Chance Me: U of MN Twin Cities but also T20 [MN resident, 3.77, 29, computer science / data science]

Chance Me / Match Me!
41

UPDATE!

—————————————————————————————————

Demographics

Asian (Indian) male

Cost not really a problem, so I can splurge if necessary.

U.S. Citizen

State/Location of residency:

Minnesota, United States

  • Type of high school * Public and Large
  • Gender/Race/Ethnicity *: Male

Intended Major(s)

Computer Science and Data Science

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 3.78
  • Weighted HS GPA (incl. weighting system): 4.18
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 29 (retaking July)
  • Rank: unknown

Coursework

AP Scores:

AP Calc BC: 5 —10th
AP Calc AB Sub-score: 5 —10th
AP World History: 3 —10th

11th

AP Physics C Mech (4,5) Guess
AP Physics C E and M (4,5) Guess
AP Lang and Comp (4) Guess
AP Macro (3,4) Guess
AP Statistics (3,4) Guess
AP Comparative Government (4) Guess
AP U.S. History (4) Guess

Taking around 6 more AP’s senior year

Awards

None

Extracurriculars

Student Council—leadership position 12th
Full testing help club (AP testing and ACT) partnered with school—12th
Club designed to helping incoming 9th graders ease into high school—member 12th
course choosing club for incoming high-school freshman —member 11th, 12th IDK
Political blog writer—12th member
Science Olympiad—member 11th, 12th maybe IDk
Computer Science Club—11th member and also 12th probably
Student led club—10th member
Spanish Club—9th member
10 volunteering hours (but since it’s so small, I don’t think I should even report them)
Summers: Eating. Sleeping. Eating. Watching. Sleeping. Watching

Essays/LORs/Other

LOR 1: 7/10. I was under his tutelage for three consecutive terms, so I ardently believe that he has perceptively discerned both my strengths and weaknesses. AP U.S. History
LOR 2: 8/10. I’ve heard that this teacher writes fire essays, so I am hoping that it is true. AP Language and Composition
Counselor LOR: 5/10 I haven’t really talked with him at all tbh.

  • Can’t change teachers because I already asked them to write.

Personal Statement: should be good. AP Lang teacher told me that it is the best and most unique personal statement that she has read in her 20 years of teaching. She thinks that I can get into prestigious universities with it even with bad stats but IDK.

Schools

To be honest, my previous list was terrible (my parents hated it), so I need help making one. I am looking for universities close to home (Minnesota and Wisconsin).

  • Safeties? Other UMN campuses?
  • Matches? UMN TC?
  • Reaches? UW Madison?

UMN TC would be my dream still. Also, I want to know which extra curricular activities I should put on my common app. Also, a lot of people told me to go test optional. What is the minimum score that I should get on the July ACT so that reporting it is beneficial—for UMN TC? In the end, I just want to give you guys more info to help pain a better picture of my chances.

42

She is either uninformed or trying to make you feel good.

At prestigious universities, a killer essay will not make up for lower stats, lack of awards, volunteering and leadership. But as I said above, that’s all right - there are plenty of other schools you can go to.

You have already received many good school suggestions from posters here on this thread.
I’m not sure there’s a need to rehash everything.

If you want to apply to prestigious schools, or your parents are insisting you do, then fine - throw in a few apps. But you need a realistic list of schools - like the ones you’ve listed in your latest post.

43

UMN is your dream. So why apply to a harder to get into school - Wisconsin?

If you get into both - would you choose Wisconsin over your dream?

You tried to repost - and it was taken down but your parents mentioned Ivy. With a 3.79 and 29 - which in and of itself isn’t competitive for most “top” schools, you’re not getting in. Not close. Not from a large public high school. You can apply test optional and try though - Cornell. But you’d be doing it for your parents - and it’s not going to happen - sorry.

If you have a dream of UMN - and you’ve mentioned before staying close to home, then you, again, others mentioned an MN branch or if you want a big campus - Iowa State. These are safeties. On your original post your safety was Kansas - also great (but 3 hours father than Iowa State to home). I’d use the 29 at all three unless math is lower than 30, then not at UMN.

