Chances for small LAC's, UCs, CSU's, UWisconsin, UMinnesota, UMass, UWash, Purdue and UToronto

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi! I'm a senior in SoCal and before you read the rest of my "resume" I do realize that by no means am I a competitive applicant for any of these schools in any regard, I just want to know if I should even bother applying or if my chances are so low I should just save my money.</p>

<p>I'm planning to apply to these colleges as a Computer Engineering Major (with Pre-Med tract, as some apps required me to put it on my app, not sure if it makes any change). For the UC's my 2nd choice major is Computer Science. </p>

<p>ED: Muhlenberg College [I have flown out, visited, and had an interview.]</p>

<p>RD: LeHigh University
Boston University
Purdue University
UMass Amherst
UWisconsin Madison
UMinnesota Twin Cities
UWashington Seattle
UToronto
ASU</p>

<p>UCs:
All except LA, Berkeley (do I have a shot at UCSD at all?)</p>

<p>CSUs:
SJSU</p>

<p>Safeties:
UC Merced (I believe this is a safety for me, I could easily be wrong)
ASU</p>

<p>My UC GPA is 3.0 UW and 3.41 W.
My overall GPA is (I added quarter grades to this as I will be ended 1st semester of Senior year with the same grades [hopefully]): ~3.2 UW and 3.65 W.</p>

<p>Freshman Year (Grades aren't anything worth mentioning but GPA's were) 3.6 W/3.0 W
Art
PE
Honors English
Honors Geometry
Honors Biology
Spanish 1</p>

<p>Grades from Sophomore year up are:
AP World History: B/B
Chemistry Prep: C+/C+
Honors English II: B/B
Prep Geometry (Had to redo 2nd semester): B /// Algebra 2 (Took first part second semester of Soph Year): C
Spanish 2: B/B
PE: B+/A </p>

<p>Summer Classes:
Prep Algebra II: B/B</p>

<p>Junior Year:
AP Art History: B/B+
Pre-Calc Prep: C/C
AP English Lang: A/A
Physics: B/B
AP USHistory: B/A
Spanish 3: B/B+ </p>

<p>Took summer classes:
Prep Stats: A/A
AP Calc A: B/B</p>

<p>Senior Year: (I input quarter grades)
AP Calculus AB: A/
AP Psychology: A/
AP Physics: A/
AP English Lit: A/
AP Comp Sci: A/
AP Econ/Gov: A/</p>

<p>Taken SAT twice:
1650 (560 R, 570 M, 520 W)
1710 (540 R, 570 M, 600 W)
1730 SuperScored (560 R, 570 M, 600 W)</p>

<p>ACT: ( took my first one this month, I'll update whenever I get those scores back)</p>

<p>AP Scores:
World History: 3
Art History: 3
Eng Lang: 2
US History: 3</p>

<p>SAT Subject Tests:
Math 2: Taking in October, currently scoring in 700's on practice tests.
US History: Taking in October, expecting above a 700.
Bio-E: Taking in November, expecting above a 650 (hopefully).</p>

<p>ECs:
60+ Community Service hours Freshman year volunteering through Key Club.
Did a three week program for Game Programming at SMU in Texas, over summer.</p>

<p>Sophomore Year (and up til now): I tutored my neighbors sons (10 and 15 now) several times a week for several hours.</p>

<p>Junior year (not sure if some of this counts):
Help out an private practice Physician with general technical related stuff once a week for a few hours (for about 8 weeks).
Helped my fathers company with Graphics Design and minor programming (still ongoing).</p>

<p>Senior Year:
Officer Position in Athletics related Club.
Shadowing a Pediatrician twice a week for the next 12 weeks for about 5.5-6 hours a week.
Shadowing/Interning for another physician on the weekends. (Fluctuating hours but basically 5-7 hours each weekend).</p>

<p>Ongoing ECs:
For almost 6 years I've been doing consistent work for two colleagues of my Dad's, Ranges from Graphics Design to Filing to Fixing Computers to Software work. [Getting Letter of Recs from both, one of the colleagues is a board member for the Engineering department of UToronto, hence why I'm applying there.]</p>

