Just a thought, GW , abeit expensive is trying to build their STEM program and would likely give someone of her stats some pretty good merit. Just something to think about. There is no reason to take the SAT again.
As of now, we are okay with no merit at colleges in the range of Purdue, UMD, UIUC etc. Anything more expensive like NYU etc. is out. Colleges in Alabama, Florida or west are out because of the distance.
She wants honors programs in the colleges she wants to apply, whatever they are. Are those very competitive?
Please suggest. We are in the tristate area. No exceptional ECs but lots of volunteer at hospital (more than a year), mentoring middle school kids through BBBS(for last 3 years), NHS, position holder in some school clubs, select choir since middle school etc.
Your daughters stats are great, but engineering at Purdue and UIUC will be reaches, as they are for most applicants applying to the various engineering majors. UMD might be as well…you need to do your research and look at acceptance rate for the engineering school/majors where its available.
Apply EA (non selective, non-binding) at every school that has it…like Purdue and UIUC, because these schools fill a large proportion of students in that round.
Finding reaches will be easy, spend time finding matches and safeties. Other schools to look at Miami Ohio, Pitt, Case Western, UMass Amherst, WPI.
Would she consider LACs? Then check out Union, Lafayette, Swarthmore. If she would consider all girls schools, look at Smith.
@Mwfan1921 why are these reaches for Purdue or UIUC. I have seen the acceptances over the last few years. Not a slam dunk but her stats are very good. Just wondering why your saying that. I learn new things daily here… Lol
Well…categorizing can be tough where you don’t always have great info by school/major. Engineering frosh class profile at Grainger UIUC (assuming BME or Chem E for OP’s D) is:
Grainger College of Engineering
ACT Score: 32-35
SAT Score (no writing): 1430-1540
GPA: 3.73-4.00
So OP’s D is top 25% SAT, but below median GPA. UIUC doesn’t publish acceptance rate by major, but my sense is that BME and Chem E are likely under 30%, maybe lower. And OOS acceptance rate is likely lower than in-state. So, I would say that’s a reach for all OOS applicants, maybe a low reach…not sure I would be comfortable calling it a target, but am open to hearing the thoughts of others!
Purdue is probably less reachy than UIUC. @momofsenior1 thoughts?
@Mwfan1921. That seems like a reasonable assessment. Purdue has been creeping up Stat wise the last couple of years. It used to be thought of a slam dunk from many Illinois students due to their sheer size of their freshman class. I don’t think it’s that way anymore either.
Aha @Mwfan1921 I have a question though when they say that GPA range, do they account for the difficulty of classes? I mean I know kids with only 1 AP and no other rigorous classes with 3.9/4.0 GPA. So they get an advantage over kids like my DD with rigorous classes?
Focus on grades and essays. I’m thinking Pitt or Delaware as matches. Delaware is known as a pretty good Chem E school. Maybe Lehigh, Bucknell, or Lafayette if she wants a smaller, private school. If she’s looking for something a little different maybe NC State. It’s one of my favorites.
Going through the process this year. Amazing how competitive it is. Focus on safety and match schools. It’s easy to find reach schools. Knowing what I know now I’d cap the number of apps between 6-8…or less. Too much work and angst. Do research up front and keep it simple. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Just to jump in here… Rigorous classes count no question about that. If she has taken like the highest math /science class she can that will weigh differently on those that have taken just the basic classes to get through. This is just about any university of engineering.
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This is from Purdue’s website. It says 50% had a GPA between a 3.94-4.0!!! Wow! Wow! Are those UW gpas ? Really? Too many brilliant kids I say
What are the average test scores and GPA for First Year Engineering students?
There are a number of factors that the Purdue Office of Admissions considers as criteria for acceptance to the First-Year Engineering Program. For Engineering, standardized test scores and grades in math, science, and English are very important criteria. Typically, those admitted to the First-Year Program are A and B students in high school. Students admitted to the College of Engineering for Fall 2017 had an average combined SAT in the middle 50% range of 1350-1470. Of the students that enrolled, 50% had a GPA between a 3.94-4.0, and an ACT Composite of 30-34.
Yes, schools will look at rigor. But, there are many students with high rigor, lots of APs and/or IB with 4.0s…it’s just competitive. Categorizing the schools is imperfect…again, identifying reaches is easy but spend more time on finding match schools. And make sure to have one affordable safety.
Being female and wanting to study engineering will also help her in admissions and merit at some schools…she would likely get significant merit at WPI, for example.
Anyone here OOS whose kids went to Purdue, UIUC, UMD in the last 2-3 years? What were the stats ?
From Naviance, it looks like their HS gets lots of acceptances at Purdue, UIUC but only a few end up going(maybe merit or distance or something i don’t know). But I don’t get to know the major or merit from Naviance. It’s a STEM IB school, so I am hoping they go the engineering school.
I’m throwing Georgia Tech into the mix. Friend of mine’s DD got a nice award there. They like female STEM and pay for them.
Your DD has a good chance of getting into a number of state schools even with her impacted major. The question is which schools. So it’s a good idea to apply to 4-6 schools in that category. I’d throw in a couple of safeties , and if she wants to throw the dice on reaches, throw in a mess of those, like JHU, Vanderbilt and other highly selective schools
Affordability should be in the picture too. That most state schools are affordable makes cost not a as essential of a feature in such schools, though it may become a major consideration in picking among the choices once acceptances arrive. However, when you look at schools that are beyond your comfort range financially , it becomes essential that you get a good idea how much you are likely to be expected to pay at those schools. I suggest running NPCs from the school website so you know what schools are out of range.
Though Hopkins and Vanderbilt, specifically, have some merit money available, getting any of it is a lottery ticket. Applying to such schools looming at the $80k+ price range should be done with your DD fully understanding that finances are a major issue in those cases, and that an acceptance at an unaffordable price could be tantamount to a rejection
You can go to this year’s UIUC, Purdue, and UMD threads to get a sense for applicant stats.
Yes, that is a downside of Naviance…don’t know which students have hooks, which college/major they applied to, etc. Your GC should be able to help you there.
I would not count on any merit at UIUC…there is very little merit for in-state students too. Others can answer about Purdue and UMD.
Lastly, I do want to say that even though I would categorize UIUC BME as a reach, I absolutely agree that the single digit reach schools you mentioned above (JHU, Vandy, Rice etc) should be on her list as well. Categorizing is somewhat on art, and we only know your D’s stats…not her essays, ECs, LoRs, etc.
@DS2021… We already summoned the Purdue engineering expert with a daughter in honors there… She must be working or something… Lol ??..
I don’t want to tag her again but motherofsenior1 should be able to answer lots of your questions.
Since they are giving the stats of their CoE, you can assume that all of their students have taken the most rigorous classes available, especially STEM classes. So I do not think that any students who is accepted to Grainger has only 1 AP level class on their transcript.
PS. Some high schools, like IMSA, do not have AP classes, but there is absolutely no question that all of their classes are extremely rigorous.
Okay thanks. It is tough indeed