Seeking Safety and Collaborative. Mech Eng, low EC, UW GPA 3.9, 35 ACT, CA [<$65k, no need based FA]

Chance Me / Match Me
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Demographics

  • US Citizen
  • CA resident (in SoCal, not local to any university)
  • Type of high school: public
  • Other special factors: None. No legacy, not an athlete, no stories

Cost Constraints / Budget
Expecting no need based aid. Goal is to keep net price to less than $65K a year.

Intended Major: Mechanical Engineering

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 3.90
  • Weighted HS GPA: 4.65 (+1 for APs, Honors)
  • UC weighted and capped GPA: 4.17
  • College GPA: 4.0
  • Class Rank: Top 10%
  • ACT Score: 35 (did not take SAT)

List your HS coursework

  • English: Honors 9, Honors 10, AP Language, AP Literature
  • Math: Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra II / Trig, Honors Pre-calc, AP Calc B/C
  • Science: AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Physics 1, AP Physics C
  • History and social studies: AP Human Geography, AP World History, AP US History, AP Government (next semester AP Econ)
  • Language other than English: 2 years Spanish
  • Visual or performing arts: AP Art History
  • Other academic courses: AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles

College Coursework

  • Introduction to Engineering
  • Introduction to CAD

Awards

  • AP Scholar with Distinction

Extracurriculars

  • No leadership
  • FIRST Robotics Team, 4 years, member
  • 1 internship

Essays/LORs/Other

  • Writing is least favorite subject. Don’t expect awesome essays.
  • LOR is science teacher (and a Counselor for schools that require that)

Schools

  • Assured (100% chance of admission and affordability): Community College
  • Extremely Likely: ASU
  • Likely: Cal Poly Pomona
  • Toss-up: Colorado School of Mines, RIT, WPI, CU Boulder
  • Lower Probability: University of Wisconsin Madison, RPI
  • Low Probability: Cal Poly SLO, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Irvine, UCSD, UCSB
  1. I was encouraging him to apply to SJSU as a safety, but saw on here a link to this: First Time First Year Impaction Results | Admissions and realized he won’t get in (Mech Eng is way higher points than other majors). I’m worried that ASU and CPP may not be safe enough.
  2. Did we put the other schools in the right categories?
  3. He really likes the idea of internships, co-ops, and a collaborative environment. We think his list is pretty decent for him, but if we’ve missed the boat on something please share.
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So - with this in mind, you need to build a list to this.

ASU is a safety. U of A would be another not on your list but the campus look is more traditional, if that matters to you. You’ll get aid at both and be under.

Pomona is also safe.

Your toss ups are safeties. There is a small chance that CU might put you in exploratory instead of engineering - but it’s doubtful. And if they did, it’s easy to get to engineering But CU Boulder won’t make budget unless you get merit - and you likely will but just a few thousand. So I might remove it from my list - and you can put in Oregon State and WUE. Or Colorado State. School of Mines will be a bit cheaper and you’ll get merit.

But all those are safe.

Lower prob - RPI is very safe admission wise. Apply for the RPI medal. But RPI will throw you enough merit to hit cost.

Wisconsin - you are right (toss up) and it’s close to your end budget. U MN would be a sub to make budget and Purdue would be a reasonable reach and would definitely hit budget.

I’ll leave the CSUs and UCs alone as they are hard to judge - although you seem a great candidate.

If you wanted to take advantage of your grades/ACT, an Alabama would get you similar outcomes (mine turned down Purdue, works in Irvine, 3 years out) - you’d be low 20s with $30,500 off the $52.2K tuition, room and board cost - and you’d save when you went off campus. So that puts another $200K in our pocket vs. a CU. UF likely wouldn’t give you merit but it’s another fine name - about $50K-ish if the SE works. And while a reach, why not take a flyer at Ga Tech if the SE is up your alley.

If small works (very small) and even more focused and smaller than School of MInes, look at Rose Hulman. Also very safe and very likely to hit.

But you way overstated the difficulty of the list but you have some that are - not necessarily fine for your budget.

Engineering is difficult - I can’t comment on competitive vs. collaborative - but most seem collaborative.