<p>Other information:
Top 35% of HS Class.
Born in India.
Fluent in Hindi and English.
Moved to US at 7.
Dad went to Ivy League, Mom went a Private University in SoCal. [Not applying to either of their schools.]</p>

<p>I put this at the beginning, but I'll just repeat it incase someone missed it, I do realize I'm not a competitive applicant by any means, I'm just hoping I'm decent enough to get into any of the schools I'm applying to. I'm also open to suggestions if you think a school is perfect for me but I have not listed it.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Also:
I go to a pretty competitive public school.
Income Bracket: <150k
Ethnicity: Indian.
Total: 11 APs/5 Honors</p>

3

<p>SJSU: Safety
UCM: Safety
UCR: Safety
UCSC: Safety
UCI: Match
UCSB: Match
UCD: Reach
UCSD: Reach</p>

<p>San Diego is very very very GPA-based, not even kidding. I would not give anyone a chance to this university if they had a 3.75 or lower unless if another piece of their application glows. Davis is GPA-oriented as well, but not as much. Santa Barbara, I’m in between of a Reach and Match - they got extremely competitive over these past years period but they do look at disadvantaged and upward trends in depth. </p>

<p>On to others, I don’t have as much potential about them though (I live in SoCal). </p>

<p>Muhlenberg: Safety
LeHigh: Match
Purdue: Match
UMass Amherst: Reach
UWisc Madison: Reach
UMinn Twin Cities: Reach
UWash Seattle: Match
UToronto: Match
ASU: Safety</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

4

<p>UToronto CompE: High reach (non-holistic; competitive applicants to UToronto CompE from the US have 3.75+ UW, 2000+ SAT - if that’s your first choice, may as well do well in college and then attempt to transfer)
UWA: Reach
ASU: Safety
Muhlenberg: High reach
UCM: Low match/Match
UCR: Match/High match
UCSB: Reach
UCSD: Reach
UCD: Reach
UCSC: Reach (but lower than UCD/SB/SD)
UMinn: Reach
UWI: Reach
Lehigh: High reach
Purdue: Reach (but lower than the other B1G schools)
UMass Amherst: High match
SJSU: Safety</p>

5

<p>@elefish92 Thank you! I think I’ll go with my gut feeling and not apply to UCSD, but I’ll most likely apply to UCSB and Davis. I’m hoping my late, but strong upward trend for senior year will show something for the schools that look at 1st semester senior year. </p>

<p>@Catria‌ Thank you for chancing me! Muhlenberg is actually my first choice, could you please tell me what part of my application makes it a high reach for me? (Just so I know if it’s anything I could improve)</p>

6

<p>I agree with @Catria except SJSU.<br>
SJSU: Match for Computer Engineering/ Reach for Computer Science
Your Cal State Eligibility index is around 3820. Threshold for Computer Engineering was 3750 last year and CS was 4550. The thresholds change from year to year but seem to be getting higher…
Both majors are competitive and your SAT Math score is low for a STEM major.
You need more Match schools, maybe Cal Poly Pomona?</p>

<p><a href=“http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/narr/admission/rec-10079.11705.html”>http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/narr/admission/rec-10079.11705.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

7

<p>Your SATs are about at the 25% mark for Muhlenberg. Technically they are test optional, but only about 10% of students don’t submit standardized test scores. And if you don’t, you have to interview and submit a graded paper from 11th or 12th grade. I would think you would need a stronger GPA to get in there if you don’t send test scores. So I agree it is a reach for you.</p>

8

<p>OP, why this fascination for Muhlenberg College? Do you have all the info to apply ED to MC? And that too for Comp Science…do not think that they have Comp Engg !! I live less than 3 miles from MC and I can emphatically state that my kids (and their friends), who are fairly recent graduates of the high school in this area, ever had a high opinion to even consider applying here. You will be much better off considering Lehigh (if you are interested in the Lehigh Valley area) and the others in your list (UMinn, Wisc-Mad, UWash, Purdue,…)</p>

9

<p>@Gumbymom‌ Hopefully I’ll get in as a CompEng Major! I’m hoping that my SAT 1 Math score will be over looked by my Math 2 Subject Test (hoping that I get what I’m getting on my practice tests, on the real thing). Due to personal reasons I am very reluctant to apply to CPP, but I may end up applying. </p>

