No hooks. Should I even try? I haven’t submitted applications for CMU, Columbia, Cornell, Harvey Mudd, Duke, or Rice. Should I just save the time and app fee?
Honestly if you think that UNC and NCSt. are academic safeties then I would focus on those. Getting into somewhere like Columbia is a pretty big reach (definitely not impossible though), I think it is easy to underestimate how many applicants Ivy’s get. Even after getting in those schools are very expensive, and if you plan on leaving the area the value of the name drops a good bit. However with somewhere like UNC you have a top public school (cheaper) in the country, and an equally recognizable name to employers.
If you cannot afford them without competitive merit scholarships, then the reach/match/likely/safety rating must be based on the competitive merit scholarships (larger ones should generally be considered reach).
A safety is a college where you have both assured admission (including to your major) and assured affordability.
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No. With mostly A’s in high school, even a lousy high school, you will get into a good university. With a CS degree, there will be lots of jobs available.
The issue is just that you have applied to quite a few very selective schools, and for those schools that admit by major CS tends to be a very competitive major.
The reality is that a lot of strong students start off at mediocre high schools and nonetheless get into a good university. Then they do well at a good university and get a good job and have a strong career. If you get into UNC-CH then you will get an excellent education. Two years after graduating you will be working a great job and will be having lunch with a colleague and will discover that they graduated from MIT, and no one cares that one of you is from UNC and one from MIT. You are just two colleagues who work together. By the way, I might be the one with a degree from MIT, and I do not care either.
The other reality is that there are probably more than 100 universities in the US with great CS programs. You really do not need to attend “UIUC, CMU, Cornell, Columbia, Duke, Rice, Harvey Mudd,” to have a great career. UNC and NC State are good schools and you will do well with a degree from either.
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If you’re planning on doing CS, there’s no need to pay triple the tuition going out of state, or paying outrageous tuition for a private school. The degree is ridiculously employable. Your stats should be more than good enough to get into NC State.
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I appreciate the pep-talk. It’s good to hear that I will have the opportunity to succeed in college and elevate my social status that I didn’t have in high school. You sound a lot like the father I never had. I’m certain your daughters are very well off with a man like yourself.
I must ask, though- do you think that my chances at those schools are more or less non-existent? That’s more so what I was getting at when I asked if I’m “screwed”. Thank you again.