As for internships and co ops, that is up to the kid. You have to work hard at it (persistence) and the job market has to work well. My kids both found internships (one was an engineer) but applied to a lot. Fortunately, the engineer went back a 2nd summer so it made the 2nd year easier - and had ample job opportunities - but the market was better then. Today, more struggle, even from perceived top schools.

But you’ll also find in engineering, where you go matters less - as my son’s company does, top schools like Michigan, U Wash, Case Western - but they also hire from schools like W Michigan, Akron - and they all come with the same salaries. Your main thing is ABET accreditation. But your son is a stud and will have no shortage of schools that want him, including most of those you listed. But make sure you budget appropriately for these.

Good luck

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I think your toss ups are all likely, and RPI at worst would be a toss up, not low probability.

Purdue would fit the vibe, budget, and strongly supported internship/co op opportunities (in the same category as Madison). Closer to home, Oregon State is worth a look, which should be a safety if he wants another school to add.

That said, with your current list, your son should have plenty of great choices come spring!

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I think that you have a good list for a very strong student. I expect your son to have some good options from this list.

I think that your toss-ups are probably more likely than 50-50. One daughter did get offered merit aid at UC Boulder with similar but probably slightly lower stats, and the aid did bring the cost well under $65,000/year (even adjusting for inflation since then). This however was not for engineering. With Oregon State being a WUE school it might be more likely to meet cost relative to UC Boulder (ditto for Washington State U.). However, I think that you have a good list whether with or without any of these three.

I think that your son is doing very well.

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CPP Freshmen Student Profile: Multifactor Admission lists CPP last year thresholds based on CSU_GPA * 1000 + 450. ME was a more competitive major.

ASU should be automatic (including for engineering majors) if the applicant meets the course requirements with a 3.0 unweighted GPA. See First-year admission requirements | Admission | ASU

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Thank you for taking the time to give these details! I feel like his toss ups are not safe and they could all pan out the wrong way. I’d love for him to get into 2 or more and have a choice.
The CU Boulder one being expensive is what I’ve been guessing too, it just appeared to be more about academics to get in than ECs, so I had more hope there. Purdue and Georgia Tech are both great schools, but I was concerned they’re both high reaches and was afraid of a wall of denials come spring.
We’ll need to investigate Oregon State and UofA, the medal at RPI. That is really good info about hiring that it’s the degree that matters more than the university.

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Thank you for the links on CPP and ASU - they do look like true safeties for his stats. That gives me some of the reassurance I was concerned about.

I’ll add Missouri S&T to the list of schools to check out.

I appreciate you all taking the time and providing the details and links!!

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As a parent, it’s nerve wracking.

Your son does have one weak spot in his profile - only two years of a foreign language. Assuming that’s Spanish 1-2, it could hurt at a UC - which recommends three but requires two.

But all his toss ups are safeties - and honestly, it’s not even close. Your son is so beyond the admission profile of each school. And given you have money, the privates will love you - not to mention, you are from across the country and some you’ve chosen are regional.

School of Mines - I can’t find their CDS but I know it’s gotten easier over the years. Big future reports a 61% acceptance and you are over both the GPA and SAT. And they don’t list foreign language as a requirement. I did find a page from them with a 3.84 GPA and 31 ACT - and they are test optional so not all are submitting. This is a safety. If they’re the same as they used to be, get on their email list - and they’ll send you a free app. The issue now is budget - they are $65K for tuition, room and board - but they give up to $10K a year. I’m guessing you’d get that but you never know but don’t forget about annual inflation and it’s the kind of area moving off campus can cost more. But if you want to ski - what a great school!!

RIT requires no language and recommends a year. Less than half test - with the average ACT a 32. 70% + get in and of those that do, they yield less than 1 and 7. Take out ED and their yield is really low. They need you a lot more than you need them. The only question is - how much merit will you get? COA is $82K - but they say they offer $14K to $30K annually - so they may get to budget but it’s not assured.

WPI admits 62% - it’s another school that needs you more than them. Their yield is a bit better than RPI but take out ED and it’s still low. Again, affordability is the question. Tuition room and board are over $80K. Admission isn’t an issue - your budget is. My guess is you’d get a minimum $25K - the Presidential.

