GPA: 3.7 (uw), ACT: 33
Background: White, ADHD, Wealthy, East Coast
My school doesn’t offer any AP and that’s starting to freak me out that I might not show schools I’m challenging myself, at least that’s what my parents stress me out about. I’m a National Merit Scholar but I don’t know if I’m a semifinalist or not. Additionally I am in Rho Kappa. The schools in the title are my main choices my stretch is probably Carnegie. RIT gave me the Computer Merit Scholarship in the middle of my junior year which was based on my work in Computer Science, GPA and ACT. I have had computer science internships for every summer of my high school years and I have completed two online certifications in computer science. (3 different jobs now) These have been jobs with large tech companies who are willing to speak for my skills and quality of work. Additionally I have been volunteering with a local therapeutic horse barn for the past 4 or so years who work with children with mental and physical disabilities. I am a General class ham radio operator and I have been part of my local club for a few years. I’m also a cadet at my local fire department. This is my third year teaching a computer science class for students at my school where many of them have learning disabilities. Finally, I am currently talking a Calc 1 course at my local community college to supplement my school work. Do you think my extracurricular and scores make these schools a safe bet for me? My top one I’m concerned about right now is RIT.
@JakeD22222 I see you have ADHD listed above, that should be nowhere on your application-just so you know. Your EC’s are great. Take your time writing them powerfully on the Common App Website and write great essays. As long as you are taking the most rigorous classes at your high school, you should be fine. Hopefully the school makes that clear to the colleges. Best of luck!
You won’t be penalized for taking courses not offered at your school so don’t worry about that. You are assessed in context of your school report.
I think these are all good matches for you but I wouldn’t consider them safeties.
RIT is not a safety and is probably the least competitive for admission on your list. CMU is a reach for anyone. Northeastern is the next most difficult for admission and ,I believe, still a five year BS co-op program. Rose Hulman, Stevens, WPI and RPI are really all about the same level regarding probability for admission. RPI is more selective on test scores while WPI is more concerned with GPA. Your EC’s look good,
BUT
Who are you? What drives you? What are your dreams? What are the differences between the listed University programs. Is Co-op the same as project based studies? How do they differ? Where is the project/research quality control?
You need safeties. How about Clarkson and Drexel?
There is a lot of potential horsepower in your engine. Pick a pit crew who you will work well with together. In addition to the CS, do you want to pursue the Social Sciences? If so how?
Why is RIT not a safety academically? Has the acceptance rate changed significantly in the past two years? I’m struggling to find a ton of up to date data, but last I checked and in 2017 the acceptance rate was 50% with OP being near or above the 75% percentile of students there.
If “safety” is taken as assured admission we should also look carefully at the major. If a large University places a lot of weight on a 3.7 GPA without consideration of special awards, he could be shut out as a CS major. I’m thinking that the selected major/GPA is the issue and not the overall admissions rate. To me, it is not a large enough landing pad and the OP does not have a CS guarantee on the list. Viewed alone, the admissions rate is comforting. Are most of their CS majors 3.9 and 4.0? On a university wide basis he would be a guaranteed admit.
This is where I wish we had access to University GPA profiles. I cannot find one on the internet for RIT in general. Some of these universities have dramatic differences between majors.
RIT can be a safety because of its Rolling Admissions. Get that app in early and the decision should come rolling back within a month.
I agree that it’s difficult finding a Safety CS major.
If you make the cut for NMF, some doors will open in terms of choices. Have you taken your SAT1s yet? You should get in top of this. Research where you are in the process. I have not kept up with things in that area.