Applying to the Computer Science Departments @ Boston University, NYU, Northeastern, WPI, and Umass Amherst (these are my reach schools.)
GPA: 3.84 out of 4.0 (unweighted)
SAT: 1370 out of 1600 (680 in R&W; 690 in Math)
ECS:
Secretary & Treasurer of Art Club (9-12)
Worked at Resturant (over 8 hrs a week) (10-12)
Secretary of Charitas (Club that shows support and gives back to the staff including janitors and security guards) (11-12)
Interact Club (9-12)
Red Cross Club (9-12)
Community Volunteer (I can’t disclose the names of the volunteering places since it would disclose my location.) (9-12)
Civic Engagement (11)
Track and Field; Long-distance runner (10)
Additional Info:
I’m a female with immigrant parents who never graduated from grade school; therefore, I help them with translating and teach them bits of English during my free time. Will this help my chances?
Also I got a 82 as my final grade in AP Comp Sci. How much will this hurt my chances?
Thank you so much for reading and I wish everyone the best of luck on their applications!!!
P.S: It would be really helpful if you guys could recommend any schools for me! Since my guidance counselor is gone for this school year so it’s been a bit chaotic. Thank you again! <3
On the bright side, your 8 hr per week job is a good thing, STEM schools tend to have more male than female applicants and are looking for a better balance. It has even been argued that women have a perspective which these male dominated fields need as more balance may improve a design team’s perspective.
Solid math is probably more important than your coding performance as you advance in CS. BUT, what would you study if straight CS turned out not to be your focus. Robotics? Actuarial science? Biomedical engineering?
If you are a MA resident, you might want to add U Mass Lowell and U Mass Dartmouth to your list.
Have a backup plan to deal with finances. Some very affordable community colleges are available with well established transfer programs to selected colleges that are on your list. This can cut costs if your financial needs are not met by the admitting university.
If you have not yet, try to arrange a visit and to interview at these schools.
You sound to me like a no nonsense worker. and also a long distance runner. You know what it takes to win a race!
@retiredfarmer Sorry about the late reply, but thank you so much for your help! I never really considered about doing anything else besides computer science because I have been planning to major in it ever since I was a kid, but because of your reply, I picked civil engineering as a possible second major! I love physics and figuring things out and I can’t believe it never crossed my mind.
You might also consider mechanical engineering, it’s a good fit with CS & physics - especially from a robotics perspective. Look for a safety school - in state that offers CS & engineering.
