Recommendation for where I should apply

College Search & Lists
1

Hi! I am interested in pursuing electrical engineering with a minor in sustainable engineering as I have a passion for renewable energy. Since I am asian and EE is competitive, I am worried that colleges will cast me aside. Therefore, I was thinking of applying for environmental engineering instead and then switching majors after 1 semester.

In essence, I am looking for a well-known university with a good engineering program. I would prefer to go to a university on the larger side but not too large where professors can’t keep track of their students.

SAT (breakdown): 800 Math, 780 Reading, 19 Essay
ACT: 36 (36 Math and Reading, 35 Science and Writing), 9 Essay
SAT Subject Tests: 800 Math 2; I just took Physics and Chem recently so idk what I got exactly, but I feel I performed well

Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.93, 1 B Freshman yr in English
Weighted GPA (out of 5.0): 4.81

Rank: school does not have class rank

AP:
5s in Physics C Mech, EM; I’ve also taken Chem, Spanish Lang, English Lang, Environmental, Calc BC, APUSH
I’m pretty sure I got a 5 on Chem and BC. I may have gotten 4s on the others

Awards:
Technology Student Association (Nationals qualifier),
Mercer Science Fair (First place in Energy category),
Member of the school Physics Bowl team that was a top scorer
Second place in UPenn PClassic programming competition
Research paper selected to be presented at the Solar World Congress Conference 2019

Extracurricular Activities:
Columbia SHP, Solar Cookers International (UN Representative);

Geography club (Vice President), Physics club, Technology Student Association

Internships:
NJ State Museum, Columbia University Earth Observatory

High School Type:
Public, medium, and middle class
Ethnicity:
Asian
Gender:
Male

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.

2

Since you like larger schools and have a particular interest in sustainability, I would think that UMichigan could be a particularly good fit for you. UMich is at the forefront of all things sustainability, and has a Sustainable Engineering program that can augment any engineering major. http://pise.engin.umich.edu/undergraduate.html Michigan is a big university, but students in the engineering school still get a lot of individual attention, while having phenomenal research opportunities particularly in terms of the abundant sustainability research there. In terms of initial major choice, their approach is: “To give students the opportunity to explore the numerous engineering degrees offered by the College, first year undergraduate engineering students not transferring from another institution of higher education enter the College without declaring a specific engineering major.” So you wouldn’t have to worry about which major to apply to - you could choose Electrical, Environmental, or any of the other engineering programs once there.

Generally, though, there should be no reason to “game” your major within engineering. Either apply to what you really think you want, or apply to schools with First Year Engineering programs where you enter your major after the first year.

3

Purdue.

They have a first year common engineering program and then you transition to your major after the end of freshman year.

4

I will let others give you school recommendations, but at many schools it is difficult to change engineering majors.

Will you be NMF? Do you have any financial constraints/what is your annual college budget?