There are ALWAYS options so I don’t agree with your folks. No one should strain theirselves that much for any school when most every school will get you a similar outcome.
If you only have one acceptance and it’s not affordable - that’s on you or not building your list properly.
Can you please elaborate as to how A&M is a match and UT is a reach? Basing myself off the common data set of Texas A&M, combined with general statistics, and comparing it to my profile, its hard for me to see how it would not be a safety? Considering their “priorities” in admissions, I would see no problem. However, UT is a different discussion and I definitely need clarity surrounding it.
At this point I should provide an updated list of what I believe to a better selection of colleges for Civil Engineering:
Reach:
Target:
Safeties:
I understand where you are coming from in terms of it doesn’t “matter” where you go, yet I feel that it is better for me to choose, or at least attempt, a well-funded, well-reputed program. I could care less about Ivys, I care more about if the university is going to provide a genuinely good program, and has the statistics/reputation, etc. to back it up.
My folks are quite adamant on that the financial aspect will come afterwards… For the relevance of the discussion, its best to focus on the other aspects respectfully
Seriously though, thank you for helping me out
If by UT you are referring to UT Austin specifically, it has around a 10% admit rate for out of state domestic students. It’s not a safety for any OOS with those stats. Other UTs may be targets or likelies.
UT guarantees admission to any student in the top 6% of their graduating class in Texas. That fills up 75% of the seats at UT right there, and those students are guaranteed admission, but not necessarily admission to their preferred major (and as you can imagine, popular ones can be hard to get). That doesn’t taken into account the other really great Texas residents who happen to not be in the top 6% of their class (particularly at competitive schools). The admission rate is quite low for out-of-state students there.
Texas A&M is similar, but not quite as competitive. It guarantees admission to all Texas residents who graduate in the top 10% of their classes, but again, acceptance to the desired major is not guaranteed. Additionally, students accepted into the College of Engineering then need to qualify to get their major of choice after their freshman year. I believe they need at least a 3.75 GPA in college to guarantee their first choice, which is not necessarily very easy to do with the first year engineering curriculum.
But admission to the engineering and business colleges are amongst the most competitive of the majors at both UT and A&M.
Two things since you looked at CDS
You didn’t look by major because it’s not avail. Engineering and business are more difficult.
In state acceptance has a much higher rate because people apply by their rank. If you are ranked in the 15th percent and only top 6% is guaranteed or 10% at A&M, the list in part self selects which drives up the rate.
You don’t have that luxury. Last year 21103 applied and 2482 were accepted. That’s all majors.
Of those that enrolled, 8222 were in state and 825 were OOS with 338 international.
If you look at the CDS section C7, they are preferencing Texas residents.
So respectfully, in my opinion a reach. A&M is more likely but again has secondary admissions so you don’t necessarily get your desired major.
None of this means you won’t get in - as I said you might anywhere but if a list is only reaches, you may be like many who over guess and strike out.
But your initial list, at least, has admits. You don’t want to talk about affordability so I’ll leave it alone.
You said this -“ care more about if the university is going to provide a genuinely good program, and has the statistics/reputation, etc. to back it up.”
This is many. A rank is a formula created by US News or others that schools play to. Yet when the methodology changes, schools are left scrambling. Last year stalwarts like WUSTL fell out of the top 20,Wake, Tulane, northeastern fell out of the top 50. And schools like Rutgers and UIUC flew high.
They - US News and others - are running a business to make money and they’ve got us all believing a metric they create and change. Or others do.
So look at a school like Bama - and no I’m not selling you (just an example) vs Rice. But you’d get $28k off $32k based on your accomplishments. Engineering gives another $2500 bcuz they want you. So your tuition is $3k ish. The engineering quad is as nice as any school in America. And you don’t think they’re providing a good program ? My kid had 20 interviews and 5 offers by xmas and interned with Ga Tech kids. He went back a 2nd summer. They weren’t invited back. Btw Bama by count - not percentage -has more national merit scholars than any school. Or they’re close to the top.
The school is ranked very low in US News. They don’t chase their methodology. But they are spending boatloads of money, including on their state of the art engineering quad. You don’t think they provide a good program ?? Like other schools, they are buying smart kids in. Thousands of high level Californians, Illinoisans, Texans, etc. and while they’re the easiest example, they are far from the only example. The best and brightest are choosing many schools. And frankly to succeed in engineering you have to be amongst the brightest.
Now it’s a big school so like others such as UT, A&M they will have big school issues vs say a Rose Hulman, fantastic school with incredible outcomes, that won’t - it’s small and focused on the undergrad.
So you and your folks are entitled to your beliefs but I’d argue you are simply following the marketing and not reality.
I hope you pick schools out and go visit them. You will be somewhere four years - day after day. And a name doesn’t help that. Austin is very urban. Va Tech suburban. Clemson rural. A&M is a great school but it’s enormous. That might work for you. But it might not.
Go take some visits. Figure out what you truly like in environment, size, weather and make sure these schools fit you. Engineering is brutally hard with nationally a 50% or more drop out rate depending on the study.
You’ll do best where you are comfortable.
And your folks will do their best not panicking because they pushed you to a place that wrecked them. My bff in my first two years of college had to transfer to her state school - after her parents had to sell their home and move into a trailer to pay those first two years.
