Chances and College List

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I didn't plan to create a "Chance Me!" thread, but I thought it might be useful for refining my college list. I am currently a homeschooled rising senior, and I am having trouble finding good match schools for a major in computer science. Here are my stats:</p>

<p>Testing
PSAT: Composite 223. | M/W/R: 78/78/67 | Above NMSF cutoff.
ACT: Composite 35. | Single E/M/R/S: 35/36/34/34. | Superscore E/M/R/S: 35/36/34/35. | Combined E/W: 31.
SAT II: Biology E (730) | Literature (730) | Math II (800). Taking SAT II Physics in October/November.
AP: I took my first AP exams this year. Projected: CalcBC (5), Micro (5), Psych (5), CS (5), Lit (4), Bio (4).</p>

<p>Courses
Advanced classes: AoPS Calculus (10), Multivariable Calculus (11), Linear Algebra (11), Bioinformatics (11), WOOT (11), Logic (11).
Senior classes: Topology, AP Stats/Data Science, AP Macroeconomics, Economic Applications of Game Theory, AP Environmental Science, Computer Science with Theory, Calculus-based Physics (dual enrollment), AP Studio Art: 2D Design, AP English Language and Composition, WOOT 2.
Classroom philosophy: Most of my classes are comprised of the amalgamation of online and print resources. For example, next year's Computer Science with Theory, which is my version of a post-AP Computer Science class, includes two Rice University Coursera classes on algorithms in Python, Udacity's "Introduction to Theoretical Computer Science," MIT OCW's "Introduction to Algorithms," readings from CLRS, and weekly programming assignments. Practical experience is promoted via TopCoder Algorithm competitions, USACO competitions, and Project Euler.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars
Chess:
1. State chess champion.
2. Captain of top state HS chess team.
3. Employed by local chess center to teach at multiple elementary schools.
4. Volunteered 500+ hours at local summer chess camps.
5. Volunteered in chess program at local rescue mission.
Math/CS:
1. AIME qualifier. Got a 7.
2. PROMYS attendee (6-week, rigorous math camp).
3. Created website about number theory (in progress).
4. The Odin Project (12-week, rigorous CS program next summer).
5. Created personal portfolio website (next summer).
Other
1. Blogging (starting next year, about esoteric topics that interest me).
2. Random Latin stuff (perfect paper on NLE, local JCL conferences, top scorer of 1700+ on NJCL etymology exam).
3. There's probably more.</p>

<p>Other Factors
Essays: Writing is not my strength, but I plan to spend an inordinate amount of time on my college essays, and I have already outlined responses for some supplement essays.
Recommendations: Even though I have not had as many teachers as most students, I expect my letters of recommendation to be quite strong.
Financial Aid: Expecting little to none.
Country of Residence: United States.
Intended Major: Computer Science.</p>

<p>It should be clear from my classes and extracurriculars that mathematics and computer science are my primary academic passions, and I am looking for colleges or universities with strong departments in these areas. Currently, MIT is my top-choice school, but I am also considering Princeton, Caltech, Harvey Mudd, UC-Berkeley (OOS), Cornell, Columbia, Brown, Olin, Rice, University of Chicago, Stanford, University of Washington (OOS), UIUC (OOS), UT-Austin (OOS), Carnegie Mellon, and USC.</p>

<p>I would appreciate chances for any or all of these schools, but I think the only real matches are UC Berkeley, USC, and Carnegie Mellon. The remaining privates are reaches and the remaining publics are safeties. Is this analysis correct? If so, I would like to find more match schools. Do you have any suggestions?</p>

2

<p>Whoops, I forgot something:</p>

<p>Courses (cont.)
GPA: 4.0 UW. Umbrella program does not weight.
Grading Philosophy: Grades from online classes and tutorials are based on teachers’ grading rubrics. Other classes are self-assessed based on assignments, problem sets, quizzes, tests, and exams. Latin grading (six years) was assigned by a tutor.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars (cont.)
Other:
2. Nota bene: perfect paper on NLE’s Latin V-VI exam.</p>

3

<p>I think your classes are a strong match for USC and UC Berkely. On the other side while your ECs show commitment to a passion it does not show dedication to the community. They seem more like hobbies instead of going out and providing service to the community.</p>

4

<p>Great test scores, and SPECTACULAR academic rigor. You also did a very good job of displaying your passion, and the fact that you were able to incorporate volunteer work into that is a huge bonus. It’s also nice that you did “quirkier” things like blogging etc. instead of just rushing to be president of this club and that. You’ve done an amazing job of presenting your personality and yourself as an individual. I’d say you’d have a pretty good shot at any of those schools. Best of luck to you! :)</p>

