Chance Me: IN Senior, 3.99 UW, 1410 SAT, looking at ECE @ Purdue [and others; <$50k]

Chance Me / Match Me
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Demographics

  • US Citizen
  • South Slavic descent
  • Indiana
  • Public high school
  • First gen college (parents immigrated from Yugoslavia)

Cost Constraints / Budget
Ideally under $50k/yr

Intended Major(s)
Computer Engineering (#1)
Computer Science (unlikely for Purdue)
Electrical Engineering

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 3.99
  • Weighted HS GPA: 4.587 (5.0 scale)
  • Class Rank: Unknown as of now, probably top 10%
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 1410 SAT (690 Math 720 English)

List your HS coursework

(Indicate advanced level, such as AP, IB, AICE, A-level, or college, courses as well as specifics in each subject)

  • English: AP English Language and Composition (4), AP English Literature and Composition
  • Math: Algebra I, Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra II, AP Precalculus (5), AP Calculus BC
  • Science: Honors Biology, Honors Chemistry, AP Physics 1 (5), AP Chemistry (5), AP Computer Science Principles (3), AP Computer Science A
  • History and social studies: AP Human Geography (5), AP U.S. History (4), AP Microeconomics, AP U.S. Government
  • Language other than English: Honors German I-IV
  • Visual or performing arts: 2D Art I & Photography

Awards

  • AP Scholar with Distinction
  • Various Science Olympiad medals for 1st-7th place (2nd-4th place at state)

Extracurriculars (Grade levels participated)

  • Science Olympiad (9-12, Team Captain 12)
  • Astronomy Club (9-12, Vice President 10-12)
  • Chess Club (9-12)
  • History Club (10-12)
  • Balkan Club (10-12)
  • NHS (11-12)
  • Chemistry Club (12)
  • Library Volunteer (10-12)
  • Job @ Starbucks (12, working 16 hours per week)

Essays/LORs/Other
Might be good. Currently being reviewed by my old AP Lang teacher. I’m thinking about writing another one about a different topic since I don’t think my current one is “deep” enough.

Schools
EA for everything
Purdue (CompE)
PNW (CompE, safety)
Illinois Tech (CompE)
MSOE (CompE)
Rose-Hulman (CompE)
IU Bloomington (CS)
UMich (CompE, reach)

My main concern is Purdue. It is my number one choice overall, but gets more selective every year. I am worried that my SAT score, especially the math subscore, will not be enough. However one of my friends got accepted into the school of engineering last year with a 1310 SAT, but he also got offers from D3 schools to play soccer. Will I be able to get in, or should I put my efforts elsewhere?

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Have you looked at the Purdue Data Digest, here, https://www.purdue.edu/datadigest/, to compare how your statistics compare with those of recently matriculated students? (Specifically the links to “Applications, Admits, and Matriculations” and “New First-Time Beginner Profile”.) That might give you a general idea of admissions chances.

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Can you take the SAT one more time and focus on getting the math sub score up?

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Would you consider Perdue Indianapolis?

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Would you be open to other schools that will 100% meet budget with your stats or you are set on this list?

U Mich should come off. You can’t make budget. Michigan State or Ohio State would be better choices but OSU a reach. MSU an in.

If you are ok with PNW, it is ABET accredited for CE.

But if you want a more traditional school, you’d have a lot of options well within your budget due to your GPA and SAT.

If you are open to others, what’s your geographic limitations?

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I was thinking about it. But my only option is the October SAT, which at worst I won’t get results back from until October 28th, which is 3 days before the EA deadline.

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I’m open to other schools.

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I can’t count the # of schools you’d have costs well below budget.

Alabama, UAH similar. Mississippi State. All low cost due to your strong scores. You’d get $26.5K off at Bama for example - so you’d be low-mid 20s. These schools buy smart kids like you in.

Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Missouri, Missouri Science and Tech, Texas Tech, Arkansas, Louisville, SUNYs like Bing, Buffalo, Stony Brook, Miami Ohio, South Carolina, Georgia, Cincinnati……so many. These should be well under to maybe close to budget.

As a Purdue sub, Minnesota is a great school and with merit you may be $40k-ish.

I’m missing a ton.

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Louisville would be a great one to look at. It has a very hands-on philosophy, and the engineering school has its own Living Learning Community. They have CSE, EE, and CS. And you’d get automatic merit Indiana Regional Scholars Award — Office of Admissions, and possibly tuition reciprocity depending on which county you live in. https://louisville.edu/registrar/general-information/reciprocity

Not saying you won’t get into Purdue - you just need some safer applications too, and Louisville might compare favorably with the ones already on your list. You might also look at the midwest publics where you’d be eligible for the MSEP reciprocity rate: U of Kansas (great honors college), UNL, and UW-Milwaukee, for example. MSEP publics for Indiana students

Agreed that Michigan State and Iowa State would also be good ones that have a lot in common with Purdue.

You have a strong transcript and you’re an in-state applicant, so hopefully Purdue will work out :crossed_fingers:t3:

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