Chance Me: Civil Engineering [GA resident, 4.0 UW (4.5 W), 1530 SAT, <$30-50k]

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Demographics

  • US Citizen (dual citizenship in France)
  • GA resident
  • Public high school (~2.5k students, 739 for senior class)
  • Legacy from brother & dad at GT

Cost Constraints / Budget

  • no big concern about budget, just want viable colleges

Intended Major(s)

  • Civil Engineering (architectural engineering as back-up)

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 4.0
  • Weighted HS GPA: 4.5 (we have AP & IB classes that are weighted 110 on the 100 scale)
  • Class Rank: 2/739
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 1530 SAT (730 reading, 790 math)

List your HS coursework

  • Took a total of 13 APs/IBs - doing IB Diploma Progamme right now
  • English: honors lit, AP Lang, IB English HL (year 1 & 2)
  • Math: Algebra 1&2, Geometry, Pre-Calc, AP Calc AB & BC, taking Georgia Tech Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra, also IB Math HL (Year 2)
  • Science: Biology & Chemistry Honors, AP Physics 1, IB Physics SL (Year 1 & 2)
  • History and social studies: AP Human, AP World, IB History of the Americas HL (year 1 & 2)
  • Language other than English: took only French; French 1-4, AP French, IB French HL (Year 1 & 2)
  • Visual or performing arts: Visual Comp, Drawing & Painting I, Ceramics I, Sculpture I, IB Visual Arts SL (Year 1 & 2)
  • Other academic courses: IB Theory of Knowledge (Year 1 & 2)

Awards

  • Published twice in national art magazine
  • Dogwood Art Festival participant
  • Yale Book award
  • Georgia Certificate of Merit
  • AP Scholar (twice)
  • Fine Arts Diploma Seal (hopefully)
  • IB Diploma (hopefully)

Extracurriculars

  • President of National Art Honor Society (~80 members, member 1st year, secretary 2nd, president 3rd)
  • Founder/President of Board Game Club (2 years)
  • ~300 hours of tutoring (math, french, etc.) at non-profits
  • Weightlifting for 2.5 years if that matters

Essays/LORs/Other

  • LORs from AP Calc teacher (AB & BC, GT assistant as well), art teacher (had her for all my art classes), and IB Theory of Knowledge Teacher (personality)

Schools

  • Reach: Rice University, Carnegie Mellon
  • Target: Georgia Tech, University of Notre Dame, Cooper Union, University of Michigan
  • Safeties: Clemson, Virginia Tech, University of Georgia

If you recommend replacements for any college, please do so (besides GT).

2

ND, UM and Cooper Union are reaches because of their very low acceptance rate. (My D’s HS val with perfect stats and scores and a ton of ECs was wait listed for engineering at UM).

If you like GT, VT, UM type vibes, I’d add Purdue as an actual Target (they also have architectural engineering as well as civil). If you want something a bit smaller, RPI (and you would see merit money).

A bit surprised you don’t have Cornell on your reach list as they are super strong in both engineering and architecture.

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What does this mean?

You have no budget or you do? Can you afford $95K a year?

“* no big concern about budget, just want viable colleges”

I think you have admissions for sure but maybe are reach heavy - which isn’t a problem because you have admissions.

It’s interesting - you have urban and you have not urban. I just ate at Atlantic Station yesterday (very close to Tech) and - it’s very urban whereas Va Tech isn’t.

I do think your safeties all happen - but I’ll call Clemson a likely.

Not totally understanding your finances - but if they are impacted - I’d add the first school I’d mention and if not you can skip it ontop the other three I mention in bullet one.

  1. Alabama would be a “cost” fit for you - meaning, you’d be near free tuition like Georgia. But Auburn as a suburban like Va Tech and U of SC/UK (urban) might be better fits - but without the cost advantage. These would all be ultra safe - apply Auburn early.

  2. I don’t think UND and UM are targets - and I don’t think UND would be worth it engineering wise. But if you like UM, UMN would be a great “supplement”.

