<p>Would anyone like to tell me my chances at CS in Berkeley? Should I apply for
I'm also taking a look at CMU SCS ... actually, just my chances at colleges in general.</p>
<p>I'm looking at a future in computer science, but I'm currently taking a biotech class right now and that seems interesting.</p>
<p>Student:
Gender: M
College Class Year: 2011
High School: Public
High School Type: sends many grads to top schools
Will apply for financial aid: Yes</p>
<p>SAT I Math: 780
SAT I Critical Reading: 740
SAT I Writing: 800
SAT II U.S. History: 760
SAT II Math Level 2 (IIC): 800
SAT II Biology - E: 780
SAT II Chemistry: 730</p>
<p>AP Calc B/C 5
AP US hist 4
AP LangComp 4
AP Bio 5</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:</p>
<p>Significant Extracurriculars: Environmental Club
Cancer Club
Model UN
Film Club
Orchestra III (top out of 3 at school)
Constitution Team
Leadership positions: Environmental Club (officer, 3yrs)
Cancer Club (officer, 2yrs)
Model UN (officer, 1yr)
Athletic Status - list sport and your level: Tennis (hobby, 6 years)
Volunteer/Service Work: Library Tech Aide
National Honor Society
Beach Cleanups</p>
<p>Umm idk. Good GPA and scores, but your ECs seem pretty generic. Do you have any prior comp sci experience? </p>
<p>CMU SCS is among the most competitive in the country, and Berkeley out of state is quite competitive. I’d say they are both at least low reaches…</p>
<p>Consider looking into Cornell, RPI, Illinois Urbana Champaign, Rice, and SUNY Stony Brook. All have good CS programs.</p>
<p>Haha, whoops I shoulda known to mention my previous CS experience. I got excellent grades in my C++ and Java classes, and I am currently taking AP Computer Science, which is a little late to send the AP test score to college. </p>
<p>Yeah, I realized that I really don’t have much to show for myself besides my scores and grades, and any awards I’ve ever gotten were in middle school, but I’m hoping it won’t be too much of a setback.</p>
<p>By the way, for Berkeley, would you recommend the EECS in the CoE or should I take the course in L&S</p>
<p>^ I wouldn’t recommend that you go through the EECS route – that program is just too competiitive for you based on your stats. I suggest that you apply to L&S where the BA CS is under. I think your SATs are good, but your GPA is low for L&S, and too low for the College of Engineering. </p>
<p>Hard to say. Your objectives are up to par. The essays play a HUGE role–if you can, try to both show your interest in CS, and perhaps something else (overcoming an obstacle, volunteer work, …). Showing both of these successfully would give you a decent chance at CMU.</p>
<p>Sorry for double post. Cornell should be a bit easier to get into than CMU computer science. Apply to both and I think you have a good shot at making one of the two.</p>
<p>Thanks.
Going to back to Berkeley, does anyone know of the pros/cons of going undeclared? I actually am not sure how the application works, but I don’t have to choose a school right away?</p>
<p>I seriously think that you have higher chances of getting into Cornell and CMU than Berkeley especially if you’re applying for EECS. Both Cornell and CMU are test scores conscious and your test scores are great. But i do think you have a shot at L&S in Berkeley.</p>
<p>Something I berate myself for not having mentioned was that I’m a Cal resident, so Berkeley would be the preferred case, but as it stands, I’ll probably be applying to CMU, Berkeley, and Cornell in that case.</p>
<p>The University of Washington is great for comsci too and has a good network in SV. So is Santa Clara University in Palo Alto. That is, if you don’t mind that it’s a catholic school (Jesuit-run).</p>