All of these seem possible, but a standardized test score would be a big help, both in terms of “chancing” and in terms of strengthening your application if you do well.
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Thank you aquapt, most recent SAT score was 1070, I’m planning to take another SAT in Aug to improve it.
Since the current score is 1070, and if I don’t get a substantially better one, is there even a point in submitting this for test optional colleges. At what SAT score threshold does it makes sense to submit the test score if the schools are test optional?
I’d say you’re right about going test optional if your score doesn’t go up. Check the admitted student stats for each school. For the most part, if your score isn’t at or at least very close to the 25th percentile score that’s reported, it’s better not to submit it. Just looking at a couple of these, it seems like Drexel and NJIT both have a 25th percentile score around 1220; Temple’s is a bit lower at 1130. UTD’s is 1180. I don’t think your current score is worth submitting anywhere that you’re interested in, but see how the retake goes.
I’d thought about suggesting UTD, since their student body is almost 40% Asian and it’s great for anything STEM-adjacent. It might be kind of expensive OOS though; their big merit packages to to National Merit Scholars. Better option than TAMU, though, IMO.
It might be worth looking at the schools in the Colleges of the Fenway Consortium, in Boston.
- If you’re interested in a co-op approach like Drexel’s, and definitely want a tech-leaning program (but not too math-y), Wentworth might be worth a look - the Computer Information Systems major in their business school looks like it might fit, with enough math and CS to get your foot in the tech-industry door, but not an overwhelming amount. There’s also a more general business major with a project management track. I’ve known WIT students who have gotten great co-ops and subsequent careers. (One is working in the Bay Area now.) No marketing or communications majors, but…
- Simmons University has a general Business & Management major, a Marketing major and minor, and a Communications major and minor, plus an IT Technology and Cybersecurity major and minor.
- And at either of these schools, you can cross-register at the other, and supplement whatever is missing from one school’s offerings with courses from the other.
- I think you could probably get into both, and the location is unbeatable if the quintessential student city of Boston appeals. Diversity is decent. Both schools will estimate your projected merit aid based on your GPA, via their Net Price Calculators (you will get merit, it just varies how much).
Drexel is a good idea. The Technology Innovation Management co-major seems like a fit, and can be paired with any other business major including Marketing or MIS. Drexel is in a nice part of Philly, and the co-op approach could be a great help in breaking into the kind of career you want.
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Is that USF (aka U of San Francisco) acceptance rate and GPA correct? I see 3.65 average GPA (source: https://myusf.usfca.edu/cipe/usf-facts) and an acceptance rate above 70% (source: https://myusf.usfca.edu/sites/default/files/users/ncain/CDS%202022-2023_.pdf).
Ugh, you’re right, I don’t know what happened there. In fact, I thought it sounded too selective, so I double-checked, but now I go back to the same source I thought I checked, and your numbers are right. I’ll edit. 
No, I won’t. It’s too late. 
3.65 median GPA, 71% acceptance rate. Slightly more selective than Seattle U. Less selective than Santa Clara. Sorry.
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Thanks, I checked out Wentworth, its going on list as prospect. The co-op system seems a great way to get practical industry experience.
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I’m not sure that Wentworth is necessarily a better option than, say, SJSU, UNR, U of Portland, U of SF, or (if you want east coast + co-op) Drexel. But the Boston student experience can definitely be a draw, and a smaller co-op school could be appealing too.
For a different twist on a major that could work for business+tech, SJSU’s Packaging major is one of the least-impacted programs, yet it has some of the highest starting salaries and employment rates for grads. It has elements of marketing/advertising, but also includes some STEM, and grads can definitely work in tech (packaging design for electronics, for example), although many also work in the medical, agricultural, and other sectors too. https://www.sjsu.edu/essc/docs/Packaging%20Brochure.pdf It’s a smaller program - close-knit with small, hands-on/project-based classes and supportive faculty mentors; and the curriculum includes a paid internship. Relatively few colleges have this, and grads are in high demand, so it could be worth a look.
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