Chance me please for
Universities like U Chicago, Northwestern, Carnegie Mellon, U Mich, University of Illinois, UW-Madison
LACs like Carleton, Grinnell, Smith, Vassar, Macalester, Mount Holyoke, Oberlin
General info:
Rising senior at a public school in WI, white female, family income >100k, legacy at Northwestern
Academics:
3.85 GPA UW
School doesn’t weight or provide rank
11 APs and 1 honors (by the time I graduate) including AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles
Taking the equivalent of AP Calc AB at the local university this summer
ACT: 31 composite, 35 English (first attempt, will prep and retake hoping to raise to at least 33)
ECs, etc:
Wrote a play with a friend, got permission from the school to hold practices and performed for the school
2 pieces in school literary mag
2nd place in a writing contest to get to write part of a YA author’s next book
Chosen to be in a writing workshop led by an established author
Speaking roles in a school play and a community theater production
National Honor Society
Environmental Club 9-12
Orchestra since 5th grade
Choir 9
Cello lessons 9-10
In a couple academic summer programs at local university, one of which focused on computer science
Part-time job at grocery store since summer after sophomore year
100+ hours volunteering at animal shelter
Volunteered a few times at a soup kitchen
Briefly involved in several other clubs like Bowling, German Club, Book Club and Amnesty Club
I don’t know if this is relevant but in middle school I participated in the Midwest Talent Search run by Northwestern and remember being in the 99th percentile at least in English
Intended major is Computer Science (despite all my writing ECs)
With an unweighted GPA of 3.85, and an ACT of 31, U Chicago, Northwestern, Carnegie Mellon, U Mich CS, University of Illinois CS, and UW-Madison CS are all extremely far reaches. With those stats you are honestly not competitive for any of these programs. An ACT of 34-36 or an SAT in the mid-upper 1500s would help, but you you also do not have the ECs that demonstrate an interest and skills in CS. You have good stuff there in your ECs, but not for CS, which is one of the most competitive majors.
As for LACS, I am not sure whether impacted majors are also impacted at LACs, and whether this affects the acceptance chances. So, ignoring the major for the moment, and just looking at stats and ECs:
Carleton - low reach
Grinnell, - high target
Smith - target, possibly safety (check Naviance for your school)
Vassar - reach/low reach
Macalester- high target/target
Mount Holyoke - target
Oberlin - high target/target
If you get 34 and higher on your ACT (or above 1500 on your SAT), your chances for LACs can increase.
Thanks for your response. I’m happy to hear some of the LACs are matches, especially that Smith is a near safety.
I disagree that UW-Madison is an extreme reach, though. I know the most about that school since I’m in-State, and it’s not like other top CS schools where you have to be admitted specifically to the major; anyone who’s admitted to UW can declare it. So I don’t think it’s much more competitive than admission for other majors.
@clebell If that’s the case for UW Madison, I guess that you can shift it to low match or maybe a safety - check out your school’s Naviance, and, if they accept almost all kids with your stats from your HS, it would be a safety.
Your current test scores are on the low side among your peers who apply as a CS majors, but the rest of the stats are strong. Your chances at U Chicago, Carnegie Mellon and U Michigan might increase if you do not declare CS as your first intended field of studies. I see you as a student who can write AND code. Students are allowed to transfer into CS major, once they have demonstrated proficiency in some required courses. I think that you would have a good chance at Northwestern if you apply ED.