<p>I am a rising Junior (white male) at a high school ranked 9th in state, I'm looking to go into Computer Science, but I also have a love for art, graphic design, etc. I haven't done too much shopping around for colleges - but these are some I am interested in...</p>
<p>Chance me?:
-Cornell
-Brown
-UC Berkeley
-UIUC
-UCLA
-CalTech
-CalPoly
-Carleton College
-rest of Ivies?</p>
<p>-as of first semester of sophomore year-
GPA: 3.95
wGPA: 4.32
normal rank: 72 of 357
weighted rank: 64 of 358
estimated ACT: 32</p>
<p>-9th Grade-
Honors Bio A/A
Honors English A/A
Honors Geometry A/A
Gym I A
Content Reading A
French I A/A
World History A/A</p>
<p>-10th Grade-
Honors American Lit A/A
French II A/A
AP US History A/A
Health A
Gym II A
Honors Algebra 2 A/A
Honors Chemistry A/A</p>
<p>-11th Grade-
Honors Math Analysis (Pre-Calc)
AP Human Geography
AP Macroeconomics
Honors Physics
Drawing and Painting I
Art and Design
AP Literature
Honors French III</p>
<p>EC's:
3 years Track and Field (Varsity)
2 years XC (will be varsity next year) (Letter)
2 years Nordic Skiing Team (Letter)
Student Government (running for student body Secretary next (Junior) year)
Robotics Team
I know HTML, learning C & Java
NHS (next year)
2 years "A Vous La Parole" (French singing competition)(Blue Ribbon both years)</p>
<p>Volunteer work:
President of Teen Arts Council at local Art Museum (founded this also)
Teaching kids camps at local Art Museum (last summer)</p>
<p>Cornell- Reach
Brown- Reach
UC Berkeley- High Match/ Low Reach
UIUC- Match
UCLA- High Match
CalTech- Reach
CalPoly- Match
Carleton College- High Match</p>
<p>You have a good overall application. If you aren’t going to be recruited for track of cross country, your extracurriculars are a bit random for a major in computer science. Try to do more at your school with your intended major. I am not saying change your major because of what I am saying, but be aware that your extracurriculars are not the strongest part of your application. For the Ivy’s and Caltech, you ACT is about a point or two too low. Your class rank is not very good, even though your GPA is, which leads me to believe that your high school is very competitive. You are however going into junior year, which gives you time to improve your rank, improve your ACT at least two points, and focus your extracurriculars on computer science related thing. You will get into most of your schools, with the Ivy’s and Caltech being the obvious reach that they always are. But you are going to be a junior, so you do have time; there is no need to stress out. </p>
<p>Thanks Debater1996, I’m getting involved with the robotics team at my school, should I do even more related EC’s, or just tell more on the app about how well our team did? Also the class rank is bogus. My school is quite competitive, but after the first semester of sophomore year, many kids still had straight A’s… but after APUSH, which many people at my school take sophomore year. I believe that rank will change, hopefully benefitting me. Thanks again.</p>
<p>runner2015, hello I don’t think I’m the best person to give advice on ivies being a student who doesn’t have the best grades but I’ll give it a shot. I myself want to get into some of those Ivies you listed up above. I say your EC’s are fantastic that will make you stand out big time but it really seems with your EC’s and volunteer work that you want to become a Art major like Debater1996 said if you really want to become a CS major then show it in your EC’s and volunteering. With your gpa just try raising that a bit if you can but seriously I think it’s pretty good, if you can take more Ap’s and you’ll be fine seriously freshman year I had a HORRIBLE gpa and now as a sophomore have a 2.7 before school ends i’m trying to get it to a 3.0 I slacked off big time so don’t worry and seriously it’s not always about the test scores have amazing recommendations, an essay that stands out and I think you will be fine. Its extremely hard to get into Cornell and other universities like that I heard that they don’t like people who are just robot machines who have best test scores and perfect everything they look for flaws too they admit students who they have seen can try and won’t give up that have made huge improvements through all four of their years. But stick with one thing and push it all the way I say you go with art and major in something art related or maybe double major idk but it really seems like you should go into the art field. Good Luck good luck to all of us hoping to improve are futures and grades aim high everyone and hopefully all are dreams will come true.