My D26 recently decided she wants to apply for engineering. Her interest in math/science developed as she progressed. She has a good story but it has changed how we are looking at her list. School’s that were previously a match/safety now may not be. She likes bigger state schools. Thank you!
US citizen, female, Massachusetts
Public high school
budget: ideally <$75k
major: biomedical engineering / bioengineering. (Biology as fallback option)
She sounds fantastic! Wondering how she fit in drama/music being a 3-season sport athlete (deep interest in a small number of activities valued over having every activity in the book listed). Umass is a toss-up—I’d have several safety schools in addition, only because Umass-Amherst for engineering is very competitive. I would add in WPI, WIT
I do not think CU Boulder would be that much of a reach- the good thing for your daughter is that they are one of the schools that look at Weighted GPAs (and this is an important factor in their admissions) instead of unweighted GPAs.
If a strong application package is submitted (good essays and LORs) I would be very surprised if they did not at least get into Exploratory studies which offers a pretty easy path (for strong students) to then transfer into what they want pretty quickly.
At some schools, it’d be worth submitting the test.
Hopefully she had more social science than just the two APs listed.
UMASS is likely and U Pitt is likely.
U Wisconsin is unlikely.
Colorado is a safety but she will likely get Exploratory and not Engineering. There’s a benefit - it’s cheaper that first year and the classes are the same but you have to hit the milestones. Of course they lock in once you hit the major so year 2-4 would be higher.
I’d submit a 1350 to all 4.
Lots of safety schools - you can go for the mid 30s to Alabama. If the test went up to 1360, it’d be mid 20s (or a 30 ACT).
If you want to stay in blue states, U Delaware, SUNY BUFF. A U of Arizona is purple and Tucson is very blue - outstanding in most majors.
U Vermont, URI.
The name is less important than it having ABET accreditation.
Here’s a complete list of safeties in blue states. You can go much, much cheaper if you go South. All should have the SAT submitted and all will be less than $75K. There are schools in the 20s on up - but your list is toward the upper end (Pitt, Wisconsin, Colorado)
I removed the smaller schools (like Wentworth) but left the two UMASS branch since they’re in state and cost would be low.
Buffalo
Colorado State University
University of Delaware
University of Maine
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Pittsburgh
Temple University
The University of Rhode Island
University of Vermont
How about University of Iowa? Good biomedical engineering and she’ll find out immediately - I think my daughter had an acceptance same day. It made a nice safety. Any other criteria on location? Lots of big, state schools have biomedical engineering.
I think that U.Mass Amherst is an excellent choice and quite likely. I do not think that it is a safety for engineering, but I do think that the odds are better than 50/50 and I think that is a very good university and would be quite affordable. If your daughter were to switch to biology, math, or computer science again U.Mass is a very good choice.
It is not clear to me that either Wisconsin or Colorado would be worth the extra cost unless your daughter gets into one of these and does not get into U.Mass. I would have expected Wisconsin to be less likely for admissions compared to U.Mass.
I am wondering if U.Mass Lowell and/or WPI and/or RPI would be worth applications just in case U.Mass Amherst doesn’t come through. I also agree with U. of Maine as a possible backup.
I think she’ll get into Pitt and UMass, and that’s two great choices already. Since she prefers big schools, the list that @tsbna44 gave you is so helpful plus those thoughts on schools in the south.
If she’d like another target, I think she’d have a chance at Penn State if she applies by 11/1. Just an FYI, their alumni group runs charter busses between Penn State and and MA & CT every break so you wouldn’t have to go down and get her/bring her back for Thanksgiving, winter break, and spring break. It’s a great little perk.
A very good safety would be Manhattan University. Overall cost (tuition, fees, room, & board) is $74,600. And that’s before any financial aid or merit awards. Their School of Engineering goes back 130+ years and has 5 majors. Biomedical Engineering is offered as a concentration within the Mechanical Engineering Major. Full time undergraduate enrollment is 2700 with an undergrad enrollment of 900 in the School of Engineering. As a bonus the Dean of the School of Engineering is a woman.
UMass Engineering is a target.
CU Exploratory seems a bit too risky for an OOS school with the related OOS tuition- if she gets it and not direct admit Engineering Id cross it out.
You should hear from Pitt soon but a is likely.
If she wants a solid safety this program would be https://agsci.psu.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors/biological-engineering
Safety as long as her application is in immediately (pretty much today/tomorrow are the last possible days to have a shot at the STARS/SRAR in on time to meet the 11/1 deadline.)
Are there restrictions - like no red states ( Iowa) or weather or anything ? There’s my schools that could work - just didn’t know what the limitations are.
While you noted a $75k budget, you could go for under half of that.
Biomedical is one of the lower paid engineering disciplines and I believe today ( not in 5 years), the market has slowed.
Looking at the list of schools she has currently applied to, it appears as though she has a preference for northern schools in urban areas or college towns, potentially with some proximity to outdoor adventures. Based on that, these are some schools that she may want to consider:
Colorado State
U. at Buffalo (NY)
U. of Minnesota – Twin Cities
U. of New Hampshire
U. of Utah (and if she stays for a summer before or after her first year, she can qualify for in-state pricing)
U. of Vermont
West Virginia U.
I think the majority would be extremely likely admits for her.
The OP is free to ignore the suggestion. I guess I’d lump Manhattan in with previously suggested WPI and RPI, neither of which is big or a state school. And while we’re at it, we could also include UMass Dartmouth and University of Maine because while state schools, neither is particularly big.
I see Boulder and Madison and I’m thinking she is looking at fun college towns. So I’d have to suggest Athens, GA and UGA. Can be a tough admit, but it’s a fun campus and town. A few people mentioned Iowa - I hear good things about Iowa City as a college town.
She’s picking a field which draws smart kids, so there is a lot of competition for the top schools. Schoolwork will be tough too, she may not want to plan to have too much fun…
is likely.