Chance me for Carnegie Mellon?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Carnegie Mellon University
1

<p>I'm a rising senior at Lake Travis High School in Austin, TX.
Rank: 18/514-ish
GPA: 3.87 unweighted, 103 weighted grade average.</p>

<p>SAT:
Oct 2011: CR: 780 M: 700 W: 660
Jun 2012: CR: 770 M: 750 W: 780
Taking Math II and Physics subject tests in october</p>

<p>ACT:
35 composite, 34 english, 35 math, 36 reading, 35 science, 6 on the essay (I bombed it)</p>

<p>AP Credits so far:
World History 5
Art History 4
US History 4
English language 5</p>

<p>Taking Physics B, Comp Sci, Calculus AB, English Literature, US Gov and Econ this year.</p>

<p>ECs:
Band for 4 years, section leader 2 years
NHS member, but no leadership
Extensive volunteering at community library for 6 years (weekly shift, 800+ hours, ran summer reading book clubs for high schoolers, teen book club member for 4 years, fundraising, helped move facilities, etc)
SISO (Students for Inclusive Social Oppurtunities) member, we meet and plan activities for the special ed kids at my school
Ballroom Dancing club
Girl Scouts for 11 years
Summer job as swim camp counselor, my boss loves me</p>

<p>I am probably going to be a National Merit Scholar in Texas, I have a 218, I crunched some numbers they released, I think cutoff is 216 this year.</p>

<p>I am interested in either Computer Science or Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon, what do you think my odds are for either? Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Anybody please?</p>

3

<p>You have an excellent GPA, class rank and standardized test scores. You also have decent ECs. Lake Travis is a good school. These are all positives. </p>

<p>There could be some question about your interest in EE or CS, since you took the most rigorous AP history and language classes, but not in STEM, such as APCS, Calculus BC, AP Chemistry and AP Biology in my opinion. However, that should not be a deal killer. </p>

<p>Finally, what was your course load and grades in Junior year? </p>

<p>PS: I agree 218 will probably make NMSF.</p>

4

<p>Your stats are OK, but keep in mind that the acceptance rate for CS at CMU is about 11 %. At these low acceptance levels, it becomes a reach for any applicant.</p>

5

<p>It was 7% this year.</p>

6

<p>Thanks yall! This year, I’m taking Comp Sci AP and Digital electronics as electives, and physics B and Calc AB AP for my math and science, to show some more interest in the sciences.</p>

7

<p>If you are a girl, you would seem to have a fit shot at making it because your stats aren’t all that bad. Make yourself quirky! Good luck too.</p>

8

<p>Texas? I hope you’re applying for this, too:
[Turing</a> Scholars Honors Program at The University of Texas at Austin](<a href=“http://www.cs.utexas.edu/~turing/]Turing”>Turing Scholars | Department of Computer Science)</p>

<p>You’ve probably got a good shot at both, but UT would be just as good and much less expensive. Of course it depends on personal preference and financial aid as well. Good luck either way!</p>

9

<p>Thanks! I am definitely applying at UT Austin, but as an engineering major, not computer science, because I have heard it is easier to transfer into computer science there. Do you have any opinions on that?</p>