Can only ED one school. I’m going to guess no one all three. There’s a chance at Va Tech and UMD but in CS, I think all are reaches. Not knowing where you have interest but in the general vicinity I’d add a UTK, Delaware, and WVU. If you are willing to go further, Alabama, Auburn, UAH and MS State will be affordable safeties. Pitt a possible match.
CS is really hard. And the GPA IS low. The test score strong but not spectacular.
I hope you can get in but you need reaches, targets, and safeties. As I see it, you’ve covered the reaches.
For UMD, definitely apply EA. May or may not get an actual admit to CS as there’s a lot of competition and not enough spaces for all With UMD they would probably end up admitted to Letters and Sciences and then the student can move into CS once gateway courses are completed.
Thanks for your response. Will definitely include Pitt in the list. GMU is one safety instate.
Talking specifically about VA Tech. We can do early decision, what are his chances to get in any other Engineering school like Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering? Or do you think getting into Engineering itself it difficult for him? Can we apply both in Engineering and Sciences and if he doesn’t get into Engineering, but get into Sciences, later on he can try to switch engineering? Just trying to understand all the possibilities he have.
For UMD thinking to do Early Action. Do we have to separately do application for Sciences or if they do not give him in Engineering they will switch him to sciences.
I think your son actually has pretty good stats and don’t consider his GPA to be low, however, because CS is so, so competitive the three schools you have listed are going to be reaches (UMD as you are out of state). If you are open to going further afield you might consider WPI & RPI (most likely matches) and RIT (match/safety).
I’m not a believer in gaming. These schools are all top notch and they know about this. You need to apply for what you want. Having GMU is smart as a safety - but if you’re doing that solely for cost, again look at Bama, WVU, Auburn, UAH, etc. because he can get the big campus he wants (well not UAH which is medium but a very good school) at a great price. GMU is fine too.
You’d have to check the transfer rules for each school as there is some “possibility” but why go for possibility when you can do what you want.
If you were serious about aerospace, etc, then in addition to UAH, I’d look at Embry Riddle and Florida Tech…you’d possibly get a 50% scholarship to both and they are excellent schools.
But if you want CS, then stick with CS and don’t try and game the system - especially at three of the better schools in the country.
Definitely do early action for UMD. You don’t want to wait for regular decision.
UMD admits to the school first. After that they admit to specific major. If there’s not enough space in the major they put students in Letters and Sciences. From there they can transfer out to their desired major once the gateway requirements are met.