I find it incredible that someone with so little command of the English language could get a 32. Even assuming a 36 on math.
Your math score matters the most for engineering. Make sure it is at 35 or 36. Try to get your composite up 2-3 points. Take at least 2 SAT II tests, typically Math II and Chemistry for your intended program. @insanedreamer has a great list of schools. As an African-American you will get a big URM bump at most private schools like the Ivy’s, Stanford, etc. but not at many public schools like any UC ,Michigan or Caltech. Also consider UMN-Twin Cities and UConn, both excellent for Chem-E.
I’d continue to add a few ECs of whatever you are really passionate about. Start something new in your community for best chances of college admission. Quite frankly, high performing black students with perfect GPAs , great leadership abilities, and high test scores are rare and many colleges will want you, so expect to be courted (= scholarship money and/or special programs). Best of luck to you!
Thanks everyone! I apologize for my ego. Trust me, it has never gotten the better of me but for only this once. By the way, my English is fine. I am retaking the ACT for a higher English score. I got a 30 while my normal is a 34. And yes, I did get a perfect in the Math Section. I had doubts about honors and AP classes at first, but now I am considering taking more. (Honestly, I expected much harder stuff). Thanks for all your support, but where do u think I have a great chance of enrolling (the best possible). I got U of Illinois Urbana Champ. as a recommendation from someone. Thanks!
RPI, UT-Austin, UM-TC, RHIT.
UC-B, where the middle-range ACT is 28-33, could be an option for you as well. However, I believe their engineering programs are substantially more competitive than even this high range would indicate.
“I believe their engineering programs are substantially more competitive than even this high range would indicate.”
This is most definitely the case, even at UCSB.
Uiuc is a great school, RPI is excellent. Others colleges mentioned on the posts above will also be good choices. I can not stress the value of an internship or a community college physics or chemistry course during the summer, great recommendation letters, passion for the subject, great essays besides scores and GPA. My first degree was in chem e. It is harder to show passion for chem e than for say compsci. You have to be determined and not waste your time over the next 2 years. And finally never look down on your peers. It breeds complacency and regressive attitudes. In real life, you will have to rely upon the support of your close ones and will have to support them. Your activities and essays must emphasize character, not individualism at all costs.
My high stats DS is at University of Alabama:-) Aerospace, Astronomy and Math. He’s been very happy with it. Check out their Engineering Dept and Honors College.
Will you need financial aid? What are your parents willing to pay?
I will need financial aid. I will have to take loans and alot of scholarships. Thanks everyone for your great advice! BTw, I already took AP physics and I will be taking AP Chemistry.
I would definitely recommend Rice then - from what I heard they will meet full need if your family’s income is under $80K.
There’s 2 scenarios: if your family is low income and you can get into a top school like Stanford you’re pretty much guaranteed full tuition. So shoot for a couple of those (but remember your chances are slim in any case.)
If your family isn’t low income but can’t afford to pay much you’ll need merit scholarships. In that case forget Stanford, MIT, Caltech, etc. even if your stats are excellent, and instead focus on the next level down of schools who are willing to pay $$ to attract top students. My daughter got a full tuition scholarship from RPI that way.
In either case, I wouldn’t bother with the UCs or UIUC or Michigan - you’re unlikely to get much aid.
Michigan gives better aid than they used to. You need to run net price calculators (on the school websites) for each school you are considering.
I’d look at some of the big city private schools on the east coast that have around or below a 30% acceptance rate. High GPA and test scores, along with living abroad and/or a second language are usually enough to be a good candidate, and there are a ton of options, for very good schools (Northeastern, American, George Washington, NYU, Emory, John’s Hopkins, Georgetown etc.) Some of these schools will actually serve you better than the ivies in the long run, since they’re more likely to give you financial aid, reducing your debt later, and jobs and internships in the area, along with prestigious honors on campus are less competitive. Additionally, if you’re interested in science, it might give you a leg up, since they’re focused primarily on social sciences and humanities, but they still want to be seen as well rounded schools. I know two people who applied to American, one as a physics major and the other in political science. They had roughly equal applications, but the physics major got offered $17K/year, and the polysci major was rejected.
Here are some lists of schools with big scholarships:
http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
http://competitivefulltuition.yolasite.com/
http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/
Thanks a lot guys!
You should build a list of schools including:
- where you qualify for full tuition
- Add in schools where you can compete for full tuition
- Then take a long shot on a few schools that meet full need and NPC numbers work for you
But schools with full tuition tend to make me less competitive in the job market.
^ Where in the world did you get that idea?
Huh?
MITer94, " remember: the Ivy League is an athletic conference." This is a red herring and irrelevant. While yes, it is an athletic conference, it isn’t “just” an athletic conference. The group of schools now known as the Ivy League schools were known to have things in common and to be different from the non Ivy League schools before they were an athletic conference which is why they are in the conference with each other and not with other schools. Yes, had MIT wanted to be part of that conference, perhaps that could have happened but no to most other schools. Take a look at the history there.