  3. For CMU and Rice, I think Pitt and Case Western would nicely round out the list as easier to get into supplements.

So I’m not recommending replacements, but if you wanted to add a couple more, that’s some names. I personally don’t see the fit of UND here (catholic, not necessarily strong in engineering).

Cooper Union is obviously an odd one here - but certainly possible if you like a non traditional school.

You could get into any schools - and you have admits here. The list is reach heavy - but you have acceptances at very fine schools - so it’s ok that it is.

One thing to note - alumni status is not considered at Ga Tech (so no legacy boost) but I see you getting in regardless - but you always need the back up plan - which you have.

Best of luck.

PS - @momofboiler1 makes a great point about having both majors (in case you change your mind). I don’t know if ABET accreditation matters for Architectural Engineering but there are only 30 accredited programs whereas civil has 309. In that case, you might want to consider a school that has both - I’d check to ensure they have civil too but I’m guessing they do:

  • Alabama, The University of

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States

  • Arizona, The University of

Tucson, Arizona, United States

  • California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, California, United States

  • Cincinnati, University of

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

  • Former Institution Name

Colorado at Boulder, University of

Boulder, Colorado, United States

Renamed University of Colorado Boulder on Mar 12, 2018

  • Colorado Boulder, University of

Boulder, Colorado, United States

Formerly University of Colorado at Boulder before Mar 13, 2018

  • Detroit Mercy, University of

Detroit, Michigan, United States

  • Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

  • Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago, Illinois, United States

  • Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas, United States

  • Kansas, The University of

Lawrence, Kansas, United States

Formerly University of Kansas before Jan 1, 2000

  • Former Institution Name

Kansas, University of

Lawrence, Kansas, United States

Renamed The University of Kansas on Dec 31, 1999

  • Lawrence Technological University

Southfield, Michigan, United States

  • Miami, University of

Coral Gables, Florida, United States

  • Milwaukee School of Engineering

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

  • Missouri University of Science and Technology

Rolla, Missouri, United States

Formerly University of Missouri-Rolla before Jan 1, 2008

  • Former Institution Name

Missouri-Rolla, University of

Rolla, Missouri, United States

Renamed Missouri University of Science and Technology on Dec 31, 2007

  • Nebraska - Lincoln, University of

Lincoln, Nebraska, United States

  • North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Greensboro, North Carolina, United States

  • Oklahoma State University

Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States

  • Oklahoma, University of

Norman, Oklahoma, United States

  • Pennsylvania State University

University Park, Pennsylvania, United States

  • Tennessee State University

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

  • Former Institution Name

Texas A&I University

Kingsville, Texas, United States

Renamed Texas A&M University - Kingsville on Dec 31, 1993

  • Texas A&M University

College Station, Texas, United States

  • Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, Texas, United States

Formerly Texas A&I University before Jan 1, 1994

  • Texas at Arlington, The University of

Arlington, Texas, United States

  • Texas at Austin, University of

Austin, Texas, United States

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

  • Wyoming, University of

Laramie, Wyoming, United States

4

Your list looks reasonable. Might classify Michigan as a reach. Notre Dame isn’t known as a strong engineering program.

Maybe look at NC State, Auburn, Purdue or Penn State?

From your other thread, GT used to allow one major change with no questions asked. After that it was based on available space. CS might now be the exception.

Sooner or later the budget will need to be discussed. If there’s really no limitation maybe add a Cornell or similar school. Good luck.

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Congratulations on building such a strong profile in high school. Below are my guesses as to what your chances might be at the colleges on your list.

Extremely Likely (80-99+%)

  • Clemson

  • U. of Georgia

Likely (60-79%)

  • Georgia Tech

Toss-Up (40-59%)

  • Virginia Tech

Lower Probability (20-39%)

  • U. of Michigan

Low Probability (less than 20%)

  • Rice

  • Carnegie Mellon

  • U. of Notre Dame

  • Cooper Union

If you like the co-ops that many at Georgia Tech take advantage of, you may want to consider U. of Cincinnati or Drexel, both of which would be extremely likely admits.

