Good shot for UMN but maybe not for your major. You can apply to more than one school within UMN. You can also go in undecided. I would probably apply test-optional, though.
UMN is a phenomenal school, but if you like UMN I think you’d also like Iowa and Kansas. Both have assured admission if you meet certain criteria (which I believe you do) that you can do online and you could know by September. That really took a lot of the pressure off for S23.
You are hoping to major in CS. IMO at least one of your recommendations should come from a Math or Science teacher.
It definitely does. But I think @tsbna44’s point is that - if this is the case, why bother chasing harder admit schools?
Agree in principle if there are two LORs, but the OP won’t necessarily need more than one LOR depending on where they end up applying. UMN doesn’t even accept LORs.
Yes - these are the OPs words
So he just needs a safety and he mentioned KU.
If that’s #2, op is done.
There was a 3rd school mentioned but know nothing about it.
Yeah, my parents are always telling me to aim for Ivies, which is why put it here. But I have accepted that it’s quite impossible. This is why I am hoping for the UMN.
Would you say that if I go major undecided, no act score, and early action, I will have a better chance at getting in?
Read this - but I’d rather see you go to KU and study the major you want - or it sounds like you want to be in the area - I mentioned Iowa State - then to go in and have to take a chance.
If you know you want CS, apply for CS.
Transfer from within the UMN Twin Cities | College of Science and Engineering
You should certainly apply early action. Keep in mind that UMN starts admitting students right away. If you apply as early as possible (August), you may hear back from UMN as soon as September or October, which might mean that you would not even need to bother with other college applications, if UMN is your first choice and you are admitted.
I agree with @vwlizard that you may be better off applying test optional. You also do not need LORs or a personal statement. UMN has a couple of very brief “why us?” essays.
As far as applying “undecided,” you must choose a first and second choice college. Since you want CS, your first and second choice colleges will be CSE and CLA. You could list those in either order depending on which one you would prefer. Even though you will list a major on your application, UMN admits to college, not to major.
Have you run the net price calculator? You should do this for each college where you apply, to make sure it is affordable for your family. Here is the calculator for UMN: Net Price Calculator | Office of Admissions
Ohhhhhh. So major does not play a role in the admissions process? I was incognizant of this. Thank you for shedding some light upon this misconception of mine. And yes, I ran the net price calculator. And yes, it seems affordable. This is why I am hoping that I can get accepted, as it is quite close to my current location. That way, I can stay close to family.
I’m glad you understand.
I believe you’ll get into UMN where you can do very well. Not going to an Ivy isn’t a big deal at all, especially for CS which is a highly employable field.
So do have this conversation with your parents and hopefully they’ll understand too. Show them this thread, if that helps.
Agree with everything tamogatchi says.
Apply early. Apply to both colleges that offer your major. Compare coursework to determine which to list as your first choice. Brush up on your essays and as soon as your application is the best it can be, get it in.
Safeties would be UMN Morris (excellent for CS) and Hennepin Tech.
Run the Net Price Calculator on each college -each university calculates your need differently and the net price will likely vary from one to the other. Show the results to your parents to make sure the college is affordable before you apply there.
Note that Macalester is an excellent college in the Twin Cities - I’m not sure you’d have a shot (they’re very selective) but it could be a reach that wouldn’t be too far away and more realistic than T20s.
Add UWisconsin, nationally-known for CS (probably another reach), and perhaps one of UWisconsin’s campuses (La Crosse is an easy one to pick) since with reciprocity you’d pay the same as instate.
As has been mentioned upthread, University of Iowa, Iowa State, KU are other possible universities for your list.
You could run the NPC on University of Illinois-Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, Loyola University - see if any of these appeal to you since they’re different from your MN and WI options.
Summary:
Safeties (you need 2)
UMN Morris (match for CS), Hennepin Tech (probably not necessary so wait till you hear back from UMN Morris at least), UWI-La Crosse
Matches (pick 4-5)
UMN Morris (CS/honors), KU, Iowa State, UIowa, UNebraska Lincoln, UIllinois-Chicago, Illinois Tech, Loyola
Low reach: UMN CSE
Reach: UWisconsin, Macalester
Apply (EA) as soon as the app opens - typically, August. A UMN Morris and LaCrosse apply to the Honors College. At UMN (TC) apply to CSE first choice, CLA 2nd choice, this way you’re sure to find a way to get into CS. However Data Science is only available through CSE.
Why not UMN Duluth?
Also, I believe on the application there is a place to check if you want to be considered for all UMN campuses. Checking this will not decrease your chances of being accepted at UMN-TC.
I was thinking that UMN Morris, if applied early, is basically a safety and is at the same time top-notch for CS specifically, so that UMN Duluth wouldn’t be necessary, but OP could certainly apply to all 3 and if UMN TC were to deny them, hey’d have 2 good choices.
A lot of people are also telling me to apply to UMN TC August; however, most of my leadership positions and huge initiatives are starting towards the beginning of the school year (early September). Would you say that I can still put it as one of my activities even though I did not—at the time of submitting—embark on such an endeavor? Or should I wait still mid to late September to submit.
That’s interesting!
Woah. Thank you so much for this! Yeah, I have been seeing the “Apply in August” everywhere. Most of my leadership positions, however, take part in September (mid and late) to early October. Should I still put them when applying in August, or should I wait till the months aforementioned to apply?
You list them in August, then you can always “update” at the end of October if you have achievements related to these activities (unless you’ve been admitted already!)
An activity senior year would be unlikely to tip the balance IMHO - it’s clear most of your EC’s start senior year so they show belated engagement but it’s late.
I’m not sure “political blog writer, 12th” should be on that list - either your blog has a home worth an audience and you could start now, or simply don’t. A flurry of activity senior year doesn’t make up for building your activities throughout HS.
(DO remember this for college though: you’ll need to get involved in a bunch of clubs right from the start).
Don’t wait. A month doesn’t matter and they may not impact the decision anyway.
Others have suggested branches of UMN and they’re great but if you want that big school feel, you have KU on your initial list. But as good and half the distance home is ISU.
Good luck.