@bitensky anytime! As you saw from my thread, I know more than anyone how strong extracurriculars can get you into a world class school. so you’ll be in the competition for almost any school you look at.
Your “struggle” High B’s and low A’s weren’t really that bad and are easily outweighed by your real tangible experience in your field.
From my experience from most of my friends who did end up going to Yale (1 of them) or Cornell (4 of them, since it was was the closer one), they all had extremely strong extracurriculars in the subject of their major. It apprears like unis look for students who will succeed in their passion, not just textbook jack of all trades.
Keep in mind I’m not an admissions officer, just basing off anecdotal evidence.
@jackisawesome Thanks for the reply! May I ask why you think I have a better chance at Cornell compared to Vandy? I thought Cornell was more highly regarded?
Also, do you think I could (almost) guarantee acceptance to CMU if I applied ED?
@bitensky Definitely! Basically, Cornell practices holistic review and actually considers every single aspect of an application, missing no detail. However, Vanderbilt does this less than Cornell (Cornell is honestly a big crusader of this principle so they practice it much more). Additionally, while Cornell has a much better national profile and is much more well known to both the national and American public, it’s admission rate is about 4% lower than that of Cornell. Hope this helps relatively good shot at both
Barring your GPA, your stats are very good and your ECs show your passion! Stanford, Cornell, Duke, and CMU are all reaches. Even if your major wasn’t computer engineering, both UCLA and UCB would be low reaches since their average GPAs are around 3.9. UCB is a reach, probably UCLA as well but more so UCB. You definitely have a shot at the rest though! Of course, if your essay is stellar, you could get into your reach schools good luck!
Stanford- this is kind of unpredictable because theres so many people applying but based on statistics alone, reject
Cornell- accept
Vanderbilt- accept/waitlist (being from california will help you)
Duke- waitlist/reject (just because they have a super low regular decision acceptance rate)
UC Berkeley- accept
UC Davis- accept
UCLA- accept
UCSB- accept
UCSD- accept
UVA- accept
University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign- accept
Cal Poly SLO- accept
im still a high school student just like you so if i dont think youll get in somewhere that doesnt mean acceptance is out of the question. i hope everything works out for you!
@bitensky Though CMU’s acceptance rate is higher than, say, Stanford, your major is computer engineering and from what I know CMU is excellent in that area, so admission will be much more difficult and competitive than the overall acceptance rate suggests. ED will certainly help, but I’m not sure how much. I think you have a shot though!
@dr0wning ah. CMU computer science has an acceptance rate of 5%, computer engineering (which is what I’m applying to) has a more reasonable rate of 20%.
University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign dont know
Cal Poly SLO really good.
but, engineering programs are harder to get into. but you have the extracurriculars. Im positive you can go to MIT or Caltech if you put your mind to it and really do the essay well.
@bitensky considering your EC’s STEM related, yeah.
they dont just select prodigies who ll change the world. Im not saying you ll get in, but your chances are kinda good. Definitely spend your time on higher schools you want to go to.
My friend, not the brightest guy, was an average who wrote beast essays who got in. But his writing ability has nothing to do with his prospects to be an engineer. But once he got in, he struggled but unlike other universiites like UCB, UCLA, and CMU, they want to help you graduate. they know youre smart af, but need to adjust to college.
Stanford and other top schools are a good environment if you’re willing to work hard, which seems evident from your stats. But, getting a job after college is not based on your college. It depends on what you learn there. At SLO, you learn tools not offered at UCB and UCLA, which is why Cal poly graduates may earn more after college.
While MIT and top UC’s and Cornell are awesome, look for places fit for you.
For me, Im doing EE and either SLO, UMich, or USC is perfect for me, even though it’s not the best schools.
so you’ll be in the competition for almost any school you look at.
relatively good shot at both