US domestic
  • New York
  • Competitive Public school (like 50/300 to T30s?)
  • Nothing special

Cost Constraints / Budget

FULL PAY

Intended Major(s) Civil Engineering

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • 96.33 (/100)
  • 102.93 (Don’t see people get over 106 usually, average is ~103 for T20s in general)
  • Class Rank: No rank
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 1530 SAT (740RW/790M, took September, RW probably went up like 20 points)

List your HS coursework

  • English: AP Lang, AP Lit, Honors 9th/10th
  • Math: Geometry, Algebra, and Pre-Calc Honors, AP Calc BC & AP Statistics senior year
  • Science: AP Biology, AP Physics 1, AP Physics C Mech, E&M, rest honors
  • History and social studies: AP U.S. History, AP European History, AP Macroeconomics, AP U.S. Gov, AP Art History, AP Psychology
  • Language other than English: 3 years of Spanish
  • Visual or performing arts: Orchestra 1 year?
  • Other academic courses: AP CSA

Awards (Haven’t ordered yet)

  1. NHS
  2. National Merit Commended Scholar
  3. Science NHS
  4. ABRSM ARSM (Not sure this counts as an award)
  5. AP Scholar Distinction

Extracurriculars (Haven’t ordered yet, also combined things that I would probably have to separate)

Very worried about the lack of Engineering related ECs, all are CS/Business/Music

  1. Piano
    1. Played for 10+ Years
    2. Will submit supplement at schools that allow it
    3. Earned ABRSM ARSM Diploma
      1. Trying to earn LRSM, but not there yet, not sure if I will have it in time for ED/EA)
    4. Play piano in a youth chamber group
    5. Teacher
      1. 11th-12th Grade
      2. Teaching beginners & intermediates to prepare for ABRSM exams
      3. Entirely self-managed
  2. Cello
    1. Played for 7 years
    2. Part of Youth Orchestra (3 years)
      1. First chair 2 semesters
      2. Performed in Lincoln Center
    3. First chair in chamber group 4 semesters
    4. Volunteering
      1. Rehearsed and performed in a New Years event
      2. ~75 volunteer hours
  3. Internship
    1. AI/CS Internship at a somewhat large IT Consulting firm
    2. Co-developed (with another intern) an AI workflow that improved job candidate searching efficiency
  4. Quiz Bowl
    1. School Quiz Bowl team Varsity member
      1. Focus on Fine Arts categories
    2. Co-president
    3. Trying to expand the club - hoping to show some impact here
  5. CS Mentorship/Summer Program
    1. Learned Java and Python from industry professionals
    2. Based in Shanghai (2 weeks total)
    3. Created multiple projects
    4. Presented a demo to the Software Engineering team
  6. E-Commerce
    1. eBay
      1. Sourced and sold products on eBay
      2. Generated $5,000+ in profit
      3. Maintained 100% positive reviews
    2. Unnamed for anonymity
      1. Managed financial operations
        1. $10,000+ in Revenue
        2. Nearly 1000 separate sales
        3. Created inventory management system, P&L tracking system
  7. App testing
    1. Part of Alpha testing team for an AI Piano practice app
    2. Directly contributed to improving UI
    3. Brought multiple bugs to Admin attention

Essays/LORs/Other

LORs:

AP Biology teacher - probably 7-8/10

AP Physics 1 teacher - probably 9/10

Not sure about counselor recommendation

Personal statement about piano, should be strong

Schools

EA Everywhere that is possible

  • Safeties:
    • SUNY Stony Brook
    • RPI
  • Target:
    • University of Maryland, College Park
    • Virginia Tech
    • Purdue University
    • Lehigh University
  • High Target:
    • UIUC
    • University of Michigan (~20+ people get in every year)
  • Low Reach:
    • Cooper Union
    • Lehigh University (IBE program)
  • High reach:
    • CMU (ED?)
    • Cornell
    • Georgia Tech
    • Northwestern (ED?)
    • Stanford
    • Berkeley (MET program…)
    • Vanderbilt
    • University of Michigan (IBE progam)

Thank you for any and all feedback :slightly_smiling_face:

Chance me/ Match me Georgia Tech for civil engineering [FL resident, 4.00 UW GPA, top 9%, 1520 SAT, <$40k]
2

The UC Berkeley M.E.T. Program looks quite appealing. You’d have the opportunity to earn two B.S. degrees in 4 years, a business degree plus the engineering degree. As a competitive OOS applicant, if your parents are willing to pay for this, then you are encouraged to apply. Berkeley is one of the best places if not the best to study civil engineering.

3

I agree, it’s probably my top/second choice, but the ~1% acceptance rate is crazy…

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4

MIT and Rose-Hulman are other options to consider. Also explore colleges that offer merit scholarships or free room & board if your parents are looking to save some money on expenses (and especially if you have college-bound siblings or ones already in college). Also, explore schools that allow you to complete a one-year master’s degree post-undergraduate. At some schools, you might be able to complete both degrees in just four years, assuming you are thinking about also pursuing a graduate degree (e.g. M. Eng.)

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5

Yeah I’m definitely interested in the 4+1 programs you’ve mentioned, many of the schools I’m applying to have similar programs, thanks for your insight. I actually have looked into Rose-Hulman and MIT, but I don’t think they are a great fit for me. I’m also hoping that I will get some sort of scholarship at RPI, and Stony Brook is “commutable” for me, so I’m not too worried. Cooper Union is my reach “cheap” (compared to the other schools) option.

