A lost future CS student...

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I really need help on deciding on which colleges I should apply to come this winter/fall...</p>

<p>My stats:</p>

<p>1830 SAT
26 ACT
3.7 unweighted GPA
61 out of 365 Class Rank</p>

<p>Senior Schedule:
AP CS
AP Physics
Honors Calc
Honors Engineering
Honors English</p>

<p>(I expect my GPA and Class Rank to improve since I'm doing very well in AP CS and AP Physics, as well as maintaining A's in the rest of my classes.)</p>

<p>I'm really at a loss as to what school's I should apply to with a realistic chance of gaining acceptance. I'll most likely be studying CS in college, and thus the school must have a strong CS program.</p>

<p>Top Choices:
WPI
Northeastern
BU</p>

<p>While the above schools are my dream schools and I would enroll in any of the three if given acceptance, the latter just seems unlikely.</p>

<p>So I've posted this thread in hopes of some people being able to recommend great CS schools in Massachusetts that I will most likely gain acceptance into.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance,</p>

<p>Connor</p>

<p>P.S. If you believe I have a shot at any of my "Top Choice" schools, please say so!</p>

<p>Cost constraints? Do they have to be in Massachusetts? Are you a resident of Massachusetts?</p>

<p>University of Massachusetts - Amherst looks like an admissions match overall for your stats, but you need to check whether it is more selective for the CS major than overall. It has a well regarded CS department (if you believe rankings, it is the third ranked CS department in Massachusetts). But you need to check affordability on its net price calculator.</p>

<p>Cost is not an issue (well it may be but I’m ignoring it for the time being). I’m a resident of MA, and I’ve decided I don’t want to study outside the state.</p>

<p>I toured UMass Amherst a month back and really liked the campus (although it was a bit big).</p>

<p>I was planning on applying to it as my safety…</p>

<p>What are the reasons you might prefer WPI, Northeastern, or BU over UMass - Amherst?</p>

<p>NEU- Love the campus (has the city right in its backyard while still maintaining its own campus) and its CO-OP program.</p>

<p>WPI- Again, loved the campus and the way the school year is set up.</p>

<p>BU- My cousin attended BU and I’ve loved it since.</p>

<p>I’m not one to party typically and that’s why I’m shying away from UMass Amherst, but then again, I would say I’m much more social than the general student at WPI.</p>

<p>UMass Lowell would be a good match and their CS program is very good. Lots of campus expansion including two new dorms that just opened in September. Apply to it as a safety and then go check it out before ruling it out just because you want to “get away”.
UMass Amherst has a great CS program as already mentioned. You don’t have to party if you go to a state school. I know plenty of students at both UML and UMass Amherst who are not partiers or drinkers and they are doing just fine.
How much can your family **really **afford to pay?
I think both BU and NEU are both possible, but your test scores are just average for them. Definitely apply, it is the only way to know for sure!
WPI is the only test-optional school, so that would work in your favor but you have to submit supplemental materials through their Flex Path Admissions program.
RPI would more of a reach with your test scores.
U. Rochester is also a good choice. Did you consider RIT?
Brandeis?</p>

<p>It does you no good to ignore costs when compiling a list. If you get in to a bunch of schools and can’t afford to go, what is the point? You need to run the Net Price Calculators too see where you stand.
BU is close to $60,000 this year. So about a quarter of a million dollars for four years.</p>

<p>You can do co-op at UMass - Amherst and many other schools:
[UMass</a> Amherst - Careers Services: The Co-op Process](<a href=“http://www.umass.edu/careers/internships/coopprocess/]UMass”>The Co-op Process | Career Development & Professional Connections | UMass Amherst)</p>

<p>I believe I could afford the $60,000 price tag of NEU and BU. I’ve looked into RIT
but have recently decided I want to stay in state.</p>

<p>I’m going to be applying to RPI as it is my reach school (I know it’s out of state).</p>

<p>I’m taking the SATs for only the second time come this Saturday. I’m hoping to get a superscore of 1950-2000 or so.</p>

<p>If I had to choose one school, it would certainly be NEU.</p>

<p>If I do well on my upcoming SAT test, I think I may apply EA all my aforementioned choices just so i can know whether or not I’m accepted earlier.</p>