@bruin2020 I think with 3.8 UW GPA, you stand a good chance to get into your major, as long as other items are pretty strong. Even if you have SAT score lower than 2,000, I would say you have a decent chance to get admitted at your major. My point for engineer applicants is this: Doesn’t doing very well in Honors/AP science and math classes in high school demonstrate your passion in this area? Do you have to say in your essay that you are passionate about this area? For me, how the applicant performed over many years counts more than showing your passion in one dinky essay UNLESS the applicant won some prestigious award.