Sorry for being dumb, but could you point out some schools that you mentioned?
Do you have a budget? I donât remember seeing one in your post. Run the NPC for these schools if you have a budget. Below are some rankings for CS just to get some ideas.
Donât get hung-up on the rankings. Theyâre just a list but they show whatâs out there. Thereâs over 3k colleges in the US so even a ranking of 75 is still pretty good.
Another thing to consider is location. Seattle University makes the list for employment. Not highly ranked but grads get jobs because itâs in Seattle. Even the lower ranked UCâs do wellâŠbecause theyâre near Silicon Valley. After a year or two where you went to school matters less than where you work and what youâve done.
Your list has the University of Chicago. Great city and beautiful campus but not known for CS unless you want to get into the math theory side. Same thing with Harvard. Is that what you want?
What about the Cal State schools? For some additional matches Iâd look at NC State, Utah, Minnesota, and UT Dallas. I would look for schools in or near cities with direct flights. Having to make multiple connections is not fun.
I still think youâll get into a lot of your schools but thereâs no guarantees for Ivies/T10. Even being OOS makes it difficult. Thatâs why you need 2-3 safeties. UW is a great option to have in your back pocket.
Hey I am also working with my child to determine some matches and safeties and can confirm that it is difficult. I would not recommend shortening your list - yes, it is filled with many reaches but it is your right to apply to as many as you feel you can comfortably apply to.
Yes. It is your right to apply to as many as you like.
That said, application fees and sending test scores adds-up. Then thereâs a 20 app limit on the Common App plus some high schools limit the number of apps or grade reports they will send out.
Nevermind the effort involved for writing essays for admittance, scholarships, and honors colleges. Interviews and campus visits too (if allowed this year) on-top of your normal senior year schoolwork and activitites.
You can only attend one college. Do you have the time and money to visit 20+ schools?
Itâs a marathon, not a sprint. Ask the parents and kids that have been through one or several admission cycles.
You can save yourself a lot of work by doing enough research up-front by eliminating schools that donât meet your criteriaâŠwhatever that might be. Good luck.
Are you applying early anywhere? What about ED2?
@sgopal2
Iâm not doing early decision for any schools, and will be doing early action for MIT and Georgia Tech. Maybe some other schools for EA, havenât made up my mind on which.
If Purdue stays on your list be sure to apply EA. Honors college and merit is only considered for EA applicants.
1 Like
Totally agree with this. Especially UIUC and GTâŠ
@CollegePanda12, I am interested in your college application results. I think this information would be helpful to future applicants.