Where Should I Go?

College Search & Lists
1

<p>I am considering majoring in Aerospace or Robotics Engineering, with a minor in International Business. However, most schools I have listed for these programs are top notch (i.e. Stanford, MIT) leaving me to wonder if those are the only options. Are there schools that contain one or all of the programs I am considering, are consider good, and will accept me?</p>

<p>Here are my stats:
SAT I: 1710 (will retake)
ACT: Will be taking
Cal Grant - GPA: 3.788 I Class Rank: 43/653 I Percentile Rank: 93
Cumulative 4.0 – GPA: 3.82 I Class Rank: 40/653 I Percentile Rank: 93
Cumulative 5.0 – GPA: 4.29 I Class Rank: 29/653 I Percentile Rank: 96
UC/CSU – GPA: 4.30 I Class Rank: 33/653 I Percentile Rank: 95</p>

<p>AP Tests:
Calculus AB – 3 I Chemistry – 3 I English Language – 4 I European History – 3 I US History – 5</p>

<p>Academic Course Loads (Grades are listed if not an A)
Freshman: Bio Lab H, English 1H, French 1, Geography, Geometry H (B+)
Sophomore: Chem H, English 2H, European History AP, French 2 (C first semester), Pre Calc (B- first semester, B second semester)
Junior: Calc AP (B- second semester), Chem AP, English Language AP, US History AP</p>

<p>Awards & Honors
AAUW Knowledge Bowl County Tournament: Third Place
Job’s Daughters International California Grand Bethel Vocal Solo Music Competition: Second Place
Oxnard High School Marching Band Most Improved Freshman 2012
Oxnard High School Principal’s Award 2012, 2013, 2014
MESA Preliminaries Team Math Quest 2012 Third Place
MESA Regionals Team Math Quest 2012 Third Place
MESA Preliminaries Team Math Quest 2013 Second Place
MESA Regionals Team Math Quest 2013 Second Place
MESA Preliminaries Team Math Quest 2014 Second Place
Oxnard High School Band Outstanding Vocal Soloist Award 2014</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities (Roles & Grades Participated or Will Participate In)
American Red Cross: Membership Coordinator (10, 11); 9, 10, 11, 12
FIRST Robotics: Programmer; 12
Geography Bowl: Member; 12
Jazz Band: Vocal Soloist; 11, 12
Job’s Daughters International: Past Honored Queen; 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Key Club: Executive Assistant (12); 11, 12
Knowledge Bowl: Vice President (10) and President (11, 12); 10, 11, 12
Marching Band: Flute Section Leader; 9, 10, 11, 12
Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement: Sargent-At-Arms (11) and Project Coordinator (12); 9, 10, 11, 12
Math Club: Secretary (10); 10, 11
Track & Field: Member; JV 9, 10, 11; Varsity 12
Tennis: Member; Varsity 10, 11, 12
Vocal Ensemble: Section Leader; 11, 12
Winter Drum Line: Member; 9</p>

<p>Volunteer & Community Service
CA Coastal Cleanup: 9, 10, 11, 12
EP Foster Library Reading Program: 10
Jacket Connect Orientation Leader: 10, 11, 12
JDI Leadership Camp Counselor-in-Training: 11, 12
Oxnard Strawberry Festival: 9, 10, 11, 12
Project AMP (raised money for RAINN foundation): 11, 12
Relay for Life Team Captain: 12
Vacation Bible School Assistant Crew Leader: 11, 12</p>

<p>Other
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: Below $75,000
Race: Asian American (Filipino, Chinese)
State: CA
School Type: Public, Rural</p>

<p>Thank you for taking the time to read over this (I’ve done too much, I know.) I appreciate it very much.</p>

2

<p>There are a great deal of excellent engineering schools, probably a lot you have never heard of yet are well known in the industry. Some of the best departments are in public universities. I suggest you start with your instate choices. Look at each UC and CSU to see how they might work as a program of study for you as if those were your only options. I suggest you apply widely to them as these will be some of your safety schools that you could end up at. Engineering depts are very, very competitive and your SAT is a weakness for you. What is your breakdown? The M+CR is important and the M is important.</p>

<p>I don’t see you as viable for Stanford or MIT, for starters you are about 500 SAT pts short. You will help yourself admissions wise and financially if you can really prep hard for the SAT retake.</p>

<p>Did you discuss budget with your parents yet, you need to consider costs as part of your search. So come back with how much they can pay a year without loans. When you search you are going to want to run the NPC for each college. Use college board and you can save your data and run it on a bunch of colleges. All UC and CSU should be about the same, 33k for UC and 23k for CSU plus any grant you might get . Are you saying you will qualify for calgrant? </p>

<p>How do you feel about going to a school that skews heavily male overall? There are some tech/engineering schools that might be searching for female candidates. But if that isn’t going to be comfortable or fun to be a minority that way then it isn’t worth it…you haven’t said anything about what you like in a college.</p>

<p>Browse some lists and learn about more of the colleges and what their engineering strengths are, don’t worry about particular ranking but just general groups:
<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>What are your AP scores?
Will you be dual enrolled for calculus II and III this year, or taking Calc BC?</p>

<p>I think you have a shot at Rose Hulman, Case Western Reserve, RPI, RIT, Stevens, Illinois Institute of Technology.</p>

<p>Specifically for the type of engineering you’re looking into, I would recommend looking into UAlabama Birmingham, especially if you can raise that SAT score (for merit aid).
Not sure if you’d get sufficient merit but it’s worth checking out UMissouri of Technology and Science, New Mexico State, South Dakota School of Mines, SUNY Buffalo, U Oklahoma but run the NPCs and check out the merit scholarship requirements. Being a girl applying for engineering will help you.
In-state: Cal Poly SLO (reach), CPP, Cal State Long Beach, SDSU plus UCD, UCI, UCSD (reach).</p>