<p>*The average SAT scores for engineering at NCSU are 600 V and 660 M. SAT scores aren’t everything, and mom2collegekids is right that a lot of kids get weeded out, but that is still a far cry from Stanford and CMU. (Based on test score percentiles alone, ~5-10% of engineers are on par with a typical Stanford student.)</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>Could you provide the link for the avg scores of the NCState engineering student? Is that for incoming frosh? </p>
<p>* For the fall of 2011, the average **first-year student admitted to the College of Engineering **had a weighted high school grade point average between 4.2 and 4.6 (unweighted 3.4 - 3.8), or mainly A’s and B’s; 60% of all new engineering freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school graduating class. The middle 50% of incoming [eng’g] freshmen had SAT scores in the 1170-1350 range (on the original two-part SAT, critical reading and math) or ACT scores in the mid-to-high 20’s. Students are required to submit new SAT scores with the writing component.*</p>
<p>The above is from NCSU’s CoE website. I don’t know if NCSU makes an effort to include a good number of URMs in its CoE, but if it does, then that can affect its range. Southern schools that make an effort to include a good number of URMs in STEM majors do take a “hit” in their test score ranges since those scores are often much lower - because often those students’ K-12 education has not been as strong.</p>
<p>And, again, the scores of frosh aren’t that relevant. Eng’g likely heavily weeds. I imagine that a good chunk change their majors within the first few semesters.</p>
<p>Anyway…I’m not saying that the NCState eng’g students are on par with Stanford’s, etc, but the NCState kids also aren’t likely ones who super-studied for the SAT and took it 10 times to get an amazing superscore. NC kids who are heading to NCState for eng’g may only take the SAT once or twice to get a “good enough” score and then they’re done. </p>
<p>I’m no longer impressed by the top reporting stats at the top schools because too many of those kids have tested themselves to death and then it’s super-scores that are being reported. </p>
<p>And, once you’re “good enough” in math and sciences, top scores are not what makes a great engineer.</p>