RPI and WPI are schools that need you far more than you need them. They’re great schools but that’s the marketing place today.

The issue with CU Boulder isn’t admission - they admit 2/3 of candidates and you are far beyond the norm. Occasionally they offer engineering hopefuls Exploratory - which is still an easy path to engineering - and cheaper the first year - so not a worry. What is a worry is the cost - For engineering, direct costs are $71,000 - and it looks like now merit may be between $1500-2500. When my kids went, they both got $6250 a year - and it seemed that was near everyone. So if $65K is the budget, you can find better schools. And the tour guide was honest - when people move off - if they stay in the vicinity, they pay more - or they go to a neighboring town to save money. That’s why I noted Colorado State and Oregon State - they are both WUE schools.

But your toss ups are safeties and it’s not even close. And RPI - like RIT and WPI - they admit 67%, you are from CA and so far over the average - it’s not even close. It’s an easy in. As about the RPI medal for $40K off. But even without, I’m guessing they’ll hit with merit. Tuition, room and board is $86K or so.

But like RIT and RPI and others (Rose Hulman, even Case Western), these schools need yo ufar more than you need them. But rejection isn’t happening - it could at Case if you added - if you didn’t express interest.

Purdue - a match I think but would hit cost and Ga Tech - yes a reach. You need one acceptance - that’s it - that’s affordable. WIth your list, you are not getting a wall of denial.

I’ll give you an example - my son interned with two kids from a high reach school you just mentioned - as well as LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee Tech, Tex A&M I think - and more. He went back a second summer.

At the same time, if you look at Ga Tech career stats - I don’t know how long after graduation they were taken but in 2025, for Mechanical, 71% of kids who wanted jobs found them at whatever the reading with a median $82.5K. Ga Tech only gets data from 35% of the students - I don’t know about the major. My son, not from Ga Tech, started at about that salary (before a 10% target bonus) three years ago.

As a contrast, U of Alabama gets data from most its MechEs - 90.7% in spring of 25. Only 5% were still seeking at last report - and the average salary was $78K. So better success and likely less money - but it’s an average vs. tech a median - but not far.

Not all schools easily report salary data - hence I use the comparison. But for your son, Bama is $22K a year - because of automerit because of his academic profile - $30.5K - so then you decide, is spending $65K a year worth it? Only you can decided. Their NMF deal is arguably the best - so they have amongst the most in the country.

What do others MechEs earn as reported by the school:

RPI - I don’t know the knowledge rate - meaning I’m not sure if they get from all but in 2024 (2025 is locked), the average MechE salary was $77,865.

UMN - which I recommended as a sub for Wisconsin - because of budget. In 2024, MechE was $76,100 - so same year as RPI but a year behind Ga Tech and Bama.

U Michigan - again, don’t know the knowledge rate. I believe, rightly or wrongly, a low knowledge rate overstates the # but they show an $86.1K average MechE Salary and an $85K median (which you can compare to Ga Tech). I put it there and your son is worthy of applying but it’s $20K over your budget.

I mentioned Rose Hulman - an engineering focused small school in the middle of nowhere - it shows 96% placement at $77.2K.

WPI has a 97% knowledge rate - so they know about most everyone. They show a mean of $74.7k and a median of $76.5K with about 1 in 8 seeking employment 6 months out. I appreciate a school like this that is forthright with more data.

I got a UC for you - UCB - they show $105K median, so $20K+ more than Ga Tech - but that might be one is placing in the SE and one is placing in the Bay area.

One more - Missouri S&T was raised. It used to be Missouri-Rolla, a branch campus if you well and the state made it into a tech focused school. No knowledge rate but it’s average salary for MechE at the Bachelor level shows $77.2K. If 7K kids in a small town in the middle of nowhere is something he’d want, it’s a gem - not known by the world but absolutely known by people who need to - employers.

I tried to get Purdue - they used to be open with their data which I appreciate but unless I am missing something, they’ve now locked it to the outside.

But most schools are within range of one another. Some have higher hiring rates, etc. And I wouldn’t worry about where I want to be - you apply for jobs where you want to be. My son’s 6 offers were all over - and 3 years out, he’s in Irvine - and his first role with the company was in Ogden, Utah. But you will end up in jobs based on where you apply, etc. - so if he went East or midwest and wanted to come home, it’s far from impossible.

