First of all 59% is ridiculous for high school SAT 1 is good, 700 on maths is not really brilliant. You will need physics SAT, too, so make sure you take it. Make sure you get at least 700 there,too. I dont think with these 59% 11 grade you have much of chance in good unis. Try something of the swansea/liverpool/brunl/glasgow/surrey range. That is unless you get something like 92-93%+ in year 12. With 70% average you are not really brilliant candidate (that is equivalent to a C in the UK). Those unis are not really renownd for thei mech eng but are good overall and you stand some chance of being accepted with these grades. IF you want to go to some better place you will have to do foudnation year (which is costly option) and you will have to do very well in it in order to progress to degree level. hope taht helps