I really want to study cybersecurity or information systems in college, but I don’t have any tech background. Like none. Not even a computer class. I have unweighed 4.0, Full IB, and a lot of activities, but all of my ECs and classes are more liberal arts/social science related.
Obviously I don’t want to go to MIT or anything, but would a match school accept me for this major even though I don’t have a background in it? For example, Stevens Institute of Technology, Rochester institute of technology, Syracuse, maybe some of the mid level UC schools?
Also I really like Rensselaer Institute of Technology from the info sessions I have gone to and research, but I don’t know if that would be an impossible reach considering I’m not a traditional STEM student.
Yes, you can attend college as a tech major without a tech background.
Math grades & standardized test scores may be an indication of your suitability for study in the tech arena.
How far have you gone in math? Did you take the regular SAT or ACT, and if so how did you do in the math part of it?
Technology depends upon math. Encryption for example has a significant math component.
However, if you are ready to start taking calculus when you show up at university, any good university will be ready to teach you the rest that you need to know.
Do you have any programming experience at all? I think that you should be okay even if the answer is “none”, but a bit will help. You could do this over the summer (presumably next summer, since this one is over) if you are incoming high school senior.
My younger son did not have any HS computer classes (not offered at his HS) but was admitted into a CS program, graduated with 2 internships and now works at his dream job as a Cybersecurity Analyst.
He did however have a strong background in Math taking up to AP Calculus BC, scoring well on the AP exams and a high score on the Math section of the ACT. He also did some on-line educational prep courses in his spare time related to coding/programming.
You have a competitive GPA and the IB program shows you can handle academic rigor. As long as you have a solid foundation in Math, have an interest in your intended major and are willing to work hard, you should have many options when it comes time to select a college.
Thanks for the responses. Yes, I have a good math background. I am in IB Calculus and IB Math studies right now and I plan to take either physics or another math course over the summer through the community college.
Then you should fit right in as a tech major.