Here’s what I would decide -

My drop dead budget and I’d set it $10K less. Why ? Inflation, you have to get there, what if he joins a fraternity (even a professional one) or goes on Spring Break trips. Now, at some places, like where my son went, living off campus saves $$. At others, like where my daughter went - it cost more.

So going to a Ga Tech or Mines or CU will likely cost more off campus where an ASU or U of A can be the other way, etc.

After budget - does he want enormous or mid size or small? Does he he need to be in a city or adjacent to a city or does he want to be in the wilderness.

Yes, UMN is a sub for UWisc - both are big mid west flagships and I chose UMN purely on budget but yes, it’s an easier admit. But Minneapolis is huge - maybe he doesn’t want that. Madison is mid size and on a lake.

So those type things.

Sports, religion, anything else that matters.

Is there a career interest? My son wanted cars and we picked schools with either a Formula SAE Team or a Formula SAE and ecoCAR team. Few schools have ecoCAR (UCD is one) but many have Formula SAE. It’s not just a question of having them - talk to kids at the school - do first years participate? If so, how.

The SE is huge for automotive because that’s where manufacturing is - so if that was an interest, maybe UNCC or Clemson (too much $$) or Bama or Miss State come in the mix, etc. If he wants to work in aero (which my son now does even though he wanted and interned in automotive) but if he wanted aero, maybe Rocket City works - UAH (Huntsville, AL). If he doesn’t know what he wants or he prefers a specific region (like he prefers to be out West), there’s no shortage of solid schools.

I’d worry more about budget and sticking with it and then what he wants in a school - then chasing a name.

CU or ASU are very different than - a WPI or RIT, etc. - if that makes sense.

If he busts tail, all will lead to success.

Here’s something to think about - 50% of engineers don’t finish - whether difficulty, change of major desire - is he 100% set or not - because if he’s going to change, would he want to be at a more limiting school major wise?

I think your list works as is - but a couple have me concerned because of the budget.

But the wall of rejection on the toss ups and below plus RPI - just aren’t going to happen.

Best of luck.

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Is level 2 the highest level?

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Purdue’s data digest for mechanical engineering for '25:

https://www.purdue.edu/datadigest/?TSPD_101_R0=08993c5290ab20005ef55bd1f2caaf44fc46ad08fc3ad03bdbc247aca3a0274d194cdf1191319f4b0886fd3bfc144800301eafde9e0a2285ad92324290a8146c5314c341114cdc570ea840daa472916694b73d6710c15c5863254ce83b79237c591dcb18d6f293ffb8704d7289412f746e676e88006d1efa

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Thank you !!!

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Have you visited any of these schools? If so, what did he like or dislike about them? You left off Davis. Was that intentional? It is one of the most collaborative UCs.

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I agree that WPI is more likely than toss-up. The only toss-up factor is how much merit aid your son gets and if that’s enough to make it fit in your budget. And I’d guess that it will be enough. I agree with the others, I think you have a really solid list and he should be just fine. If he ends up interested in WPI and you/he have more questions, please feel free to ping me later. My son just graduated in May with a double major in MechE and CivE and he (and we) was very happy with his overall experience.

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I think you are about right WRT chances at UW-Madison, given all known data:

UW-Madison’s OOS admit rate in 25-26 was about 40%, and that has been falling for years. When they publish the CDS for 26-27 it’ll likely be in the 30s%. Numbers are almost certainly lower for those declaring Engineering as their first choice.

The 75th% ACT overall is a 34, but it likely is 35 (or even 36) for OOS applicants. The standards for in-state and OOS applicants are different.

Therefore, UW is probably a high match or a low reach for high-stat OOS applicants, depending on major/school selected. It might be a match for those applying for L&S, but Engineering is not that.

The quality of instruction is still outstanding, no doubt, and it’s always been fun to be a Badger… but it’s a fair bit harder for a kid to be admitted today than it was for me in the mid-'90s.

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For engineering majors you take HS Math GPA X 400 and add to that to the index. You could get in if your Math GPA was a 4.0. The only way to get in without these kinds of higher GPA is if you were local to the campus and get a bonus for that.

