Hi all…yesterday I did a campus tour of UT and absolutely fell in love. I am a white male who goes to a strongly competitive high school in Chicago, Illinois. My high school does not rank and I am currently a Junior. I am looking to go into computer science. Here are my stats…
Unweighted/Weighted GPA: 3.74/3.9
ACT: 32 (35 English, 30 Math, 31 Reading, 30 Science) … I am going to take the ACT again to try and get my Math and Science scores up
SAT: 1460…I am taking it again next Saturday to attempt to get a 1500
Extra Curricular:
Freshman year built a computer
Sophomore year designed a game that is on the iOS app store
I have an officer position in my school’s robotics club, which I obtained after designing an app for the club
This summer I plan on developing another app, possibly one that has more meaning than a simple game
I plan on writing my essays to tell a story of my growing interest in Computer Science (while finding a way to not simply restate my resume).
I know that my GPA is low, and that my extra-curriculars and prospective essay may not serve to outweigh my GPA, but I am extremely hopeful. Also, I’m aware that it is extremely hard to be admitted OOS.
What do you guys think? Also, is there anything that you recommend me doing to help to improve my chances?
Also, I forgot to mention that my grades are on a very large upwards trend. I had a rough sophomore year, which really tanked my GPA. Junior year, I got nearly straight A+'s first semester, and am shooting for straight A’s this semester. Also, I am in all honors, AP Chem, and AP Java. Next year I am taking AP BC Calc, AP Physics, AP Macro, and Independent Study Computer Science (A class that challenges you to design a program useful to my high school).
I am also a member of my school’s programming club.
While you might think that your GPA is low, it doesn’t matter since UT doesn’t even look at GPA. My gpa was only a 3.54 weighted, and my SAT was only 1310. But I applied for physics and a lot of the classes I took in high school were AP sciences or Math. I also wrote an essay about physics and what it meant to me and had extra curriculars that were related to physics, like an internship at caltech, and finally I got a letter of rec from that same caltech professor who ran the intership. So what im trying to say, is no matter what people say about being have a good chance, or having a bad chance, just apply, and write in your essays about how you would be a good student because you have already show that you are extremely interested in the major you are applying for. My rank was only 97/440, which is barely in top 25%
Thanks so much, man. Thats exactly the stuff that I want to hear. Although I know it could still go either way, it’s nice to hear about someone who has been reviewed entirely holistically. It gives me hope that I won’t simply be read as another number. Best of luck to you in college.
I agree with the above post that it’s not all about numbers. My son (non auto admit) got into CS with 32 ACT (E -36 and M-29). I believe that his essays and recommendation letters made the difference.
Congrats to you and your son! I don’t mean to pry, but what was your sons GPA? Also, what extracurriculars did he do?
GPA 3.8 , top 8% of the class. He is part of TSA (current president ) and robotics (programing lead) clubs for three years. He is also part of diversity club and volunteering at the local library for three years. No other hooks. Good luck to you!
@beirichben I’m pretty sure that if your high school doesn’t rank, UT will look at GPA (especially with a Chicago school since they’re probably unfamiliar with it).