Chances for UMD, UCSB, Santa Clara University, San Jose State University - Computer Science

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I made some changes to my list and I would like to know if these would qualify as safety admits for me. Thanks guys.

Schools:
University of Maryland - College Park
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Clara University
San Jose State University

My stats:
Me: Indian male, US Citizen, NJ resident. Middle class.

School: Selective county-wide public school with career oriented programs (Healthcare, business, design, etc). I am in the computer science program.

GPA: 4.49W out of a total possible 4.9W. GPAs are on a 5.3W and 4.3UW scale.

Course load: I have taken the hardest possible course load at my school. We only offer two APs and I have taken both. I have had all As except for two B+ freshman year, when I was not very academically motivated (never studied; did not really care).

ACT: 35 (36E, 34M, 35R, 36S)
SAT: 1480 (750M, 730RW)
SAT II: Math II: 770. Taking Physics in Aug.
AP: Physics 1: 3; Comp Sci A: 4 (Not too strong, but I was advised to submit anyway.)

ECs (This may be my weak area imo, as my ECs are not as glamorous as some other applicants):

NHS

NTHS

JV Soccer (possibly Varsity this year)

Varsity Lacrosse

Volunteer at library teaching STEM programs (Google CS First, robotics, circuits)

Campaign Intern at local Democratic Committee office (canvassing, phone calls, voter outreach events. Both of my candidates won their primaries)

Internship at local software firm

Work as a Soccer Referee

Worked on a programming/research project for Prudential Insurance with a few of my classmates on Robotic Process Automation and how they could implement the concept in their company. I was the front end/database team lead. I also presented the proof-of-concept with the other team leaders to a group of executives.

Essays: I am good at writing. I will be able to craft a decent essay.

Recommendation Letters:
French: Phenomenal.
Algebra II Honors: Good.
English III Honors: Good.

2

First off, your ECs are actually good. You could try to do more academic competitions but really that’s it.
Also, try to get a 36 on the ACT (You can do it, you are so close). It will help you out tremendously.
Here’s what hurts your odds:
-Asian
-Male
-Not poor
-Parent probably graduated from college
-Lives on east coast (closer to NYC the worst)
-Probably not legacy

Try to pretend to be a different race, get a sex change, ask your parents to quit their jobs, have them forsake their degrees (if they can do that), and move to an obscure midwestern state. Your odds will be great.

In all reality, get a 36, write great essays and join an academic teams. Then your odds will be the best possible.
Those schools are mostly safeties already, btw.

3

I think the above advice is wrong. Please don’t retake the ACT or SAT. Your chances are overall strong at all the schools listed.

4

Can you afford those schools?

Your weighted GPA is meaningless to those outside your high school. What is your unweighted GPA?

UCSB and SJSU are unlikely to be safeties for CS. While UCSB considers essays, it does not use recommendations. SJSU just uses a recalculated GPA and test scores.

5

[deleted]

6

@kjake2000 -“Please don’t retake the ACT or SAT.”

Are you aware that around 10% of Stanford applicants with an ACT score of 35 are accepted while around 28% of applicants with a 36 are accepted?

If the OP just wants to get into the schools he listed, he’s all set. If he wants to go to an Ivy/equivalent, my advice is good.