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OP has no safety issues with their list but if they want to have a Cal State safety, Chico, Fresno, Fullerton, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Northridge, Sacramento, SDSU, and SFSU are all accredited in MechE.

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I really appreciate all the information! We toured WPI, RIT, and UCSB. He’d be thrilled to go to WPI or RIT (I’m hoping for acceptance and merit). He liked UCSB but we didn’t get to see as much of the engineering there so would need another visit. He is pretty strong on MechEng, with thoughts of Robotics and/or Aerospace tracks. He likes the idea of being on a Formulae SAE team. He looked in detail at Mines and was impressed at how many club choices he’d have that sounded good to him, he’d have trouble deciding where to spend his time.
I agree, I really want to keep it under $55K if we can. I realize summers are not covered as well as all the aforementioned.
I was really worried that his leadership and foreign language would hold him back (and likely will with the UCs). It’s fantastic to note that the salaries are more likely based on areas they get employed (not quite cost of living). I honestly don’t know what would make him happy outside of being around a bunch of STEM students with classes he wants to take. We spent some time talking and Georgia Tech is under consideration as a Super Reach. Still need to look at UMN. Likely dropping CU Boulder and UW Madison.
Davis is an interesting question, I am not sure why that’s not on the list. I wonder if one of us parents said “pick 5”.

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It’s great he has schools that he likes.

Here’s how I see a WPI. This year tuition, room and board is like $86K.

Their yield, without ED, is less than 16%. So they need your son.

The reality is, when kids have other choices, they are choosing elsewhere. That tells me, you’re going to get the Presidential Scholarship which is worth at least $25K…note the at least. So that puts you a little over $60K. WIth your budget, it might be too much but.

A Rose Hulman might be similar - but in the middle of nowhere vs. an hour from Boston - but might be cheaper.

Mines may be cheaper -but may not.

If he wants this mid size school - there are others.

I forget if you had a geographic bias and I’m sure he’s going to end up near home - but if liking aero, it never hurts to look at (for MechE and Aero:

  1. UAH - home of rocket city - surrounded by aero/defense companies.
  2. Florida Tech
  3. Embry Riddle - Daytona and/or Prescott. My son looked and applied but my wife was more excited - but it’s the kind of school that when a flight takes off from the Daytona Airport, they say all stops and they all look up.

Here’s other midsize or small that definitely will crush (UAH) or could hit with good merit which I’m guessing happens - but UAH, Michigan Tech, and Missour S&T all will crush as will WUE Wyoming and SD Mines.

U ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott
Colorado School of Mines
Florida Institute of Technology
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Michigan Technological University
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Clarkson University
Syracuse University
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
University of Wyoming

But for an aero interest even if a MechE, I’d strongly consider U of Arizona - Tucson has a defense industry and yes, the school had budget issues but the education is not going to be harmed. And it’s a top physics school - which goes hand in hand with engineering.

But honestly, your initial list works…but you do have some buffeting up against the budget.

PS - he’s done robotics four years. I don’t worry about named leadership. I worry about tenure and depth - did he stick with something and grow in responsbility.

Then there’s the schools that don’t even consider ECs - those exist too - Penn State is too much but they don’t care. The Arizona schools - nope. You know who is strong in MechE/Aero - Iowa State. You’d apply and get right in. Bama, UAH, Mississippi State, WVU - these are all schools - your ECs may matter for Honors, etc. but they won’t.

You really have little issue and if he likes WPI, make sure they know - they are going to get to your # or close. As I noted, they need you more than you need them. These schools know they have to pay. My colleague’s son goes to Clarkson and gets $40K off.

Syracuse has been giving big merit offers - and some schools, if you don’t commit - as you get closer to May 1st, they reach out with better offers.

Not sure how many apps you plan but some/many will be easier than you think.

But yeah if you want $55K, then CU and Wisconsin don’t make sense (in my opinion).

How about Ohio State? Fine school. But a huge university.

There are other smaller schools like Tennessee Tech - but they are very regional.

And you have to think of the student being away from home - is that right for them? Can they adjust? It’s not easy - so being far from home could be a concern - you’d have to decide.

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@tamagotchi knows quite a bit about Formulae SAE.