5

<p>I think MIT, CalTec, Carnegie (compsci) etc are a bit of a long shot, but other wise you have a good chance at getting into the other schools. </p>

6

<p>To the best of my knowledge (which isn’t very much):
Match- UW, Rice, USC, UCB, Cornell
Reach- Stanford, Cal Tech, Columbia, Princeton, etc.</p>

7

<p>@TannerSmith: I will be applying to CMU SCS and MCS. If I am rejected from CMU SCS and opt to matriculate at CMU MCS, I can still double major in mathematics and computer science.</p>

8

<p>Match: UW, Rice, USC, Berkeley, Cornell, CMU
Reach: MIT, Stanford, Caltech, Columbia, Princeton, Chicago, Brown </p>

9

<p>That class rigor is extreme to say the least. As everyone else has said, it’s good that you show passion, too.</p>

<p>I’d say Princeton, Stanford, and Caltech are reaches for almost everyone, but with your qualifications you obviously have some shot. Not exactly sure where Columbia would be, but probably a medium to reach.
I think UC-Berkeley (OOS), Cornell, and Rice are matches, and even CMU.</p>

<p>UT Austin should be safety as should most of the other public schools.</p>

10

<p>You will have a great chance wherever you apply. That being said, I would not expect acceptances from all of those top schools, but I think that you will be accepted into one of Princeton, MIT, Stanford, etc</p>

11

<p>You have excellent ECs and very strong academics; I can’t see you not getting into atleast one of the top tier schools you listed.</p>

12

<p>

</p>

<p>UT Austin should be considered a reach for all applicants other than automatic-admission applicants (top 7% rank in a Texas high school).</p>

13

<p>@ucbalumnus: Well, maybe UT Austin isn’t a safety, but I don’t think it’s a reach, either. More like a low-mid match, according to these statistics:
<a href=“http://bealonghorn.utexas.edu/whyut/profile/outofstate”>http://bealonghorn.utexas.edu/whyut/profile/outofstate&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

14

<p>Your scores are great and your EC’s differ from the usual EC’s. Obviously MIT, U of C, Cal Tech and the ivies are reaches for everybody.</p>

<p>MIT - Reach
Ivies (w/o Cornell) - Reach
Cal Tech - Reach
Carnegie Mellon - Low Reach/High Match (CS program is ridiculously competitive)
U of C - Reach
Cornell - High Match
Harvey Mudd - Safety
Berkeley - Safety
USC - Match
Olin - Don’t know much about it
Rice - Safety
UT Austin - Low Match
UIUC - Safety
UW - Low Match</p>

15

<p>Hi! I think that your scores (especially ACT) are impressive, and that you have defining EC’s. However, I would focus more on how you’re changing the world around you. As in, how are you showing your capability as a leader of the next century by starting a website or going to PROMYS? While impressive, I think that besides community service, you should try to impact the community more. Like, take a stance in environmental issues, try to effect a change in your community, etc. This is my opinion only, don’t base your actions on it. Other than that, great job! :)</p>

16

<p>Thanks for all the replies, guys! I have trimmed my list down to twelve schools, and I’m currently planning to apply to MIT, Caltech, Princeton, Stanford, Harvey Mudd, UC Berkeley, Cornell, Rice, Carnegie Mellon, USC, UW, and UIUC.</p>

<p>@Maui08, @truthandmercy: Both of you mentioned that I have not significantly impacted my community, and I would like to offer my rebuttal. In the past three years, I have taught nearly seventy-five children how to play chess, and I have helped dozens more at the local chess camps. Every week, I create lesson plans specifically tailored to my students. Then, three times a week, I go into the elementary schools and teach three lessons, one for each group of students (beginner, intermediate, advanced); when the kids are not in a lesson, I let them play against one another, offering help when needed, and I ask the advanced players to notate their games. When I get home, I analyze the notation and bring it back to them, with comments and suggestions on how to improve. While this may not be on par with starting a massive charity, it makes me proud to know that I have helped so many children learn chess strategy.</p>

<p>Also, @truthandmercy: I attended PROMYS because I wanted to learn about mathematics. The workload was ultra-intense: up to 16 hours of work per day, but I learned a lot, and experiencing the residential system at Boston University helped prepare me for college. While the food at BU was dreadful, the mathematics was amazing, and I started a website to share what I learned at PROMYS with other math students through a series of self-written articles. While this may not demonstrate leadership, I think it will affect a change.</p>

<p>Guys, if you still think my ECs are worthless, that’s perfectly fine. I won’t hold it against you. :slight_smile: I just thought it might help to offer a little more explanation beyond what I originally posted. I guess I was also a little disappointed that my most meaningful EC (teaching chess) didn’t get more attention.</p>