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6

The business + engineering combinations do have some things to consider:

  • At UCB and Michigan, completing all requirements for both majors in eight semesters requires overload schedules, like 17-20 credits every semester instead of the usual 15-16.
  • At Lehigh, the usual four year IBE track is not ABET accredited. Lehigh says that it would take a fifth year to complete an ABET accredited engineering degree (perhaps it may be possible in four years by overloading). For civil engineering in particular, it is important to complete an ABET accredited degree, because it is important when working toward PE (Professional Engineer) licensing, which is important in civil engineering.

The value of a full business major alongside an engineering degree seems questionable, although some selected business courses may be useful, particularly as a civil engineer running a small business.

7

That is one of my big worries, and the reason why I’m not applying to Purdue IBE (not ABET accredited, and very hard to take on a separate engineering degree). I do have the ultimate goal of starting my own CE/Construction firm, which is my rationale behind the Eng/Business programs. Thanks for your insights!

Edit: Of course, I’m not opposed to just taking on a Business minor/business electives to learn the skills, which is why most of the schools on my list don’t have a dual degree program anyways, and why I like schools like CMU or NU.

8

Many engineers work in the field, get their PE, and figure out from there what they want to do. In addition to engineering itself, you will probably want at least some experience managing a team or projects…before you start your own firm.

DH says that some engineers actually get their masters in business later on because they decide they want to or need to know more about the business side.

But, imho, you need to be a practicing engineer…first.

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9

Purdue’s IBE+IE program is similar to Berkeley’s MET but has a higher acceptance rate.

And UMD has a +1 program between the engineering and business schools.

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10

Yes I agree with you entirely, that’s my plan, basically.

11

I’ve looked into the Purdue IBE + IE, but I’m not too interested in Industrial Engineering, so I’d probably just do Civil Engineering. I’ll look into the U Maryland program you mentioned, thanks.

12

What are you looking for, in terms of fit?

13

I think you will definitely get admitted to RPI, a safety option for you given your stats. RPI also offers a number of different business minors, including management for future project managers & entrepreneurship for starting your own construction business, an aspiration of yours. RPI also offers both M.S. & M. Eng. graduate degree options should you decide to pursue this.

They currently offer a number of different scholarship programs. You may need to complete the FAFSA in order to qualify for merit aid. Sometimes, full-pay students are advised not to complete the FAFSA & state financial aid forms which could be a mistake.

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14

Interdisciplinary

Prefer cities/more lively areas

Music scene & access to music as a non-major

4+1 M.Eng programs

15

Thank you for the merit aid advice, will definitely look into it!

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16

I don’t know where in the world you want to live, but if you like the northwest, UW Seattle has good access to the city & good access to music as a non major. (and I’ve heard good things about their Civil program… but I don’t know a lot about this area of engineering, so don’t take it from me :slight_smile: )

17

Haven’t looked into it before, so I’ll take a look! Thanks.

18

Washington admits to undeclared engineering. There is secondary admission to major later, but it look like civil engineering is not typically full.

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19

I’m confused - as you wrote it, I love your list. You’ll get into SB and you’ll get money from RPI. But why commute to SB - either live there or apply Buffalo for in-state tuition.

After you say full pay and apply to a bunch of really expensive schools - and I was good with your list - then you start talking about money.

If you need a discount, you can get it at many many many schools - with your stats as low as $22K or so all in per year (Alabama). There are many, many schools that will give you merit aid - it just depends on what your budget is.

If you tell me your budget is $100K a year and that’s what it appeared at first read, I’m good with your list as is.

But if it’s not, then what is it - and you need to build a list to achieve that budget.

Ga Tech reports 82% of those who want a job and have one with a median $76K salary. Not sure when they measure. They have a 35% knowledge rate for the school. Don’t know for the major.

UMich doesn’t show a success rate - but a median $77K and average $76.1K.

UMD shows an $82,938 - but it’s civil and environmental. They show 2% seeking 6 months out. Don’t know the knowledge rate. You’ll find jobs pay based on the where moreso than the school.

Purdue shows an average of $76.8K.

Not pushing you to this school - but showing you the where you go likely matters less - so Alabama has a $74.6K average and they have a near 100% knowledge rate whereas others, like Ga Tech, are much less - so it’s a little less salary on average $$ but not much but your cost is less, much less. With your stats, you can have this dynamic at many, many schools - from MInnesota to Delaware to South Carolina to…well lots..

So what I’m saying is - if you have a budget, if it’s $30K or $50K, then find schools to hit the budget. The outcome is unlikely to be much different whether it’s SUNY or Va Tech (average salary of $74,360).

So I love your list with - I’m full pay.

But I struggle when you talk about scholarships and living home - so that tells me you have a budget.

You should discuss with your folks, determine your budget and then come back to ask for ideas.

Otherwise, I was good as is - but it does look like Lehigh might require 5 years for ABET.

Good luck.

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20

I’m trying to wrap my head around why you’d spend a bunch of money for a civil engineering degree. What you learn won’t be radically different and the pay will be virtually the same. Data isn’t available for every school, but Vandy grads make $10k LESS per year than Stony Brook grads do.

I’d also caution against a dual business engineering track, especially for civil. It isn’t as though civil is an entrepreneurial field where you might jump out and do something new and novel. The business component signals that you aren’t interested in technical work. They certainly aren’t looking to hire people with no field experience to manage.

You’d be way, WAY ahead of the game if you chose one of the least expensive options and asked your parents to invest the balance in a trust fund.

There certainly is an exception to this, leveraging your degree into quantitative financial analysis. If that’s what you want to do though, just do that at MIT, assuming you get in, and skip civil.

At the end of the day, civil is virtually the same everywhere. I speak that as the child of a BS/MS MIT civil engineer.

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