engineering the engineering app
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Hollis BischoffCollege Admissions Advisor
UCLA Certificate HECA, IECA – Professional Member
Engineer Bridges and Buildings
Engineering Tough & Very Engineering Tough & Very CompetitiveCompetitive
“if you take two students who have the same high school grade-point average and SAT scores, and you put one in a
highly selective school like Berkeley and the other in a school with lower average
scores like Cal State, that Berkeley student is at least 13 percent less likely
than the one at Cal State to finish a STEM degree.” Mitchell J. Chang, an education professor at U.C.L.A
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40% of all engineering majors switch majors or fail to graduate
Why Do Eng. Majors Leave?Why Do Eng. Majors Leave?
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CostCostParental & Peer Pressure
Parental & Peer Pressure
Pass
ionles
sPa
ssionles
s
Time to Graduate
Time to Graduate
Engineering has twice the attrition rate of all other majors
Trying To Reverse Brain DrainTrying To Reverse Brain Drain
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Schools want to recognize & admit the “natural” engineer – imbedded in the DNA
Recognizing the “Natural” Recognizing the “Natural” EngineerEngineer
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Crafting The College ListCrafting The College List
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Competition is FierceCompetition is Fierce
•Schools admitting by major – Eng has a GPA/SAT/ACT “Premium”. Therefore: – Less “safeties” than any other major– Higher GPA/Test scores than average (+10-
20%)– Higher testing threshold (More subject tests)– Higher readiness requirements (AP Sci/Math)– Built-in attrition via death march & grading
policies
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Therefore, Good Fit Is Therefore, Good Fit Is ImportantImportant
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Engineering the Application For the Engineering Major
TranscriptTranscript
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Most competitive schools – AP classes in multiple subject are table stakes, for engineers Calc and sciences are even in less
competitive schools
TestingTesting
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SAT Subject Tests for UC Engineering Students even though not required for UC admissions; highly selective schools may require 3
SAT II tests
Application/Essay(s)Application/Essay(s)
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There must be a “why engineering” essay somewhere in the application
Extracurricular ActivitiesExtracurricular Activities
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What If The Worst Comes To What If The Worst Comes To PassPass
•Consider majoring in Physics or Chemistry– If waitlist or transfer into engineering possible
•Consider a 3-2 at a non-engineering school– Keep a high GPA and transfer to eng. program
•Consider Community College Option
•Consider an engineering masters program
•Start a company – develop a product or software
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Questions?Questions?
Thank you!Hollis Bischoff
College Admissions AdvisorUCLA Certificate
Member: PNACAC, HECA, IECA – Professional [email protected]
650.209.0272
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