<p>Applying to the following RD (CompSci/Engineering):
Brown, Columbia, Duke, Tufts, Michigan, Northwestern, USC, BU, Illinois, NYU, and Umass (in-state)</p>
<p>GPA: 3.81 UW, 4.5 W(not reported though)
Rank: 45/350 --> this is unweighted, no weight AT ALL to APs and Honors classes, I've took the hardest course load and all that. My school is competitive, 15-25 students to Ivies/T-20 schools each year out of ~350 students
SAT: 2290 (780M, 760CR, 750W)
SAT II: 800 Math 2 and Physics</p>
<p>Alright, with ECs I won't go into much detail, but basically I'm interest in robotics. I've spent the last two years at a university lab doing research related to robotics/CS(bulk of my time outside of school, lol). I've been published, how much does that help? Some ECs as well, such sports, clubs, but robotics has been the main focus.</p>
<p>I think for schools like Duke, Tufts, Vanderbilt you’re a shoe-in. Brown and Columbia are VERY hard to get into. The valedictorian of my high school (36 ACT, band kid, super smart) got wait listed at most of these schools so for you it’s basically a coin-flip. Actually for most top 10 or 15% kids it’s a coin-flip. Your robotics work really really helps you out as well, and the fact that you were published is an amazing plus in your favor. You’ll get into Duke and Tufts for sure, and definitely all the other schools you listed except Brown and Columbia are a possibility buy not guaranteed.</p>
<p>@gregsoble: Yeah, last year my school had just rejections and wait lists from Columbia. Surprisingly, we got 5 to Brown (3 the year before that), but 2 were recruits, and the other three were solid applicants (2 applied ED though). Hopefully Duke works out, not a lot kids really apply from school (or take much interest when they do).</p>