The one thing you have going for you is - rigor - you took BC in 10th grade.

It’s great your personal statement is good but these are subjective. What one thinks is great another thinks is average (they read lots) or does the reader wake up on the wrong side of the bed that day?

And aren’t you the student (yes) that asked if your entire essay can be made up of “cliches” so that will especially be subjective.

I liked your original plan - but if you want to apply to Wisconsin and an Ivy for fun and you have the common app spots left - go ahead (TO on these). This way you satisfy your folks.

Wisconsin far more likely than an Ivy. But if UMN is the dream, then why go to Wisconsin. Both will be equally great in your major. And if both fail and it’s possible (especially if you want the BS at UMN), then you have Kansas (from your list) or ISU (my suggestion) as easy ins and solid names.

Ps if you can get the 29 to a 30 superscore you’d strengthen your UMN chances. I assume it’s not math where you struggled

Good luck.

44

Yeah…I just wanted to give people an update (T4 got put in, which resulted in a higher GPA). Also forgot to put some of my extra curricular activities, so I put them there. Also, I just had some questions as asked in the newest post. The post was supposed to be less about creating college lists and more about chances given update—sorry for the confusion. I am very grateful for everyone’s help.

2 Likes
45

Chances same. Good luck

Are you testing again ?

Apply early if rolling as noted previously and by deadline if EA.

I’m assuming a strong math act - what are your other sub scores ?

You’re solid but not siectacylar relative to others. Essays don’t make up for that and at large publics, may or may not have any impact at all. Activities help and that you have is good. But they don’t overcome gpa/act.

But great you did an essay that another deemed is outstanding.

46

32–Math
30–English
28–Reading
27–Science

47

Yeah MN I’d submit. Could you go higher in fall ? A 5 in BC surprised just a 32. Study the other subjects.

B4 applying to KU, ISU, or others - check if they have merit tables. You’d get in either way but maybe there’s less merit for a 29 ? I don’t know.

There’s also fine schools on the Midwest exchange. N Dakota and NDSU aren’t far.

48

I am taking the July one in 2ish weeks. I feel more confident, so I believe that I can go higher—hoping for mid 30’s. Timing was the main issue for me. And thank you for this! Really appreciate it!

1 Like
49

The science section dragged you down. The SAT doesn’t have that, so maybe take that once and see how it goes? (Or prep for an ACT retake, as that section can definitely be improved with prep, but this probably isn’t a great use of your time at this point.)

1 Like
50

Plus op is at 29.25. One point in superscore goes to 30!!

1 Like
51

Well correction for UMN anyway - no superscoring. My bad.

52

ACT 30 makes you competitive for UMN CLA (ie., CS BA). The main difference with the CSE BS is that CLA requires foreign language proficiency whereas CSE will make you take Physics.
A 29 would place you on the threshold the bottom 25% for CSE as per

and these students tend to have a good reason why they were admitted with this score (generally, a lousy HS where that score is excellent). So, if you get a 32, submit the score to CSE. 31 perhaps. 30, apply to the CS BA.

Do not take 6 AP’s senior year. You’ll be very busy with college apps and that many AP’s means either your grades or your applications will suffer.
What AP’s are you considering? You need to cull at least 1 and perhaps 2.
What math will you be taking?

Assuming you hit 30 or even 31 on the ACT, your list could be something like:
Safeties: UMN Duluth, UWisconsin La Crosse
Likelies: UMN Morris, U Nebraska Lincoln, UIllinois-Chicago,
Matches: UMN Morris (specifically for CS scholarships and Honors), Iowa State, KU, IIllinois Tech, Loyola Chicago
Reach: UWisconsin, Macalester, St Olaf (the last 2 are smaller and don’t have a big sports atmosphere but they’re in MN and excellent)
Out of reach but if your parents insist: Cornell, Northwestern

Show this list to your GC: what do they think?

You can absolutely ask 3 teachers to write you a LOR.
One of these 3 should be in Math or science.

1 Like
53

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. If you’d like to reply, please flag the thread for moderator attention.