If you like Cooper Union, then you may want to take a gander at Worcester Polytechnic, which would probably be a likely admit for you.

And if you like the football spirit of Notre Dame and Michigan but want another option where you might get some very generous merit aid, you might want to consider U. of Miami. If you’re a UGA fan, you might have a hard time switching allegiances, but U. of Alabama is an extremely likely admit that might get you 5-years worth of tuition for free, making it easier to double major in something else of interest.

All of the schools I mentioned offer ABET-accredited architectural engineering and civil engineering, and all but U. of Alabama and WPI offer NAAB-accredited architecture programs.

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Purdue seems to be a common consensus as being a good option so I will probably add that. The reason I didn’t consider Cornell is because of the environment and its vibe is not what I am looking for despite its academic excellence.

Ultimately, I will probably remove UM and try to replace Cooper Union. I may have underestimated the competitiveness of those colleges. Thanks!

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First off, I should apologize about the budget. I was rushed and should’ve created the thread when I wasn’t low on time. By budget, I can probably do 30-50k per year.

To me, location is not that important, I am more focused on the student environment. I would not mind urban as I am used to that, but I would not mind rural as it would be a change of scenery.

Respectfully, I would probably consider Clemson still a safety, based on my experience with seniors who were admitted with very similar profiles. However, with the replies of others, I would remove UMich due to budget and UND due to not being as good for engineering.

Cooper Union was an original pick for architecture, before I revised my list for civil engineering. I’m still iffy on it to be fair. In terms of accreditation, I am perfectly fine with just doing Civil Engineering, if there is architectural engineering or the ability to do a relevant minor, then that is a plus in my eyes.

Thanks for your reply!

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I’m going to remove UMich, too expensive and, as you suggest, maybe too much a reach to be honest. For Notre Dame, I’m removing it based on the consensus of it not being that good. I do apologize for rushing the budget section, if it helps I would say a budget of around 30-50k after scholarships or whatever aid I can get my hands on. Cornell is a no-go due to environment and being so depressing.

Thanks for your reply!

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First off, thanks for ranking them and providing potential substitutes. U. of Cincinnati seems interesting, as well as Worcester Polytechnic. I’ll have to take a look at those. To me, ABET accreditation only matters in regards to Civil Engineering as I would prioritize it over architectural engineering or architecture. Even so, my intention is to probably do a BS in Civil Engineering with a minor in architecture.

Thanks for your reply!

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You need to run the NPC for these schools. Unless you’ll receive FA some of these schools will be above your budget and they offer very few scholarships to OOS students.

CMU is probably pushing $90k/year. You’ll need FA to afford. Some schools are trying to offer FA to be affordable for middle class students. You really need to run the NPC. Good luck.

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You should talk with your family about what the budget is. A difference of $20k/year is a big difference. That’s a can-buy-a-new-car-every-year kind of difference. Knowing whether the budget is $30k vs. $50k will help when running the Net Price Calculator (NPC), as at schools where there is no merit aid, you should eliminate any school where the NPC comes back as unaffordable. That’s also a big difference with respect to the likelihood of some of those schools providing enough merit aid to be affordable, or not. But there are great schools that will be within your budget.

The AWESOME news is that you’re in Georgia which has some great in-state publics and where there is the Hope/Zell scholarship where your family might not need to pay anything for tuition.

What kind of environment/vibe ARE you looking for?

I’m not sure if anyone said it’s not a good program, it’s just not considered a top program in engineering, is my interpretation. If Notre Dame’s NPC comes out as affordable and you love the school, I don’t see a reason to remove it.

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IMO, ND is an outlier on the list. The rest of the list has a much more hands on, career readiness approach to engineering. ND has a much more theoretical program. Also not on par with the others in terms of engineering facilities and labs.

Since the list is so reach heavy already, that one seems like an obvious one to drop.

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Why?

You needn’t get in everywhere you apply. You need to have a couple safe options just in case.

