<p>So how important is it to go to a top 10 engineering school? Out of the top 10 schools, the only one I have visited, able to get into, and liked was Purdue. So since none of the top 10 schools are in state for me, the tuition is pretty expensive (I think purdue offers merit aid to out of state kids though).
I live in ohio and I’m slightly interested in going really far away (not just for weather) and also possibly running track at a d2 or d3 college (none of which are top 10).
So will I really be at a disadvantage if I don’t go to a well known program? I’m undecided about grad school, but because I’m interested in biomed and aeronautical I would tend to think that grad school would probably be a good idea.
And just to throw it in, I kinda made this sound like I’m unintelligent, I have a 3.9 UW and am taking several AP’s and such.</p>
<p>Top 10?</p>
<p>Do you really think it’s possible that there are only 10 schools that don’t put its graduates at a “major disadvantage?”</p>
<p>Anywhere with a decent name, an accredited program, and plentiful co-op/internship opportunities is fine, unless you want to work at an extremely selective and prestigious company.</p>
<p>I mean yea you have a good point there. Not really sure what sort of company I’d be looking at, I just (as lame as this sounds), want to be well-off in life. I want to be able to give my children as many opportunities as I can.</p>
<p>Did you take the PSAT test and do you qualify for NMF in Ohio? If so, you should consider USC, as they offer guaranteed 1/2 tuition schorlaships to all NMF’s. They have great Biomed and AE programs.</p>
<p>Yes I did take the PSAT, but I won’t come close to being a national merit finalist. I was feeling really sick the day I took it and scored terribly. I wish I could go to a school such as that one.</p>
<p>have you taken any SAT’s yet? if you are a top student[UW3.9 is great!]and have top SAT scores[ 2300+] you can STILL be in the running for a 1/2 to full tuition scholarship at USC. You HAVE to complete your application by DEC 1 to be considered for merit $$.</p>
<p>Hmm, I was originally not going to take the SAT at all and just focus on the ACT because the math and science portions help raise my score but maybe I will this coming fall. I took the ACT on April 9th and I’m awaiting my scores on that, but I know that private colleges appreciate the SAT more than the ACT. I’m scheduled to take the ACT again on june 11th so I guess I’ll see how those go and how I feel over the summer. I highly doubt I could get a 2300+ on the SAT since it’s all logic based. I’m not exactly sure how “studyable” it is.
I just read about the presidential and trustee scholarships so there’s a possibility I could get those based on things I’ve done, though they are quite difficult to receive.</p>
<p>the important things to remember about the merit $$ at USC is
1- don’t miss the Dec 1 deadline for any reason!!
2- show your enthusiasm for your areas of interest in your essays and
3- if you are invited to interview for a P or T scholarship- you MUST attend- scholarships aren’t given without an interview.
The SAT’s are easy to study for- just get a copy of the Collegeboard’s SAT guide and take their repeated practice tests.
4- review what you wrote about in your essays, as they will be referred to in the interview.</p>
<p>Okay, thank you for those helpful tips.</p>
<p>I was looking at their admission standards, and it says that subject tests are optional but recommended. I could probably get really close to an 800 on Math 2, but since I’m in art history (no subject test offered), not very strong in spanish (would probably get like a low-mid 600 w/o studying), and havn’t taken an AP science yet (physics during senior year), I’m really out of luck for the others. Any recommendations? </p>
<p>Any I was always under the assumption that you can’t really “study” for the SAT in the way that you can for the ACT. For example, to get a 2400 you truly have to be somewhat of a genius and refrain from making any mistakes, whereas with the ACT you can be pretty intelligent, but if you practice a lot, a 36 isn’t really all that hard.</p>
<p>I think that great scores on either the ACT or the SAT, plus a high GPA will give you a good chance for scholarships/admission at USC. Which AP’s are you taking this year?</p>
<p>Man, my school is only ranked 45th. Guess I’m screwed.</p>
<p>I’m currently taking ap statistics and art history, next year I will be taking ap language, calc ab/bc, and physics b</p>
<p>what are yourother regular classes this year? and can you take SAT subject tests in June right after finals? Especially if you ACT results are not 35-36?</p>
<p>Inmotion12, what are you talking about? your school is ranked #8, I just checked. it is well known to be strong in engineering.</p>
<p>yes, it is important for you to find the school with the best department in the subject of your interest and that is also affordable.</p>
<p>Menloparkmom:
I’m also taking other honors level courses: Technical drawing 3 honors, spanish 4 honors, pre calc honors, chemistry honors, english 11 honors
Next year I’m taking anatomy & physiology honors, gov/econ (req) and some art classes in addition to those ap’s. Ap physics is a double period at our school.
And I’m also (based off your tremendous USC influence on me) going to take the spanish subject test at the end of this school year. Thanks!</p>
<p>Hazelcapri: I know it’s important to find a school with the best of both worlds (rank & fit), but how much of an advantage does being a top ranked school get you? More career opportunities I assume, or not always?</p>
<p>YOU may want to take following subject tests in June- English Lang[ not Lit], Math 2 and Spanish . You can sign up to take 3 on one day- they are about 1 hr each</p>
<p>With finals/act w/ writing and spanish subject test all at the end of the year, I’m gonna wait to take math II and an english test until fall of my senior year.</p>
<p>Question: My 11th grade english class is set up very similar to an AP lit class. Should I take the sat lit or lang? I mean I will have like a month of AP lang completed by the time I take the test, so I don’t know which I should do.
Unless it’s something easy to study for in which case I have the whole summer to prepare for the ACT/mathII/ and english…
I looked at the acceptance thread to usc and there were many people that didn’t take the SAT and I think I have a much better chance getting a 34-36 on the ACT than I do getting a 2200+ on the SAT.</p>
<p>Lang is easier than Lit
Its fine to wait until Oct to take subject tests[ if you need them]
the more math you have under your belt the better you will do with the Math 2 test. You may want to buy the Collegeboard book[ online] and study for the SAT over the summer, if your Act results aren’t what you had hoped for.
Just remember that you can’t take the SAT and any subject tests on the same test date, and there are only 2 dates in the Fall that will enable you to complete your application to USC by Dec 1.</p>
<p>I got a 30 on my first ACT this past april, so I’m hoping for a 31-32 on my next one in June (I will have more time to study for this and more experience). Then I plan on taking like half a dozen practice ACT’s this summer as well as studying the types of questions I missed on my older ACT’s to get that high score.
I just feel that with the SAT harder in the areas that I am worse at, but easier(?) in the areas I’m better at, I would end up doing bad. I got a 1700 on my PSAT and even though I was sick enough with the hot/cold sweats and vomitting after I finished, I still don’t think I would have done THAT well. I have my sister’s old SAT book so maybe I’ll take a look at it just to see if I like the material better or something.</p>
<p>I will definitely keep that date in mind! It is one of the reasons I will apply to USC</p>