Jerry G. — Initial College List

You're at 1430 with a 760 Math — already engineering-grade. The verbal is your swing. Here's what a 1500+ superscore changes:

• Georgia Tech — Stays a reach, but a 1500+ moves you squarely into Tech's mid-50% (1400–1550) and makes the in-state engineering case real. This is the biggest single unlock on your list.
• NC State — Flips from reach toward a genuine match; you'd sit at or above their 75th percentile for out-of-state engineering.
• University of Florida — Pushes you to the top of their admitted range, strengthening an out-of-state application that's otherwise an uphill climb.
• Where it changes less — Virginia Tech, Clemson, Auburn, UGA, and UT-Knoxville already see you as competitive; a higher score there mostly boosts merit aid rather than admit odds.
• Merit unlock — At Alabama you already clear the 1420 Presidential threshold; pushing higher can unlock larger awards at Tennessee, South Carolina, and Auburn.

• Safety → Reach: Kennesaw State → Georgia Tech. Start at KSU, hold a 2.7+ GPA in the engineering core, and transfer into Tech's College of Engineering through the Regents' Engineering Pathway — finishing with a Georgia Tech civil engineering degree, at in-state cost the whole way.
• Match → Reach: UGA → Georgia Tech. UGA also participates in the Regents' Engineering Pathway, using the same 2.7 GPA mechanism — a second deliberate route to Tech.
• Safety → Match: Alabama → flagship engineering peer. If cost drives an Alabama start (with the Presidential Scholarship), strong first-year engineering grades open lateral transfers.
• Universal rule: For transfer admissions, your first-year college GPA usually outweighs your high school record. Grind the first two semesters and doors open.

• Test-optional: Virginia Tech (test-optional through Fall 2028).
• Test-required / recommended: Georgia Tech, University of Florida, and Purdue all require scores; most others on the list recommend or require them.
• When NOT to submit: Only send a score to a school where you're at or above its 25th percentile. With your 1430, you clear the 25th at every school here — so for now, submit everywhere.
• What carries weight instead (your specific assets):
  • Your GPA: 4.0 unweighted, all-AP load, projected ~4.33 weighted — a rigorous, upward record.
  • Your Realistic-dominant Strong profile (Architect a top match) that validates civil engineering and gives your essays a spine.
  • Four years of varsity golf plus a steady job at the country club — consistency and work ethic.
  • Your self-directed summer 3D-modeling and urban-planning simulation work — concrete proof of genuine engineering interest.

• Automatic at your profile: University of Alabama — out-of-state Presidential Scholarship (1420+ SAT / 3.5+ GPA), which you already qualify for. Lock your scores in by December of senior year.
• Strong non-resident merit: University of Tennessee-Knoxville and University of South Carolina both offer generous merit for your numbers; Auburn has competitive merit where you're a strong candidate.
• In-state value: Kennesaw State and UGA keep costs low through in-state tuition plus Georgia's HOPE / Zell Miller programs (verify current GPA thresholds).
• Pay-for-the-program picks: Georgia Tech, NC State, Virginia Tech, Purdue, and Texas A&M offer less automatic merit — these are program-over-price choices.