Chance Me: Stanford, CMU, USC; Strong ECs Average Academics

Chance Me / Match Me!
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Demographics

  • Permanent Resident
  • State/Location of residency: California
  • Attending one of the top public high schools in state
  • Male/Middle Eastern
  • First-generation college student

Intended Major - Management Science/Business/CS Comb. Programs

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 3.81
  • Weighted HS GPA: 4.32
  • No class rank
  • 1530 SAT

Coursework

  • Completed 3 AP classes (AP US Gov Self Study 5, AP Physics 1 4, APUSH 5)
  • Currently taking another 5 and have an A in all of them (AP Stats, AP Psych, AP Micro/Macro Econ, AP Calc BC, AP Lit)
  • Completed Honors Courses: Applied Math, Analysis, Chemistry, Biology, 3x English, Geometry, Algebra 2/Trig

Awards

  • Received 6 national awards concerning entrepreneurship/social development all with sub 5% acceptance rates - some being from newspapers

Extracurriculars

  • Founder and Executive Director of an international political youth-run nonpartisan nonprofit oriented at elevating policy-based discourse and leveraging such to shape a revitalized America. We employ quite a few ivy/top uni students and plan to expand college programs. In terms of pure stats, we have over 4 million website visits, are actively lobbying in 7 states, with school curriculum passed in 3 of them. 500+ articles posted, consulting two major corporations right now who are paying us money. Also have about 3200 active students in programs with us.
  • Founder and CEO of a consulting agency oriented at Data Analysis, Linear Programming, Applied Mathematics etc., and utilizing those methods towards funding and building up revolutionary/innovative ideas.
  • Political TikTok - founding member (there are only 4 others) of group account with 1.2million followers. Also, I run a personal account with 80k followers.
  • Political Campaigns - Deputy Campaign Director with a Presidential Campaign, Sr. Field Manager before that with Congressional Campaign.
  • Director of Business Development - online political merch store with over $45k in monthly sales.
  • Numerous internships oriented towards policy development. All fairly selective, some having been with VCs and major Fortune 500 corps.

Essays/LORs/Other

  • My LORs are from two great teachers who advise my projects (APUSH for political nonprofit, Applied Math for Consulting Firm)
  • Additional LORs from Managing Partner of top IB firm, current president of media company
  • Essay’s should also be very strong considering I have talked to quite a few Ivy students and college counselors (for free) all of whom have said they love them

Cost Constraints / Budget

  • I have a 50% tuition covered scholarship from a former internship and room/board will be covered by a scholarship my school is giving me. Additionally, my parents are willing to cover $20k per year, hence, cost should not be a problem.

Schools

  • I am hoping to go to a school with resources for me to further my interest in social entrepreneurship and applied math/OR, so I am hoping to go to a top school in those programs, here are the schools I plan on applying to:
  • Stanford - the MS&E program is a dream and going here would be great for not only my personal aspirations of utilizing my zing for innovative ideas yet the resources this program would also truly support the continued growth/advancement of my nonprofit.
  • Carnegie Mellon - the Information Systems program is, again, one of the best out there and is likely under which I would apply.
  • Berkeley - MET program is another great one. I know a couple of people in this program who have loved it thus far so I also plan on applying here.
  • USC - CS/Business Admin. program at the Viterbi School is another great one with lots of great professors and program dev.

TLDR; I would appreciate any input towards some of the reach/far reach schools I should be looking at and my chances of going to one of these schools with my fairly average academic stats and above-average ECs. I’m not sure what to make of the fact my academic stats are typically not meeting the 75th percentile at these schools yet people continuously tell me my ECs will bring me far in the admission process.

Do note that everything stated above is accurate - if you have any reservations, please feel free to send a PM my way and I’d be happy to share my Linkedin or nonprofit site.

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The very first hurdle in the application process is GPA. All of your schools listed will be big reaches with a 3.8. There are just FAR too many applicants with GREAT stats and ECs who are applying to those schools for CS. Have some matches and most importantly, safeties.

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You have an amazing EC record. FWIW, if I were to make an exception for an applicant with a lower than average GPA (which is still quite strong), you would be it (particularly since you are also first gen).

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Your chances are the same as any other accomplished student - slim. Not because you aren’t great, but because the number and quality of applicants at these schools is so high. Go ahead and apply, but be realistic. Also, you should spend as much time identifying safety and match schools that you are excited about as you have done for reaches.

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Your first gen will help - but I don’t see any chance at Stanford, CMU, and USC.

Your GPA is low - and your rigor is low - although you’re trying to catch up this year.

Like anyone - shoot for these three but have a balanced list of matches and safeties as well.

For example - since you are looking at combined programs, you might look at Lehigh (a match) or a WPI (who won’t look at your test score) - but has a business minor to go with CS.

You may have to do that at other places - a comp sci major and business minor, etc.

If you want mid size, a school like U of Pacific, Denver or Drexel would be fine… Pitt (a bit larger), Arizona/Arizona State for really large…Add two schools like these - and then you’d be ok to apply to your biggies.

Schools like Case and RPI are worth a shot…but are not safeties.

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Your EC list, along with being first gen, might catch USC’s attention. The titles of founder, ED, CEO, director are all great but I think it will come down to how you describe what you did, how your EC have influenced what you want to study and your plans for the future. Other than founding things, you might want to touch on your experience working under others as well.

Have you looked at the Cameron Impact Scholarship. It is extremely competitive but, with your EC and interests, it might be worth a try.

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Application period for Bryan Cameron Scholarship is closed. (Assuming OP is a senior?)

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Thanks @Southoftheriver, I didn’t notice that.

Just clarifying, you have 50% tuition covered at any institution and a second scholarship is specific for room/board for all four years? Is there a $$ cap on the room/board scholarship? Both of those will lower your need at schools that “meet need.” There are also additional expenses such as orientation fees, student health fees, books, travel, etc. The max student loan you can take is $5500 your first year, $6500 second year, $7500 3rd and 4th years. Will your parents contribute more than $20K?

50% tuition at Stanford is $28K.
50% tuition at CMU is $29K.
50% tuition at USC is $30K.

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