Chances for UW Comp Sci Major

<p>-Hooks: URM (African American)</p>

<p>-Classes/Grades:
9th
AP Human Geography: (A, A)
Algebra 2/Trig: (A,A)
H English 9 (A,A)
Spanish 2 (A,A)
H Biology (A,A)
PE (A,A)
10th:
AP Chemistry: (A,B)
H Math Analysis/AP Calculus A (A.B)
H English 10: (A,B)
Spanish 3 (A,A)
Lab Assistant (A,A)
AP World History (A,A)
11th:
AP Psychology (A,A)
AP US History (A,A)
H English 11 (A, B)
AP Calculus AB (A,A)
AP Physics 1 (A,A)
AP Computer Science (A,A)
-Projected 12th grade schedule:
AP Government/Economics
AP Calculus BC
AP Physics C
English 12
Digital Imaging
Teacher Assistant</p>

<p>-GPA: 3.88 unweighted, weighted (not really sure since schools weight differently)
-Class Rank: N/A
SAT: 2100+ (probably 2200+ though)
SAT II: Math II (750+), Physics (750+)</p>

<p>-Extracurriculars
400+ hours volunteering at my hospital
3 years of piano (quit)
Tennis/golf outside of school
Membership in Key Club and American Red Cross
<em>Might get an internship for computer software company</em></p>

<p>I forgot to mention I’m out of state (California)</p>

<p>I’d say you have a very good chance of receiving direct admission into the Comp Sci major. Because there are so few direct admits, it will always be a bit of a crapshoot, but your chances are good. </p>

<p>@candela2 Isn’t there around 200 direct admits?</p>

<p>According to this page: <a href=“http://www.cs.washington.edu/prospective_students/undergrad/admissions/direct_admission/”>http://www.cs.washington.edu/prospective_students/undergrad/admissions/direct_admission/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>There are 120 direct admits, 40 of whom accept UW’s offer. The low yield rate should tell you that a lot of people who are offered direct admission are also offered more appealing opportunities at other universities. Also, there is about a 30% admit rate for regular admission into Comp Sci (from inside UW)…I couldn’t find any stats online for this, but this is what my husband told me (he applied to UW Comp Sci last year before deciding on another major). Around 200 students total are accepted into the Comp Sci major (direct admits + regular admits). </p>

<p>Basically, this tells us that there are around 650 admitted, attending students who are interested in Comp Sci (and probably put it as their intended major). Of those, 40 were accepted as direct admits, and 200 total will be accepted as Comp Sci majors. If you imagine that you are competing with all these 650 students for one of the 40 direct admit spots, you have a 6% chance. Of course, you have a better chance than many of these applicants, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you end up being one of the students offered an appealing opportunity elsewhere. </p>

<p>I hope this was helpful. </p>

<p>It’s now 250 CSE students per graduating year.</p>

<p>The number of confirmed, incoming students who want to major in CSE varies. A few years ago, the number was around 300. Last year, there were 522. This year there’s 706.
<a href=“Allen School News » Intended majors of UW’s 2014 incoming freshmen … “It’s CSE, baby!””>http://news.cs.washington.edu/2014/05/19/intended-majors-of-uws-2014-incoming-freshmen-its-cse-baby/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;
<a href=“http://www.geekwire.com/2014/uw-computer-science-majors/”>http://www.geekwire.com/2014/uw-computer-science-majors/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>My crappy grades 10th grade 2nd semester will probably hold me back. </p>

<p>@Candela2 Would you say I have a very good chance at regular admissions?
@nightmelody Basically it gets harder and harder to get in.
@speedsolver What do you think my chances look like?</p>

<p>@SwaggyC, regular Comp Sci admissions depends pretty much entirely on your performance on the prerequisites. There is an application essay, but the prereq grades are much more important (or so I’ve been told). </p>

<p>The most important factor is your grades in the Intro CSE courses, but I believe your AP Comp Sci may take care of one or both of those courses for you. Math grades are also important, but again, your AP Calc courses cover all of the prerequisites except Math 126. So it’s hard to say how you would do in regular admissions, but considering you have received all As in these subjects so far, I’d say your chances are good. </p>

<p>I’d say your GPA (unweighted) and test scores are slightly below competitive for direct admit, though there’s the argument that you took a number of AP courses (hitting Calc, Phys). I’d say the rest depends on your personal statements.</p>

<p>As for regular admissions, @Candela2 is correct; they’re primarily dependent on your GPA at UW. However, the personal statement (why cse, what can you bring that’s unique, future goals, etc) also holds a huge weight. Don’t take the statement lightly; many 3.8-4.0 GPA students are turned away because of the personal statements.</p>

<p>@speedsolver what would be a competitive GPA/SAT score I should shoot for. Also is there any affirmative action/diversity stuff that could help me?</p>

<p>A 3.9 and a 2200 would be considered competitive. They don’t take into account affirmative action / diversity if you look at just stats (e.g. ethnicity).</p>

<p>However, they look for diverse interests, personal goals, etc. Write about things that really convey who you are. =)</p>

<p>For example, saying “I’m a minority” won’t help, but saying “This is what I went through and this is what I want to use computer science for that is related to my background” is a strong statement.</p>

<p>@speedsolver I guess worst case scenario if I don’t get in as a direct admit I can just retake Calc I Calc II, and Physics and I should be okay. </p>

<p>@SwaggyC: You should talk to the CSE advisors. They’ll have a much better grasp of what goes in the admissions process than me (or anyone random from the forums).</p>

<p>In some cases, they’ved recommended students to take CSE 143 at UW, even if they’ve already fulfilled the credits elsewhere. This gives them a direct comparison of how you would fare compared to other pre-majors at UW. Again, chat with the advisors! They’re really awesome.</p>