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice sandchick25! I would go into the art field, but there is little money to be made there, at least thats what I have taken away from my research. Technology has always been something that I have been interested in, mostly programming. I am planning on learning much more programming this summer, then hopefully interning with a start up out of Minneapolis next summer, which would add to my experience.</p>
<p>What about MIT/Stanford? Should I even bother? I hear Stanford puts a lot of emphasis on varsity sports, I think I would stand out from other applicants with my art stuff, is that good or bad? Art something I am passionate about, should I do something just so it looks good on the application?</p>
<p>A near perfect GPA and barely top 20%? I assume your school has some insane grade inflation. </p>
<p>Chances won’t be too accurate until you get your actual ACT score. With that information, all of the Ivies will be high reaches, with the exception of Cornell which is still a reach.</p>
<p>You GPA stands well on its own, but your class rank is a bit low. Your ACT score could use a good bump as well. Otherwise, you seem to be involved in challenging courses and great, varied ECs! The fact that you started many of your own activities in a great talking point in either essays or interviews.</p>
<p>I don’t know too much about your schools but if I were to guess:</p>
<p>Cornell: Reach
Brown: Reach
UC Berkeley: Match
UIUC: Match
UCLA: High match
CalTech: Reach
CalPoly: Match
Carleton College: Match</p>
<p>Basically, I think you have a decent shot at getting into at least a few of these schools. Ivies are obviously selective, and nothing is ever guaranteed, so definitely remember to add some safeties. Best of luck!</p>
<p>HYPSM: Mid/High Reach
Cornell: Mid Reach
Berkeley: High Match/Low Reach
UIUC, UCLA: Match
CalPoly: Med/High Match
Carleton: Safety/Low Match
CalTech: I’ll take a **** on the California Bear and engage in "Dangerous Unarmed Combat"™ with John Fremont if you make it in (no offense).</p>
<p>It’s really hard to give a sophomore (rising junior) any sort of accurate chance thread as you haven’t progressed through the pain and suffering of junior year and thus your test scores/GPA/ECs (at the moment) don’t accurately reflect you. However, I’ll do what I can to help!</p>
<p>As mentioned before, your ECs are a bit random and don’t have any truly determined focus. If I were you, I’d stop expanding before your ECs regress into the dreaded “Laundry List” in the eyes of an admissions counselor. Take a focus (some varsity sport in your case would be highly recommended - having a STRONG sports background is a great way to get into a high Uni) and **RUN WITH IT<a href=“pun%20intended,%20DO%20TRACK!!!”>/b</a>. If you feel as if you have to expand, for goodness sake, DO IT IN COMPUTER SCIENCE. Join/form a programming club, take computer science classes and do well in it! </p>
<p>Your ACT scores are decent, but not good enough for the higher schools - aim for a better score (34+). Study over the summer.</p>
<p>Personally, I’d recommend more APs junior year, but it’s up to you - you’re good, I suppose. Definitely take more senior year, and if possible, try to fit in AP Computer Science. </p>
I slacked off big time so don’t worry and seriously it’s not always about the test scores have amazing recommendations, an essay that stands out and I think you will be fine. Its extremely hard to get into Cornell and other universities like that I heard that they don’t like people who are just robot machines who have best test scores and perfect everything they look for flaws too they admit students who they have seen can try and won’t give up that have made huge improvements through all four of their years. But stick with one thing and push it all the way I say you go with art and major in something art related or maybe double major idk but it really seems like you should go into the art field. Good Luck good luck to all of us hoping to improve are futures and grades aim high everyone and hopefully all are dreams will come true.</p>