<p>@intparent‌ Thanks for clarifying that for me. I did have an interview and have expressed a deal of interest into the school (not to help my application, but more so because I do genuinely have that interest) and with that I am applying ED, so I’m hoping those things help my app.</p>

<p>@i012575‌ I visited and loved it, it’s somewhere I would gladly spend 4 years of my life. Everyone has different opinions and views, and my views are just different than those you know! I believe it has to do with location too, considering I live close to UCR and CPP but would not want to go to either if I had options (not saying they’re bad schools, simply personal reasons, mostly being how close I live to it. I realize this is a bad reason but eh.) But many students out of state would love to go to UCR and CPP. Thank you though, I am still interested in LeHigh and the other schools but Berg has remained my first choice.</p>

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<p>Before you send in that ED app, have you looked hard at Muhlenberg’s CS offerings? Their CS department is folded in with Mathematics, and it does not look like a large or particularly strong major. And I am sure you know that you can’t major in any kind of engineering (computer or other) there. I feel like you are being blinded by the small LAC feel to the fact that it isn’t a very strong choice for your preferred major. I am also confused about why it is your favorite, but the only small LAC on your list. I understand your inclusion of CS schools (in-state and for cost reasons as well). I can’t understand all the large state schools on your list beyond that if you really love the feeling of Muhlenberg.</p>

<p>Also, what is your financial situation? Have you run net price calculators from all the school’s websites to make sure your list is affordable?</p>

<p>One more note on the extra letters of rec, only send them if the school says they welcome extra letters beyond what they originally ask for (which is going to be your core academic teachers, you can’t skip those). I can see the U of Toronto one for sure, but outside of that, only send any extra letters if the school explicitly says they will take extra letters AND don’t send more than they say (if a school says one additional letter is welcome, for example, don’t send two). Admissions officers have a TON of applications to read and want applicants who can follow directions and not overwhelm them with paper. It is unlikely a letter of rec from a non-academic person (esp one who is not affiliated with the schools) will do you much good anyway.</p>

11

<p>Muhlenberg really, really likes personal visits and interviews on campus - show lots of interest - they take a lot of their freshman class from ED. They are also trying to increase their diversity (not only culturally, but geographically), so that may be on your side. But if you want to go to med school, why not major in pre-med at 'Berg? They have one of the higher matriculation rates for med school in the country. But be forewarned… they weed out poor students early on. You have to be motivated and committed. </p>

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<p>@intparent‌ Thank you for the feedback! I do realize that Muhlenberg does not offer any Engineering majors and that their Computer Science is bundled with their mathematics department, they do however have an excellent pre-medicine/dental program and a 4-2/3-2 Program with Columbia University for Engineering, which are both programs I am interested in at Muhlenberg. The reason why Muhlenberg is the only small LAC on my list is because the other small LACs I looked into or visited, my GPA/SAT was very low for them, and I would just be wasting money by applying and I realize this may be the case with Muhlenberg, but if I do get rejected, I would gladly go to any of the other larger schools I am applying to, and vice versa. </p>

<p>As for the financial situation, I have ran the NetPrice Calculator for Muhlenberg (and other schools) and if they are accurate numbers, they are all fairly affordable. I am just waiting til October for the CSS app to open so that I can get a better read for financial aid at Muhlenberg, prior to submitting my ED app.</p>

<p>I have already asked two teachers and my counselor for teacher recs so I am covered on that side, thank you for that tip! I was planning on sending in both extra letters to the schools that accept them, but I will submit only one now. I realize that but one thing I was told is that they shouldn’t be able to harm you either. I guess I’ll have to research a bit more to find out if it’s worth sending them in. (I genuinely am thankful for your feedback, I just have to include this as when I was proofreading the comment, I perceived my text as somewhat sarcastic or “offensive”, but I really am taking your points to consideration).</p>

<p>@teriwtt‌ Yes! Their Pre-Med program is one of the major attractions for me at 'Berg, you cannot major in Pre-Med there, however. It is offered as a tract/program, where you are taking the pre recs for medical school and are assigned an advisor for your pre med courses. I am really hoping my interest, rigorous courseload all four years, fair ECs and diversity bring my app into serious consideration above my low GPA/SAT. I’m also hoping that with my quarter/1st sem. senior grades + courseload they see that I’ve become more motivated and overall just a better student. Just hopes at this point though.</p>

