Chances for UCs, some Privates and Liberal Arts Schools (Average/Below Average Stats)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi, I posted a while back but I wanted to expand on the colleges I'm looking into! Anyways...</p>

<p>Academic Profile
GPA- 3.1/4.0 and 3.6/5.0 (3.6 is also my UC GPA)
Rank: Top 40% Not sure about the exact number but I think I'm 290/740? Around there
SAT- 1740 (I will be retaking in October, expecting above 1900)
ACT: (Will take in Sept expecting 31-35)
Subject Tests: (US History, Biology and Math II will take in November; expecting high 600's to 700's in each)</p>

<p>Courseload: I took the toughest course load possible each year;
Freshman Year: H Bio, H Eng, H Geometry, PE, Spanish 1 and Wood Shop.
Sophomore Year: H Eng 2, Chem, Alg 2, AP World (2 on AP test), PE, Spanish 2.
Junior Year: AP Eng (3 on AP test), AP USH (3 on AP test), AP Art History (3 on AP test), Spanish 3, Prep Physics, Prep Pre-Calc
Over this summer I am taking AP Calc AB and Prep Stats (to simply get ahead)
Senior Course Load: AP Calc BC, AP Physics, AP Eng Comp., AP Comp Sci, AP Psychology, AP Gov/Econ</p>

<p>Demographic
Race: Asian-Indian, Immigrant
Parents: Dad went to Cornell and Mom is currently getting her masters
Location: Southern California
Income: ~150k</p>

<p>ECs
Around 200 hours of Community Service
President of 2 Clubs with officer positions in a few others
Did computer work for one of my bestfriend's dads (I've known his dad for almost 7 years now, I've helped him out on a regular basis, whether it's software or hardware work, he's the CEO of a Solar Company and on the Board for UToronto, and he will be writing a letter of recommendation for me)
Helped out a few family friend doctors regularly
I did a two week game programming class at SMU in Texas the summer into Sophomore Year
In the fall I will be applying to volunteer at the local library to tutor young children on reading/writing skills and I will be joining Speech & Debate, as well as Mock Trial (I am doing both of these out of personal interest, not as much to look good on college apps)
And I believe I have a few other ECs but none significant enough to help my application enough</p>

<p>I'm also fluent in Hindi (first language) and English, and I'm very confident that my essays will be good as I am heavily relying on them at this point.</p>

<p>College list so far:
*Muhlenberg College (I am flying out and visiting next week, I also have an interview scheduled, also does anyone know how I should be dressed for this lol)
*UC LA, Berkeley, Santa Cruz, Irvine, Davis, Riverside, Merced, Santa Barbara, San Diego (Expecting rejections from all but Riverside and Merced....hopefully, but I just want to see if I would have a chance at any other UCs)
*Occidental College (Have a tour scheduled there next week)
*University of Toronto
*Purdue
*University of Southern California (USC)
*San Jose State University
*UWash Seattle
*Cornell (simply due to legacy, but I'm very confident I'll get rejected)
*UMich Ann Arbor
*Boston University
*SUNY StonyBrook</p>

<p>I will be applying as a Computer Science major with Pre-Med, but I know that because of my low GPA, I will have a tough time being admitted as a Comp Sci. major, so if anyone has any tips of how I can gain admittance and then switch majors, that would be great! Also as you can see, I am in need of safety schools so any suggestions would also be great.
I do know my stats are extremely below the averages for the colleges I've listed so any feedback would help, and suggestions to my list and all. </p>

<p>I will chance back! Just leave your links with the responses, have a great day! </p>

2

<p>My younger son applied as a CS major for Fall 2014. UC GPA=3.73 ACT-31. Here is his results:
Cal Poly SLO/UCSB/UCI/UCD: Rejected
UCR: Accepted with Chancellor’s Scholarship
SDSU/SJSU/CSULB/CSU Fullerton/CPP: Accepted
CS is very competitive so I would say your only UC chance would be UCR/UCM. SJSU is High Match/Low reach with your test scores.
My knowledge other than California schools is limited, so I will not chance you on the rest.<br>
Can you and your parents pay for OOS schools?<br>
I would focus on the Cal States since you are in-state. Consider CSU Fullerton, CSULB and CPP. </p>

3

<p>Long Beach is not an option since it is impacted. Northridge might have some openings.</p>

4

<p>Take Michigan off your list. It is a non-starter with your stats, no chance of acceptance. </p>

<p>Regarding the interview, you will probably also be taking a campus tour. Don’t dress in anything you wouldn’t go on the tour in (uncomfortable shoes, long sleeved shirt on what is likely to be a VERY hot day). Muhlenberg isn’t like some southern schools where you would want a tie and jacket and need to really dress up. A polo shirt and khakis, or even nice shorts (like I said, it may be really hot there, and they won’t mind) will be fine. Tennis shoes if they aren’t grubby are fine, or some kind of moccasin or something like that if you have them.</p>

5

<p>You should take off a lot of schools on your list, GPA and SAT scores are lowish for those schools. You might as well light a fire and burn your application fee. Develop a realistic list is better IMO.</p>

6

<p>@Gumbymom‌ That’s what I assumed, thanks. And yes my parents would be able to pay the OOS tuition, although this is a dumb reason, I prefer not to look into CPP, CSUF and UCR (although I have no issue with UCR, if I have to end up going there) as they are too close to home. </p>

<p>@imtparent Alright I’ll be taking UMich off of my list today. And thanks for the tip for the interview!</p>

<p>@DrGoogle Could you suggest some schools to put onto my list, and what schools I should take off definitely? Thanks</p>

7

<p>I’ll take off for sure the following: </p>

<p>*UC LA, Berkeley,
*University of Southern California (USC)
*UWash Seattle
*Cornell (simply due to legacy, but I’m very confident I’ll get rejected)
*UMich Ann Arbor</p>

<p>EDIT to add How about adding Uof Alabama, I think it gives scholarship for high school GPA>3.5?</p>

8

<p>Well, his parents might ask him to leave Cornell on. I wouldn’t fight it if they do, but you aren’t getting in (as you clearly already know). </p>

9

<p>Some of the Midwest colleges might have higher acceptance rate, I don’t know but check them out for example UofMinnesota, UofWisconsin, all excellent schools for CS. Also do not apply as CS major, it’s a very popular major right now, you can get rejected easily.
Canadian school is a good choice like University of Waterloo, may not be as selective as USA schools, a lot cheaper. My kid got accepted to McGill (she’d rather go there than Cornell).</p>

10

<p>Take off all of the UC’s except Merced, and take off Occidental.</p>

11

<p>I think it’s best to apply early and rolling somewhere so you know early that you are going to college. You have some chances at some lower tiered UCs, I think both UCR and UCSC have good CS programs. I’ve worked with people from both these schools. BTW, except for UCB and UCLA the essays are really read, only for awarding scholarships.</p>

12

<p>I also didn’t see Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly SLO. I think those 2 have good engineering/CS programs.</p>

13

<p>CPSLO is quite selective (at least for engineering and CS), CPP less so.</p>