Chance Me: NC Female Senior Applying Mechanical Engineering [3.8 GPA, 42 credits of DE college courses]

Chance Me / Match Me
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1

Demographics
US domestic
Rural NC
Small, Public High School
White Female
Father went to Duke, Mother didn’t go to college

Intended Major(s)

  1. Mechanical Engineering
  2. Business (If not offered or great Business school)

3.8 UW, 4.5 W
2/175
Test Optional

Coursework
School only offers like 9 AP Classes, took 5. Mostly scored 4’s with one 3 on AP Test

But have taken multiple dual enrollment classes, was the first freshman at my school to take community college classes. Have like 42 college credit hours at local community college.

Awards

  1. NC Scholar
  2. STEM Scholar
  3. NHS, NTHS, PTK
  4. Revit Certifications
  5. Feature in Local Paper

Extracurriculars

  1. High school Rep on Local Board, did a lot with this. Helped connect students with county officials, started certain drives/funding thru this board, spoke about students bond issues.
  2. Founder & Captain of schools Winter Guard (Color guard but in the off season)
  3. Captain of Color Guard, doubled it Senior year, created new traditions, this took a lot of my time but was worth it
  4. Band Business Manger, created band fundraiser, spoke at Booster Meetings, gather volunteers for fundraisers. I think about 2,000+ raised this semester
  5. Treasurer of International thespian Society. Did huge fundraising for this, talked to bunch of store owners, run face painting booth for past 3 years that overall raised 3,500+
  6. InterACT Club (Community Service) created annual tradition at my school called Thankful Turkeys for past three years, people write notes of gratitude. I also did RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Academy) with this club
  7. Spring Musical Production, dance captain, supporting & lead roles
  8. Fall Play Productions, lead & supporting roles
  9. Family Responsibilities, parents moved a lot in high school, had to help with a lot of renovations/resale which correlates to my school concentration (Drafting - Architecture). I won’t get into to it, but this was major factor in my life
  10. Yearbook for Junior & Senior Year, runs TV slideshow of student life displayed in school

Essays
My schools limited with resources, but I think my personal essays strong and I really tried on my supplements.

Schools
Safeties:
Appalachian Sate University EA
North Carolina University at Charlotte EA

Targets:
North Carolina State University EA
Elon University EA
Clemson University?? EA
University of South Carolina EA

Reaches:
North Carolina University at Chapel Hill EA
Duke University ED

I don’t have to high of hopes but am eager to see everyone else’s opinion! I know I didn’t apply to many but I don’t think I’m a super top student. Let me know your thoughts! Thank you so much!

2

So I think you’re a solid student but I don’t totally get your list.

Elon is ABET but has to be re certified. It’s a safety but not sure I’d go there.

UNC doesn’t offer engineering except bio so why on your list at all. Same with App State.

Any cost concerns ?

Assuming not add a Va Tech and UTK vs UNC.

If money is an issue, you’d be under $20k a year at Alabama all in - and get just as good a job as NC State.

I think u get into U of SC, maybe Clemson abd def Elon but it shouldn’t be on your list.

Ps - you’re an EXCELLENT student. Good luck.

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Thank you so much! I applied Business to App and UNC, because most people from my school apply and my counselor recommended. But I’m def gonna look into Bama and Virginia Tech for RD :slight_smile:

4

Do you want to study engineering or business. I would tailor your application list to what you want to study rather than the other way around.

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5

I think you will likely be fine with all of those except Duke. NC State may be tough too for engineering, but you should be fine for business.

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6

If you want to major in engineering, there’s no reason to apply to business. You can do a business job as an engineering major (it’s common) but you can’t be an engineer with a business major.

Plus UNC is not direct admit for business - you have to apply for Junior year.

So don’t pursue things that aren’t your priority - you are plenty worthy for many many schools - and where you go for MechE short of a few schools doesn’t matter.

You didn’t list cost concerns and not sure your geographic preferences although it seems you want to be close.

So I 100% disagree with your counselor.

Best of luck.

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The ED with legacy will help a little, but Duke really focuses on the transcript and likes scores. To fully chance you, can you answer the following?

3.8uw: what courses were the B grades and what years?

Engineering, particularly Duke(Pratt) is going to want to see that you challenged yourself in Stem and did well.

What is the highest level of Physics, math and chem offered by your school? What is the highest you took for each subject , and was it at your school or through DE?

What APs offered at your school were you not able to take?

What subject was the 3 score on the AP?

8

I would think Georgia Tech would love you. Damn fine school, great atmosphere, tradition, fun. You seem like you were made for that school.

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9

Some of your list do not have the exact major you specify:

  • Elon: general engineering
  • UNC Asheville: mechatronics engineering, joint program with NCSU
  • UNC Chapel Hill: biomedical engineering

NCSU does have competitive secondary admission to specific engineering majors after students enter as undeclared engineering-first-year.

You may want to add NC A&T and UNC Charlotte for additional in-state publics with mechanical engineering.

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10

I think you will be admitted to many of the schools on your list.

Another in-state option for mechanical engineering would be the 2+2 program starting at UNC Wilmington and ending up at NC State. (To increase your in-state options since several of your schools do not have mechanical engineering)

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11

Thank you so much!!

Two B’s both my sophomore (Spanish II Online NCVPS & Psychology DE) and my junior year (Spanish III H Online NCVPS and AP Environmental)

I’ve taken the highest level of math at my school (AP Calc AB, AP Stats, all the rest honors) and three other math courses through DE. I took Chem H (highest level) and General Chem DE. I’m taking Physics my senior year Online through NCVPS because my school doesn’t offer it.

My schools offered AP Human Geo, AP Psychology, etc, that I either had schedule conflict with or truly didn’t think I would enjoy.

I scored a 3 on Lang & Comp junior year.

12

I’ve definitely looked into and was worried about applying early, but I will definitely apply regular because of your thoughts!

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