13

<p>No idea how I missed this but for ASU I am applying to their honors college (Barrett) and I know that it’s more selective there, could anyone chance me for that as well? Thanks!</p>

<p>tl;dr Applying to ASU Barrett Honors College, need chancing. </p>

14

<p>You can’t major in pre-med anyplace… you can go premed at any college on your list as successfully as any other. Also, very few students actually go on to complete 3-2 programs. They usually don’t want to leave their initial college after junior year, and/or have lost interest in the 3-2 major. It is a highly touted, but infrequently utilized feature of many LACs.</p>

<p>I don’t see how waiting for the CSS makes any difference in whether the NPCs show an affordable amount… you can’t tell any more with the CSS than before it is available about what your cost of attendance will be.</p>

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<p>@intparent For the 3-2/4-2 Program, it all depends on my own motivation but your points do make sense. If I am to go to Muhlenberg that is my optimal plan, because my current state of mind is that if I am being given an opportunity to Columbia University for Engineering why would I not take it. But only time will tell if I end up pursuing that or not, hopefully I will.</p>

<p>As for the CSS form, after I had my interview I talked to one of the Financial Aid people at 'Berg and they told me that for me to get a more accurate read for Financial Aid/CoA. However if what you’re saying is true, then based off the NPC I will only have to pay ~$10,000 per year, which is very affordable for my family (even more so than if I was to go to UCR/ASU/UCM, based off the NPCs).</p>

16

<p>Bump…
I was just wondering what others felt my chances are for
UWisconsin, UMass, UMinnesota, and ASU Barrett Honors College (and Muhlenberg, I just find it a bit difficult to get chances for it as it’s so small)</p>

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<p>About Muhlenberg…
If you haven’t visited and can do it, do it. If you can’t visit, get in touch with your representative in the admissions department and schedule an interview, either in person or over the phone. Muhlenberg, more that most LAC’s, loves to be shown some love. They want to know that you are seriously interested in them. They choose a large percentage of their freshman class from ED applications. You are probably a low match for them with your test scores but being from So. Cal and your ethnic background will play favorably for you. They are looking for the “total” student so your EC’s are important, don’t downplay them when speaking to the admissions office. Muhlenberg really is a great community of learners who seem to value each others individuality. A very respectful atmosphere with premeds and theatre kids all supporting each other. Best of luck to you! </p>

18

<p>@UFeelMe I don’t know if you haven’t applied yet but if money is a huge factor I highly suggest going to SJSU and then go to a prestigious school for graduate or professional school. SJSU is perfect except the area (very extremely urban), its overcrowded and in the top 5 most impacted and overcrowded campuses in the CSU System (I was surprised also but if you look on Google Satellite you’ll see why), and if you’re a big sports fan, expect to travel a few blocks because the football field and such are actually located not within the campus. Otherwise SJSU is great. </p>

<p>I don’t like the Bay Area though (not giving reason), but that’s really personal reference. </p>

<p>Save some money and drop the reaches. Be aware that the colleges will be expensive, over at least $40K annually even for ASU and other OOS public universities (unless if you get a scholarship from them). SJSU is $27K on campus in-state annually…you really can’t resist that. Plus SJSU is one of the top schools for CSU in engineering (obviously Cal Poly [both] wrecks though). </p>

<p>But this is just me, I would go to SJSU. If you really want a bit more prestige go to a UC be my guest but be aware it’s a bit more expensive even for in-state. I don’t recommend OOS or Private unless if you have the money for it or you get a HUGE prize from the university. Good luck. </p>

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<p>Sorry for the lateness in my response but I’ve been a bit busy. @beenthereanddone‌ I visited over the summer, flew into Philly from LAX and was there for only three days, just to visit the school and do my interview and I saw a bit of the city and surrounding areas. I mentioned it in my interview that I was there specifically for the school, and thank you! I’m submitting my ED app this weekend.</p>

<p>@elefish92‌ Thank you! SJSU is one of the schools I’m really hoping to get into, and hopefully attend, if my ED to Muhlenberg results in a rejection. </p>

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<p>@UFeelMe I see, good luck man! :)</p>