<p>Hey guys, I'll keep it short. Any concerns are welcome. My biggest worry are my grades and the essays.</p>
<p>Stats: Male, Asian, Junior, Washington State
Major: Computer Science</p>
<p>Objective:</p>
<ul>
<li>SAT: just took it yesterday, probably ~2200</li>
<li>GPA: 3.85 (maybe a 3.87 after this year)</li>
<li>AP / IB courses: AP Computer Science, AP Calc AB/BC, AP World, APUSH, AP Physics B, AP English Lang, AP US Gov, IB ITGS, IB Math HL, IB Further Maths, IB Chinese, IB History, IB English, IB Physics HL</li>
<li>Finished IB Diploma program in 11th grade</li>
</ul>
<p>Extracurricular (mostly math related)</p>
<ul>
<li>5th place in Canada in 2012 Canadian Math Olympiad</li>
<li>2011 USAJMO Winner</li>
<li>2011 MOSP attendee</li>
<li><p>2012 USAMO qualifier</p></li>
<li><p>2010, 2011 Washington ARML team member</p></li>
<li><p>Various awards at miscellaneous math competitions</p></li>
<li><p>Swim team from 6th to 10th grade</p></li>
<li><p>Piano from age 5 to age 17 (a bunch of awards and stuff)</p></li>
<li><p>On a pretty successful Vex Robotics team</p></li>
<li><p>Probably going to do an internship at the University of Washington in Computational Biology over the summer</p></li>
<li><p>Teaches piano and math, volunteers at church</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Summer Activities:</p>
<ul>
<li>9th grade: SIMUW at the UW (a 6-week math program)</li>
<li>10th grade: MOSP and Mathcamp</li>
<li>11th grade: Bio Internship and some startup company thing</li>
</ul>
<p>Your intended major is Computer Science, - I don’t see anything that relates to being a code junky, rather more math. You really haven’t programmed anything before? You’re certainly academically competitive, but there are probably people out there that apply and have strong background experiences with Computer Science, so I think you should definetely work on what you love to do. If you love Computer Science, (and I’m not sure which area you like the most), then express this on your application as best as possible. If you worry about your essays, - don’t write in a way to impress the admissions’ committee. Follow your passions and desires, and that’s all you need to do.</p>
<p>The only thing I like about you and that relates to Computer Science is “On a pretty successful Vex Robotics team”. I guess you’re interested in artificial intelligence?</p>
<p>I actually asked my friend about whether I should put “Mathematics” as my major instead of “Computer Science.” Though yes, I love math more than CS, I intend to major in CS in college.</p>
<p>I do do quite a bit of programming, but I definitely do much more math. So should I put “Mathematics” as my major? Does it even matter what major you put? Though I put CS as my major, my application was still going to be focused on math.</p>
<p>And yeah I like programming autonomous robots.</p>
<p>zenkoan is right, however there is more than just one specific “concentration” for CS. If you like robotics, then I believe there is concentration for artificial intelligence. If you like CS and math, why not major in both? However, you can still talk about how mathematics applies to CS, but then you’d have to find a way to prove it somehow, - and how? Well as I said, choose one project that may involve math and CS, and talk about it. There is no right or wrong. Maybe if you like robots, - talk about how coordinates have an effect on their movement, and maybe research some more advanced robots that don’t walk straight, right, left or back, but also take angular routes.</p>
<p>@zenkoan. Oh, I never knew that. My version of “CS” is the type that prepare you for a job working at Microsoft or Google as a software developer.</p>
<p>@Fintork. Would I be better off just putting mathematics as my major, and talking about my passion for maths? I never knew it mattered that much what major you put…</p>
<p>^I don’t think it does matter that much. Besides, tons of people go into CS programs with no programming knowledge and not as advanced math knowledge as you. A CS degree is going to be more helpful than a math degree in getting a job as a software developer.</p>
<p>If you want to major in CS, major in CS. Chances are changing your major to math isn’t gonna help you that much.</p>
<p>Disclaimer: I might have no idea what I’m talking about as I have no real world experience with this, just what I’ve read online.</p>
<p>Since I posted in your other thread, I thought I’d add a bit of commentary here, cribbed from either some other CC thread or article I read somewhere (sorry).
CS as a major means different things at different schools. At some schools, the CS department came out of their (applied) math dept, and thus focuses most on theory and research. At others, the CS major focuses more on programming, as you’re thinking of.</p>
<p>That’s something you need to take into account when you consider which school to attend.</p>