Building "safeties" list for S20 for Computer Science

College Search & Selection
1

We have been building the college list with our S20 who wants to apply to CS programs. Hopefully there will be some safety schools for CS, lol. We’ve got the typical reach schools, since even with his stats, everything is a reach. I’ve spent hours on CC and see lots of info about many reach schools, but I’m hoping there are some other great schools out there with good CS programs.

Quick run-down of his stats:
Perfect SAT and ACT scores, hasn’t taken SAT subject tests yet (And he’s gotten a TON of mail from notable schools, but it’s hard to know if this is from his perfect scores or just regular college mail)
3.94 UW GPA
Many Honors and APs. Currently in AP Calc BC, AP Physics 1, AP Lit & Comp, AP Gov’t & Politics, Honors French IV. Also is the lead intern in his Technology Support Internship class where they work at the tech support help desk for the district. Next year will take Calc 3 online through UIUC, AP Physics C, AP Chem, AP French V.

He will likely be a National Merit Semi Finalist, based on his index from the PSAT.

Decent ECs:
-sports (golf and bowling team)
-3 time state qualifier for the Math Team
-This is his first year on the WYSE/Academic Challenge team- (individual) 1st in CS in regionals, I forget what place in Match, qualified for Sectionals (in 10 days) and will hopefully qualify for State.
-Volunteer tech support at local retirement community
-Started his own tech support business
-Has had a PT job for the past 3-4 months

Typical schools on the list so far (MIT, CMU, UIUC [we are in-state], Michigan, Purdue), but I feel he needs some more matches/safeties, so I’d love any input! At this point, he’s wanting to stay in the Midwest or go East. He doesn’t have much interest in California or west coast (doesn’t want to go that far). He isn’t really sure if he wants a huge school or a smaller school (5000). Since this is our oldest kid and I don’t know a ton about scholarships, I’m trying to learn more about merit-based scholarships and what he might be eligible for, but I know the top tier schools will be little to none. We won’t qualify for any other financial aid. The financial piece won’t be much of an issue.

Thanks in advance for any input on some other schools to consider that have good CS programs!

2

How does UIUC admissions treat instate kids and do they except him into the CS program from HS?

3

I’d look at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities or University of Wisconsin - Madison.

4

If he focused on his tech support at the retirement community somehow, I think Georgia Tech might be match, though for out of state is hard.

5

Ohio State would probably be a safety.

6

Clarkson for a safety.
RPI for a match/safety.

7

Univ of Maryland College Park is a match, but will need to apply by priority deadline since the CS program is limited enrollment. It’s a highly ranked program. They seem to love high stats kids from OOS.

8

Thanks, @bouders , @sdl0625 , @“Erin’s Dad” , @momofsenior1 , @momprof9904 !! I forgot to mention that Wisconsin-Madison is on our radar too and I’ve looked a little bit into RPI. I’ll definitely look into them more and check out the others, too. :slight_smile: Anyone know much about CWRU in terms of CS?

9

Take a look at Milwaukee School of Engineering and Rose Hullman. Milwaukee just built (or is in the process of building) a brand new $33 million dollar building dedicated to CS.

10

I suspect he has a pretty decent shot at CS at UIUC - it is very competitive but he has the stats and is in-state. But he needs to figure out if a huge school is in the cards for him. (It was not for DD19.) Since you are in Illinois, maybe plan to do a tour of UIUC to get a feel for the size.

11

Thanks, @DCCAWAMIIAIL! We actually did do an organized visit this fall, but it was a rainy, crappy day. He’s been there for the state math team competition for the past 2 years and will go again in May. But that’s a different feel than walking around on a nice day during a normal day. So, I’m sure we’ll go back again. I’m probably more hesitant than he is about a huge school like that or other Big 10 schools. UIUC is a great for CS and it’s appealing because of price and distance. And he likes that idea since some of his friends may end up there as well, although not in CS. Thanks for your input!

12

@dreambig55 Here is an article with rankings and background on CS programs: https://www.ivyachievement.com/computer-science-rankings/

There are many, many tables and cross-rankings, by factors such as starting salaries, job placement and publications.

13

With perfect SAT scores I think anything lower than the top tiers will be a safety So if top tiers are MIT, Stanford, CM, then your safeties are going to be RPI, PennState, UNC, USC - I would say GT would be between a match and safety
Definitely a vote for RPI

14

Like everyone else, his true safeties are places where he is guaranteed automatic admission for his stats, and that are guaranteed to be affordable for your family. So hit the lists of automatic admit institutions in the Financial Aid Forum, and check the lists of places that are auto admits for NMF. Find a place or two that look good, and build your list upwards from there.

Remember, the public universities in Iowa admit by a formula that is right on their websites. If those are in your budget, one of them could be his true safety.