Best of luck - but please look deeper. You and not your school will make your success.
First off, apologies for my clear lapse in judgement and thank you for writing such a detailed explanation, along with the others who replied. UT Austin is definitely going into reach, and definitely replacing UMich from a financial standpoint. In replacement of that, I will look at Auburn or the University of Alabama to replace it. I did not realize how competitive it was, sorry.
I’d like to mention for the specific schools I have mentioned, yes are supported by like US News, but I’ve tried scrolling other forums and hearing opinions of actual attendees and they seem to support that to a certain extent that I can justify their placement of my list.
From here, I will go and research the actual school/environment, hopefully getting a visit to some of the schools I still have not visited on the list. I understand that engineering is a lot, and that the environment is crucial in supporting you amidst those hard times, yet I will not be dropping out of the major, unless I transfer, especially with my folks and my experiences…
Thanks for the write-up, this has been insanely useful to me
When you research you can see career outcomes from each. And if they don’t post them, call the engineering department to ask.
Make sure at each you fill in the menus so you get the right data. I put a few random ones but don’t be afraid to reach out to the department or career center to get detailed info including organization, location, ahd job title. And don’t forget most pay by location and not school.
Good luck
It wasn’t a lapse in judgment; you’re still learning about college admissions. You didn’t know something before and now you do.
Sounds like a great plan! Wishing you the best as you go through this process, and please continue to ask questions. It’s how we all learn!
Thank you!
There’s a lot to learn about college admissions. You’re doing great by asking the questions. 
As a GA resident you have a leg up with UGA and GTech. UGA wants 80% of each incoming class to be GA residents. GTech needs 60% GA residents. So OOS kids who want to attend these schools are at a disadvantage.
You’re learning about the other side of that with some of the OOS schools you’re considering. Not all schools have in-state preferences so it’s something to be researched at each school. Another reason you shouldn’t be expected to know this!
As a chancing comment, I would be shocked if you aren’t accepted by GTech since you’re doing GT math. Worst case, you’re guaranteed a transfer pathway due to your legacy status.
Keep asking questions and develop a balanced list and you’ll be in great shape.
Drop Berkeley, unless you are ready to pay full OOS (80+k?). No FA and usually no merit for OOS.
You know that you are eligible for transfer pathway at GaTech as legacy do you?
So you are better off to study a year at Georgia State and then transfer in the worst case scenario.
If I were you, I would not go OOS and use my Zell/Hope and transfer to GaTech.
Very strange suggested list:
Target: GaTech
Safety: UGA-> GaTech (legacy pathway)
Super Safety:
Georgia State (or any other Georgia public) → GaTech (legacy pathway)
You are done… 
You can’t buy anything better for reasonable price than GaTech for Engineering.
I am biased (have 2 GaTech degrees and paying OOS 50k for DD who attends GaTech.)
For civil engineering, the Georgia publics are GT, UGA, GSU, and KSU.
This kind of story has been told before… with disappointing results.
Maybe an automatic full ride at PVAMU would be a backstop against the risk of your parents telling you next April that they cannot pay anything.
I also think you are a very strong candidate for admission to GT, especially with the legacy component as well.
Worst case scenario, you are offered the conditional pathway transfer option Conditional Transfer Pathway Program | Undergraduate Admission
So add a safety like GA state or KSU or GA college so if you are offered the conditional pathway admission you have that available.
If I am being so honest right now, I have one goal and that is Georgia Tech. Considering the outrageous prices of college that just keep going up, staying in-state is ideal in my eyes. UGA is a backup for me in which I can later transfer to Georgia Tech after first year, even considering that UGA has a rapidly expanding Civil Engineering program that even GT is beginning to slightly take notice. I’ve put all my focus in Georgia Tech doing tours, summer camps, visiting staff members (school chair & associate chair of civil engineering, 2-3 professors), having tours of specific facilities, etc. From my school, historically there is a 30% acceptance rate (37% last year), and doing AP Calc BC and GT distance math boosts those chances even further. Yet, I am prepared for the worst and I still need to have somewhat of a diversified college list.
Very true in terms of transfer pathway.
Considering my lack of knowledge on finances and schools preferences for in-state vs. out-of-state, can someone help me review this list of schools that has been cultivated from the thread?
Reach:
Target:
Safeties:
Would UGA not be sufficient? or do you recommend a 2nd GA safety?
Why not have a slam dunk safety, just in case? For you, GSU or KSU are safeties and if perchance you are offered the conditional transfer rather than a direct admit, and by chance you aren’t admitted to UGA (though I believe you are a very strong candidate for UGA, but weird stuff can happen, like some piece of your application is accidentally incomplete or something), you have your options.
as an aside, @momsearcheng , its my understanding that the conditional pathway transfer has to be offered to the applicant. Its not automatic (but in this student’s case , its pretty likely if by any chance they aren’t directly admitted) Transfer Pathway Programs | Undergraduate Admission
Makes sense. Statistically speaking, my school has a 57% acceptance rate to UGA, but I will look into probably adding GSU on the list.
In terms of transfer, whether I am offered Conditional Transfer or not, I will find a way!