Suggestions for Schools to Apply to (Engineering)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around suggestions for schools to apply to for engineering programs, particularly focusing on the experiences and concerns of a non-traditional student seeking a second bachelor's degree. Topics include admissions criteria, program rankings, and personal statements.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant lists schools they are applying to, including Colorado School of Mines, CU-Boulder, UT-Austin, and Washington-Seattle, expressing a preference for progressive cities.
  • Another participant suggests Texas A&M for its strong petroleum engineering program, despite its less progressive reputation.
  • Concerns are raised about the participant's GPA and whether it would be sufficient for admission to competitive programs like those at Texas A&M.
  • A participant shares their successful admission to A&M's aerospace engineering program with a GPA of 3.7, suggesting that the original poster may also be accepted.
  • Discussion includes the potential challenges of applying as a second-degree student, with some participants questioning the likelihood of acceptance based on previous degrees.
  • One participant mentions considering Georgia Tech, noting their GPA requirements and the acceptance of students with prior degrees.
  • Concerns are expressed about how to present a previous LSAT score in applications, questioning if it would be viewed positively or negatively.
  • Another participant questions the validity of a claim that admissions committees rarely accept students pursuing second bachelor's degrees, suggesting a focus on industry experience in personal statements.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of support and skepticism regarding the admissions process for second-degree students, with no clear consensus on the challenges faced or the best strategies for application.

Contextual Notes

Some participants highlight that specific schools have different policies regarding second-degree applicants, and there are concerns about the impact of GPA and prior degrees on admissions chances.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals considering a second bachelor's degree in engineering, particularly non-traditional students, may find this discussion relevant.

mcdowellmg
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I am making a list of all the schools I am applying to for spring 2012 tomorrow. So far, I have Colorado School of Mines, UC-Boulder, UT-Austin, Washington-Seattle. I am looking to live out west, preferably near/in a progressive city (I'm a vegan and want grocery store/farmers market options!). California would be great, but with the state budget being what it is, that is probably out of the question.

I am returning to school for another bachelor's degree (have a BA in English), and I have/will have taken Calc 1-3, Calc-based Physics 1 & 2, Discrete Math, Java, and Chemistry. I am looking at Petroleum Engineering, Geophysical Engineering, and Computer/Electrical Engineering. Also, I have a 3.0 GPA overall, and a 3.5 in math/science courses.

Thanks!
 
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Make that CU-Boulder, not UC-Boulder! I added Oregon State (a top-ranked Nuclear Engineering program, which I am also interested in) and Texas Tech to the list today. Also included is my home-state school of NC State University.
Any other thoughts?
 
Maybe Texas A&M? It's not a 'progressive' city, but really, most of the people there are college kids and professors. I'm sure there are vegans among them. It's also got one of the best petroleum engineering programs in the country.

A vegan wanting to be a petroleum engineer... well, there's a first for everything I guess :)
 
The only thing is, could I get into A&M?! Their Petroleum and Nuclear programs are the best in the country and I am worried about my meager 3.0 GPA (although like I said, I have a 3.5 in science/math since graduating originally). I also have several years of professional work experience, am 25 (non-traditional) and have a pretty intense life experience to write about for my personal statement. Maybe I will send an application in just to see.
 
I got into A&M's aerospace engineering program (also one of the best in the country) in its first round of acceptance letters with a 3.7 total, and 3.5ish in math/science. Personally, I think you'd get in pretty easily. Also, you'll probably want to ask your math/science profs for letters of recommendation, if you did well in their class. I had two when I applied.

It should be noted that I also was a non-traditional student, since I was homeschooled and didn't have a high school record. You have a college degree under your belt. You might want to make sure the schools you apply to will even accept a person seeking a second bachelor though.
 
That's reassuring. A lot of schools won't accept me because of my previous degree, but I know for sure that Mines and Boulder will. UT and UWash are hesitant (probably b/c of the size of their student bodies), and I will have to check into A&M. Good luck there; it seems like a great place for engineers.
 
I think I will also throw an application toward Georgia Tech. I know that they are highly ranked, but they require a 3.0 GPA of non-Georgia residents and say that admissions are favorable if you have that and have taken the required courses (which I have). They have quite a few programs, but I am not sure what they specialize in. They also take people who already have a bachelors.

It seems thus far that maybe that getting into an engineering school via transfer isn't the hardest part, but that they might weed you out if you actually get there?One more thing: I got a 165 (90th%) on the LSAT. Should I tell schools that? Does it look good because it is a tough standardized test/test of logic, or does it make me look flakey (I ended up deciding law school wasn't for me.)?
 
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I read somewhere, sometime, (from an entirely unreliable source, i should add), that undergraduate admissions committees "rarely" (this is a word I vividly remember being used) admit students with bachelors to earn second bachelors. Is there any merit to this statement?

I don't mean focus on a cynical aspect here, but if it turns out that it IS true, you may want to revise your personal statement to the university.

I am no PR agent, but if it were me, I would focus on what I was doing in industry, why I am not doing it anymore, and why I want to go back to school (why not grad school?). That sort of thing.

So, does anyone know if this is true, to some degree?

(For both my personal curiosity, as well as the OP's benefit)
 
Well, it's helpful that my previous degree is in a totally different field (English). Of the schools I have listed, they all take second degree students if their major is on a different path.
 

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