I said it earlier or on your other thread - you could conceivably get into every school out there. But you can’t get in if you don’t apply.

But if architectural engineering is an option, make sure all the colleges have it. I listed the 30 accredited ones above. I don’t know if accreditation matters for architectural matters like it does in other disciplines in regards to obtaining employments. You might want to check career outcomes at each school of interest.

14

OK - now seeing this:

U Michigan should be removed but not for the reason in your previous post - hard admit - but for the $80K+ price tag. They can offer need but don’t assure to meet need and very rarely (but you do on occasion) hear of someone getting huge $$ out of state. . UND - is a meets need school. Do you have need? Have your folks run their net price calculator. You should do the NPC for any private school.

Clemson is a reach for you. I won’t say high reach but a reach because they give some merit. Whether that merit will get you to $50K - I don’t know. But if your budget is $30-50K, Clemson, Va Tech and some others need to be supplemented because they’re highly unlikely based on cost alone. A Bama for you is $20K - an Auburn more but still well within budget, etc. A UMN, as I noted b4 as a sub for Michigan, would likely come in ok.

Lots of fine schools on the architectural engineering list above and schools with strong merit that you’d be within budget - Cincy, the Kansas schools, and more. In the end, you shouldn’t settle on major (in my opinion). Major trumps school name. But if you want civil, then it’s a wonderful major with yes, a lot more options.

Good luck.

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I’ll answer in the words of my parents: “It is better to focus on having a range of schools, focusing on the programs and dealing with cost later. If you focus too much on cost from the beginning, you limit yourself. When receiving decisions, if you are left with one that is too expensive but it is the only acceptance, then so be it and a solution will be found. I recognize certain schools are picky, but if you have to take a loan, so be it.”

Georgia is a great option with being qualified for Zell Miller scholarship, but I need out-of-state options. The environment/vibe is one that is passionate towards the major, Cornell is too depressive and, statistically, has one of the highest unalive rates in the nation. The vibe is a supportive, passionate community.

Also, sorry if my opinion towards ND was wrong. It is not as good as other colleges I am looking at. I would greatly prefer GT or Uni of Illinois over Notre Dame, as I am presently doing my research.

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ND is getting removed, thanks for your input! It being theoretical gives me another reason to remove it, especially due to my emphasis on practical.

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I haven’t done what I would consider enough research. I am not knowledgeable on the top Civil Engineering schools in the US. I believe that there are better options than Cooper Union & UM that may be also reaches for me, but have better programs. Cornell, despite my past comments saying I wouldn’t add it, would be an example of what I am aiming at in reaches.

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UND is not on par w/ other colleges I chose in terms of their approach to Civil Engineering as mentioned by @momofboiler1 nor on quality/reputation compared to other ones on my list. UMich, I agree, should be removed of cost in replacement of other ones.

Seeing my parents stances on finances, after having discussed with them, Clemson and VA Tech can remain safeties. In terms of Alabama, I am considering substituting Auburn with Texas A&M or University of Texas based off of ranking and similar cost points of ~$20k. Auburn is fantastic, don’t get me wrong, so is A Bama.

I greatly appreciate your help with this!!

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A&M and UT are reaches (especially UT) - let’s call A&M a match but t has secondary admission.

So Auburn will be much safer here - because safe is what you’re lacking.

Where you go for engineering, short of a few schools, likely doesn’t matter outcome wise.

In other words, students and parents are looking at rank…organizations, at least for MechE, not so much.

My kid told me this when he chose low ranked Alabama over Purdue. I didn’t buy it. Given all the offers and interviews and who he works side by side with - Michigan, Case Western, Purdue, Cal Poly and more - but also W Michigan ,Akron, Utah etc and they all make the same…

He’s proven to me he is right.

I can’t speak for civil but i’m guessing - you’d be smarter to work with your parents on a figure they can afford without straining them vs…a name for sake of a name.

There’s a few it would make sense I’m sure - but not many.

Good luck.

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Loans greater than $5.5k first year will need to be cosigned by your parents or taken out by your parents.