15

I thought I’d revisit this thread I started 6 months or so ago and report on my S20’s list of where he will likely be applying. We have made some progress with identifying some match/safety schools. Now he’s trying to figure out where to do EA. I doubt he will do anywhere ED. He will be studying CS. We have visited a handful of schools since I first posted.

Luckily in the past 6 months or so, he’s had some cool experiences come up that he will work into his essays and applications: after interviewing for the position, he was named “Lead Intern” in his technology support internship class, he also interviewed for and was hired for a paid internship with the school district doing tech support/computer stuff over this past summer 30 hours/week, he continued to work his other PT job in the evenings 5 days/week, he just secured a paid internship with a company doing computer/engineering-related responsibilities 20 hours/week (also counts as an internship through school, so he leaves a little early each day) and he continues to have clients here and there (mostly by word of mouth) for his own tech support business he started (he could probably put more time into promoting/marketing this, but frankly he doesn’t have much time!). It’s been fun to watch him get to experience these opportunities. He also was promoted from a bus boy to a host at his PT restaurant job that he really enjoys and wants to keep working along with his internship, if possible.

Reaches:
MIT
CMU
Harvard
Vanderbilt

Sort of reaches??:
UIUC
Northeastern
WashU
Michigan

Matches?:
Purdue
Wisconsin-Madision
Pitt
Case Western
Boston U

I’m still feeing like he’s too top-heavy, so he may consider some others like Miami of Ohio and Alabama and we’ll still look into some mentioned above like RPI, Ohio State, Penn State. We have visited Harvard, MIT, CMU, Northeastern, BU, UIUC, Case Western, and we’ll be visiting Vanderbilt next weekend and WashU in October. Hopefully we’re hitting the ones that factor in demonstrated interest! He doesn’t really have a #1 standout, more like a top 4 or 5.

I’m hoping with some of the more recent additions of experience and internships, these will be helpful in the “holistic admissions” process.

16

Why Vandy for CS? If you’re going to try Vandy, you may as well try Northwestern. I’m not sure if Purdue and UW are matches—they have top CS programs, and CS is really tough.

17

You have a pretty good list. Considering his stats, some of the schools you listed as matches maybe safeties (Pitt/?). OSU and/or Penn State would be good additions - both have good CS departments and maybe similar to each other (and to Purdue, Wisconsin-Madison).

If Boston area is OK (seems like it is from your current list) - take a serious look at WPI too. It could be an alternative if a smaller univ is preferred over big state schools.

(I work in Boston area in a well known tech name - we recruit heavily from WPI and Northeastern; those grads have reputation to be well prepared for the industry and hit the ground almost immediately. I am sure there are many schools like that - just thought of adding my 2cents).

18

I think you have a nice list. UIUC is all about stats and grades. He has perfect scores. They want Illinois kids since lots are flocking to Alabama for the full scholarship (he would get a full ride there). I don’t say this often but being from Illinois I bet he gets into UIUC. It’s a top 5 school for CS and well respected nationally for it. They don’t want to lose top talent
Michigan… Can be a reach for an OOS kid even with his stats. The essay and showing them he “really” "wants to go there are huge. Have his GC reach out and have him reach out to his AO at Michigan and let them know. With his stats they will just think he’s playing them for a back up to Stanford and will reject him. Again, show them the love.
Small campus?? Northwestern is in your backyard. University of Chicago?? (stop looking at rankings) You might consider putting Georgia Tech back on. Lots of Illinois kids get accepted there even though it’s a hard get being OOS.
Apply to every school EA. No reason not to.
WashU and Vanderbilt like attention also.

19

I would add Cornell, Northwester and Penn to your Reach list. He has a good chance, if he can write well and show interest. Also, Vandy loves high stat kids, and is not really a Reach. After your visit, you may decide to drop/keep that on your list. You should add back Georgia Tech and possibly UC Berkeley.
Are you ok to pay full OOS fees or have a strict budget where most of these OOS and Private schools may come off the list ? Are you looking for Merit ? Vandy has great Merit scholarships for their Top 1-2%.

20

Surprised U of Rochester hasn’t been mentioned (or has it?). Not sure it’s a true safety, though the OP’s son seems like he should be a shoo-in.

True safeties would be in-state options like Illinois Institute of Technology or UIC, or if the OP’s son doesn’t want a school in Chicago (both IIT and UIC are in the city), there’s Bradley U in Peoria, an overlooked STEM-oriented school that has a great regional reputation but isn’t as well-known nationally.

Truth is, I don’t know if the OP’s son needs a safety, as he should be okay to get in somewhere. Though it’s true that it’s tougher nowadays to get into any single school, it is not more difficult to get into a school, especially when students apply to so many. My advice to the OP: apply to a whole bunch of schools that your son would like to attend (I like his chances already at UIUC or Purdue), and then add Bradley as a safety, or, if you can truly afford to send him anywhere, choose a less-competitive Big Ten school or two (they all offer CS).