Hi,
I’ve just made an account on here, driven by anxiety and hopelessness. I’m applying to schools as a CS major this fall and would really like multiple opinions on where I stand. I think my family is painting too generous a picture when it comes to my chances at most schools I’m applying to.
My main problem is a great lack of solid ECs:
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I interned at a lab at Boston Children’s Hospital (unpaid) for six weeks this summer
I’m in the Technovation club at my school for the second year (a girls’ App Inventor club)
I’ve done up to 200 hours of volunteering at nonprofits, my local hospital, and walks and fundraisers
- That’s about it. I was in Key Club my sophomore year and Orchestra my freshman year. Quit both.
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I don’t have any longterm ECs or any standout leadership positions.
My GPA is a 4.68/5.0 and my ACT score is a 35. I’m an Asian girl. Got a 5 on AP Chem but that’s the only AP my school let me take in junior year.
I’m thinking of applying ED to CMU (a super high reach). What are my chances here, and what are they for UC Berkley, UCLA, UMich, Northeastern, Tufts, and this tier of schools?
How about for UIUC, Georgia Tech, UToronto, Wisconsin Madison, and Purdue?
Umass Amherst and UMD are likely my safety schools.
Honest, informed opinions beyond googled searches would be amazingly helpful. Thanks so much.
What is your unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale?
Have you talked to your parents about what they will contribute for your college costs?
They’ll support me through undergrad (as long as I work, too). For now they’re saying I should apply w/o considering costs and deal with that after acceptances/rejections. Unweighted is 3.78, according to an online calculator.
There are plenty of other stories where students and parents did that, leading to trouble in April when most or even all of the admission letters are revealed to be too expensive only then.
Find out from your parents what their price limit is, so that you know whether colleges’ financial aid may be enough (based on their net price calculators) or if you need to target merit scholarships (rather than just admission).
State of residency?
That’s a fair point. I’m going to speak with them about it today or tomorrow. Knowing my dad’s income, I’d say $60-$70k are out of reach, and what’s lower is in the affordable range. Thanks.
Oh and I live in Massachusetts.
Because of racial quotas, you may have more success at some colleges if you check ‘Prefer not to answer’ instead of ‘Asian’ on your applications. Have you taken the SAT?
I’ve taken SAT subject Chem (750, may increase) and predict I’ll get anywhere between 730-780 on Math II. But not the real SAT.
uwGPA 3.78 is a bit low. Can you calculate again without subgrades for UMich?
UIUC CS majors are all reach for all students. Also, you would need to pay the full price of around $55k per year there. You will have a good chance at Purdue, but your GPA may hold you back from getting merit aid. Any OOS public would be expensive and not worth the $200k+ total cost even you are willing to pay.