Help me find selective schools

College Search & Lists
1

So here’s the breakdown:
I am currently looking to apply to several of the top Ivy League schools, Vanderbilt, and UT; however, I need schools in between Vanderbilt and UT that are preferably good with engineering where I would have a good chance at getting into in case I get rejected by all the above except UT. Thanks in advance everyone!
ACT: 34
SAT II: Math 2 (800), Physics (750)
GPA: 4.0
Most the rest the boxes are also checked like leadership, volunteer, internships, etc

2

Are you in the top 7-8% of your class in TX? UT is a fantastic safety to have. Carnegie Melon? Rochester?

3

I am 17/650. I’m not sure how much they will take my rank into account. It’s not terrible, but it’s not outstanding.

4

Seconding URochester.

5

Thank you guys I will look into it!

6

Engineering LACs include

Union – more of a safety for you
Swarthmore (part of a consortium so not as small as it looks on paper) but as much of a reach as your others

For women:
Smith
Sweet Briar

Not LAC but smallish

Bucknell
Lehigh
Villanova
Lafayette

Also look at Rose Hulman. The engineering program is supposedly very supported, unlike larger institutions. You may like what you see. Supposedly they ask the students to look to their right, to their left and to make sure that those people graduate with the rest of the class. Open doors on corridors. Cleaning services used to be part of the deal.

7

I was looking at some of the LAC’s including swarthmore and wasn’t sure how different they would feel from a national university and how recognizable they are after college.

8

There’s no guarantee that you would get in, but Michigan is less selective than Vandy and more selective than UT. Michigan engineering is incredible (ranked 5 by US news for undergrad engineering programs) so consider it

9

Um, do we know that the “UT” in the OP refers to Texas? Since it was mentioned right after Vanderbilt, I was thinking it was Tennessee. Also, the comment about “schools in between Vanderbilt and UT” kinda suggests there are many schools in between, and there really aren’t many schools in between Vanderbilt and Texas (and some would say there aren’t any, especially for engineering).

OP, can you clarify? Did you mean UT-Austin, and are you instate for Texas?

10

Good question.

11

How about visiting some of the schools suggested above and see how they feel to you.