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hi!
I am an international student who does not need aid. im looking at engineering schools. and here are my stats
SAT: 1330 (Math 700; Verbal 630)
SAT II: 680(Writing); 750 (Physics); 730 (Math)
Top 10% of my class (no rankings. I study in a highly competitive, scholarship only school)

I have done a summer program in Stanford. I have had work experience for 2 summers. I also have a lot and lot of EC's. I am in NHS. I have also started my own website which gives me an income every month.

Where do you think I should apply?
Should i even apply to Umich, georiga tech???
Do i stand a chance in RPI?

i really need help.. tks

By Alexandre (Alexandre) on Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 11:40 am: Edit

When you say RPI, I assume you mean Rensselaer. You stand a chance at all three schools and all three are excellent in Engineering. If finances aren't a problem, other excellent schools for you to consider are:

Carnegie Mellon (Reach)
Cornell (Reach)
Georgia Tech (match/Reach)
Illinois-Urbana Champaign (Reach)
Michigan-Ann Arbor (Reach)
Northwestern (Reach)
Purdue-West Lafayette (Safety)
Rensselaer P. I. (match)
Wisconsin-Madison (Match)

That's a pretty good list if you ask me.

By Unitethecows (Unitethecows) on Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 12:01 pm: Edit

Alexandre..tks for ur reply. yes, i do mean Rensselaer polytechnic. why is it that purdue is right up there in the rankings but easier to get into than say RPI or even Northwestern?

By Rtkysg (Rtkysg) on Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 12:53 pm: Edit

Because Purdue's faculty and resources are very good although its selectivity is low.

By Unitethecows (Unitethecows) on Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 11:36 pm: Edit

tks rtkysq..

can u recommend more private institutions for me?.. public schools like purdue, michigan, and wisconsin dont take in many intl students.
i am also wondering how Alexandre says georgia tech is a match for me...isnt my sat score bit low for that.

By 007 (007) on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 08:41 am: Edit

That is WAY too harsh!!!

This is what it should look like:
Reaches: Stanford, Northwestern, CMU, Cornell
Matches: UMich, UIUC, Georgia Tech
Safeties: Purdue, Virginia Tech

ur SAT score is fine, just write good essays and u'll get in, also for UMich, UIUC apply early (like in Oct) to improve ur chances

good luck

By Rtkysg (Rtkysg) on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 08:48 am: Edit

On the contrary, public institution like purdue, umich, winsconsin, gatech (georgia tech) accept quite a number of int'l applicants. Your SAT I looks pretty ok (a match) for all the public schools you mention before, so don't worry too much. I think you may also want to try at USC, Maryland, Stony Brook, University of Texas-Austin, UCSD ?

By Alexandre (Alexandre) on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 08:54 am: Edit

I am affraid you underestimate Michigan's and Illinois' out-of-state admissions standards for their schools of Engineering. Michigan's acceptance rate for out-of-state Engineers is 30%, with a mean SAT score of 1400. Same goes for Illinois. Michigan's general admissions for all schools, including in-state applicants, is about as selective as Carnegie Mellon. But it is much tougher for out-of-staters to get into Engineering than it is for the general population to get into the rest of Michigan.

This said, I believe that he does have a shot at Michigan and Illinois, but there are slight reaches.

By Rtkysg (Rtkysg) on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 09:07 am: Edit

Alexandre, you know Michigan more than I, it's your say

unitethecows, refer to Alexandre for Michigan or Cornell.

By Unitethecows (Unitethecows) on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 08:56 pm: Edit

ok..tks guys..
i am planning to apply to michigan early and also apply to Maryland. for now..here is my list..

UMichigan
CMU
Georgia Tech
RPI
Purdue
University of Maryland
Virginia Tech

By Rtkysg (Rtkysg) on Friday, August 13, 2004 - 12:30 am: Edit

looks good ! Good Luck !