What are the top engineering schools in the Northeast for undergraduate studies?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the selection of top engineering schools in the Northeast for undergraduate studies, highlighting institutions such as Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), and Stevens Institute of Technology. Participants emphasize the importance of strong standardized test scores, particularly SATs, and relevant AP courses like AP Physics and AP Calculus BC for admission into competitive programs. The conversation also touches on the perception of geographic bias in admissions and the significance of extracurricular activities in differentiating applicants. Resources such as US News rankings for undergraduate engineering schools are shared for further research.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of standardized testing, specifically SAT scores.
  • Familiarity with Advanced Placement (AP) courses, particularly AP Physics and AP Calculus BC.
  • Knowledge of college admissions processes and criteria.
  • Awareness of geographic and demographic factors affecting college admissions.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the undergraduate engineering programs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).
  • Explore the US News rankings for undergraduate engineering schools to identify top choices.
  • Investigate the impact of extracurricular activities on college admissions and how to effectively showcase them.
  • Learn about the admissions processes at schools outside the Northeast, such as Purdue University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
USEFUL FOR

High school students aspiring to pursue engineering degrees, parents assisting with college applications, and educational counselors guiding students through the college selection process.

SDutra
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Well its that time of life where college applications start coming in lol. What schools do you guys consider to be good besides the Obvious MIT, CIT, Columbia? I'm looking in the North East and want a school that is mostly engineering. I'm positive that I want to be an engineer and almost positive about mechanical. What do you guys think of WPI, RPI, RIT, and Stevens? Thanks for all the help.
 
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Well since I came to U.S. two years ago and my GPA is kinda screwed, I managed to make things up on SAT so my plan is to apply to Purdue, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and NC State. Just in case I change my mind I will apply to Chappel Hill also. Wherever I get accepted I'll be good. I think that Purdue and Urbana-Champaign are the best options for those who are not MIT, Columbia or Stanford "material".
 
The problem with those two schools is that they are not in the North East. It's not that I'm not MIT material, I have the standerdized test grades, GPA, and all the right courses/extracurricular activites, but I think it will still be hard to get in to. Any ideas on how to differentiate myself from the crowd?
 
When I said "not MIT material" I meant on myself, and not because I think I couldn't do it, offcourse I wouldn't the best student there, but I meant that I don't have GPA good enough and I don't have the money for that, and that something extra that will separate me from the crowd. I think that those schools that I mentioned I good enough for me, actually excelent.
 
Well you should apply to MIt anyway. How would you differentiate yourself? Well try with some math, science and engineering competitions! If you take bc Calculus, bc Physics and ap Chemistry and get good grades you should get in. If not in MIT maybe Columbia or Cornell, and if not in those well try to open your mind to some other areas of the country. I live in NC and I will go somewhere else to study. I imagine life on campus as pretty funny, and besides Engineering is not going to give you much time to think about other stuff. Anyway, I hope I helped in some way and if not well visit this site. They have all kinds of information.

http://www.collegeboard.com/

GOOD LUCK!
 
I looove that site lol. I have not taken AP Chem, but I have Taken AP Physics BC and a'm taking AP Physics C and AP Calc BC this year. Do you think AP Chem is a necessity? I thought physics would be more important to engineering. Also I have heard that schools in the NorthEast don't take as many students from the NorthEast when compared to other states. I know someone who was denied from several high end schools supposedly due to hie geographic area/ and non-minority status. Does anyone know if this is true?
 
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SDutra said:
I looove that site lol. I have not taken AP Chem, but I have Taken AP Physics BC and a'm taking AP Physics C and AP Calc BC this year. Do you think AP Chem is a necessity? I thought physics would be more important to engineering. Also I have heard that schools in the NorthEast don't take as many students from the NorthEast when compared to other states. I know someone who was denied from several high end schools supposedly due to hie geographic area/ and non-minority status. Does anyone know if this is true?




Wow man! You are a genius. My teachers recomended me for the next scedule

BC Calc
Physics C
AP European History
AP English
APGov&Politics
Some crap that I missed because I came to U.S. in my sophmore year
...O yeah and for World History HN, also because I missed it


Well when I saw that I just crossed over BC Calc and Physics and Gov& Politics, and put regular Calc and regular AP Physics, and offcourse instead of the Gov class took driving period! I hope they took my paper in which I dropped those clases couse if they didn't I'm screwed. I mean it really is too much.

With your credits you should get in Columbia or Cornell. I mean with BC Calc and Physics C...Yeah. Don't take AP Chem. couse it might be too much homewrok to do.
 
As far as ethnicity is concerned I don't know whether to put White or to put Other. If I put White then the competition is bigger but if I put other than the number of spaces is small.
 
Does anybody know how colleges deal with ethnicity and demographic areas. I think that they should do it the same for everybody. IE: The admissions officers don't know where the applicants are from and what their ethnicity is.
 
  • #10
I think that THE ONLY criteria for getting into colleges should be GPA, SAT, extra carricular activities and that kind of stuff. Everything else is just discrimination.
 
  • #12
Yea I'm definitely applying to Cornell, but that still is a really tough school to get into.
 
  • #13
come up to Canada, U of waterloo. Best engineering school ever! (hopfully)
 
  • #16
Did anyone here go to Worcester Polytechnic Institue (WPI)? The more I think about it, the more that this school seems the place for me. Even though it is not as competitive as other schools like MIT, and Columbia: Fu, I like it better? Anyone have any stories about it?
 
  • #17
For undergraduate engineering, I would pick a small school with a focus on engineering with average class sizes of 20 students or below. Pick a school where you can build very close relationships with your professors so you can get good letters of recommendation and good research projects. Don't pick because of its name.
 

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