Chances for Comp Sci

<p>I'm interested in Computer Science and possibly double major/minor with Econ. What are my chances for this?</p>

<p>Profile:
School: Public, IL
Gender: Male
Year: Senior
Ethnicity: Asian (Indian)
GPA: 3.97 UW 4.68 W.
Rank: 2/1100</p>

<p>Scores:
SAT I: 2390, superscored 2 sittings
ACT: 36 superscored, 2 sittings
SAT II: 800 Math II, 790 Chem
AP: 8 so far, one 4 and all others 5.
Taking mostly AP's and Calculus 3 next year</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
JV/Varsity Cross Country Team (10-12)
Played for Club Soccer Team outside of school (9-12)
Student Council (10-12) Class Representative
WYSE/JETS Competition (10-12) Vice President
BPA-Business Professionals of America (10-12)
Scholastic Bowl (10-12) Captain
Interact Community Service Club(10-12)</p>

<p>Awards:
Some regional stuff through Scholastic Bowl, WYSE, and JETS.
1st in state for Java Programming, 2nd for C++, 12th at nationals for Java (all in BPA)
National AP Scholar
Likely National Merit Finalist(235 PSAT)</p>

<p>Volunteering:
125 or so hours at hospital and in activities at my school</p>

<p>Essays and Recs should be good, maybe not exceptional though</p>

<p>One question:</p>

<p>What sets you apart from the other 35000 applicants?</p>

<p>Plus, you’re Asian which hurts your chances.</p>

<p>It’s not just race that’s the consideration, but background. Being underprivileged (low-income or first-gen), even if Asian, helps.</p>

<p>To the OP, I think you have as strong a shot as anyone. Strong numbers (which you obviously have) get your foot in the door, but the rest gets you accepted. Since you have decent ECs and awards, it’s your essays and recs that will be most important.</p>

<p>By the way, Stanford doesn’t take major into account for admissions.</p>

<p>

Not entirely true.</p>

<p>Also I second StanfordCS’ question and qualify by saying what sets you apart from the thousands of other CS/engineering applicants? Your awards/ECs are largely academic. Not a bad thing, but admissions wants to build a community. As such, rarely will they admit a student on academic merit alone. If they do, often the student will be “exceptional,” which you admit you are not. </p>

<p>That said, there must be something about you that’s unique. Find this if you haven’t already. Once you find it, you’ll know. It could be anything. Mine was a joking, though warranted, arrogance. Because you don’t know much about me, that probably means nothing to you. But that’s the point, right? Something that sets you apart, but that doesn’t show up on a quick glance at your profile. Catch my drift amigo?</p>

<p>You stand a good chance with your scores alone.</p>

<p>2300+ Sat’s + Val/Sal gives you a decent shot at all top tier schools.</p>