Chances of getting into top CS schools

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I am a high school Junior currently in my second semester. I live in San Antonio, Texas. I plan to attend a good university and major in computer science and perhaps minor in physics. I'd like to know my chances of getting into the following schools (listed in order of preference): MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Melon, Yale and UCB.</p>

<p>My grades/course-load: First off, let me give some background info: For the first semester of my freshman year, I attended a magnet school. This school seemed like a very prestigious college prep school, but I soon learned the truth. All the teachers were foreigners who told us every day that we were failures. Several flat out told me that they gave me bad grades because I was white. I withdrew at the first chance, but unfortunately those bad grades have haunted me ever since. I recently got a transcript of my semester-by-semester grades, and calculated that my unweighted GPA without counting that single semester is a 3.99; however, my actual unweighted GPA is a measly 3.64. Without those haunting grades, I would be in the top five out of ~700 students; instead I am #28.</p>

<p>I have take all honors and AP courses possible throughout my highschool career, and am a year ahead of my grade level in science and math, plus a year younger than a vast majority of my peers, and have done very well. </p>

<p>As for extracurricular activities, I have done Mu Alpha Theta sophomore and Junior year, as well as NHS this year. I have participated in Math Count competitions since 8th grade. My largest XC, however, would easily be what I started this year. I helped found and am currently vice-president/team captain of our robotics team (in which we recently advanced to the state level in the FIRST tournament). </p>

<p>I plan to take my SATs in March, but I recently got my PSAT scores back. I scored in the nation's 99th percentile with a score of 213, and am currently awaiting my invitation to begin the National Merit Scholarship process.</p>

<p>Other info: I grew up in a Missionary family in the third world country of Nicaragua until I was six years old. I am a very strong writer and can write very passionately. My family has a annual income of less than $20,000.</p>

<p>I want to start my application process (even just preparing) as soon as possible so as to increase my chances of getting into the above schools. Taking into account all of the above, what do you think my chances of getting into a school like MIT or Stanford are? (Keep in mind my 3.64 GPA and terrible rank of 28th).</p>

<p>Thank you in advance!</p>

2

<p>Bump. Please Reply!</p>

3

<p>Not sure about the other schools. But as a Texas resident, UT is looking good and nothing to be ashamed about. GL</p>

4

<p>Thanks for your input! UT Austin is definitely my fallback plan, as I have guaranteed admission (top 7% of class).</p>

5

<p>You’re in luck.
Carnegie Mellon, Stanford, and UC’s are schools that are known for not even counting freshman year and only to look at it for a trend. So applying to these schools you basically have a 3.99 GPA. If you get national merit and are able to score somewhere around 2200+ I’m almost sure you’ll get into CMU. Stanford on the other hand would be a reach for everyone though. </p>

<p>So I’d say every college is a reach except
UCB is a high match and then CMU is a high match.</p>

6

<p>Really? That’s awesome! Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better. UCB seems like a great match for me (in terms of college life, etc), so I think I’ll strive for that and Stanford most. While CMU is an amazing university, I don’t think Pittsburg would be the best place for me (though I don’t think I would deny an acceptance there if I am denied by UCB, MIT, and Stanford).</p>

7

<p>Yeah, so I’d say shoot for those. Write great essays, get a great recommendation oh and try to get some community services hours in there or maybe some more CS related things a job or volunteering over the summer. Boost your resume as much as possible but make sure they’re meaningful or leadership positions as well.</p>

8

<p>That’s great advice. I will definitely do more of those things, but I think I have the bases covered: I have hundreds of community service hours (homeless shelter, food bank, and annual mission trips to third world countries). I took a CS class last year at my HS and use programming a lot in my robotics team as well as a hobby (though I’d love to get a job/internship with that during this summer). I have leadership positions in several clubs, but perhaps that is a weaker point.</p>

9

<p>Ah okay. Then I think you’re fine. Look into getting a job/internship/shadowing someone over the summer and I think that makes you golden. Oh and of course don’t leave any of your clubs haha.</p>

10

<p>Thanks man. Really appreciate this. Puts a lot of my worries at ease (for now anyways). I’ll definitely look into something like that. And haha no that wouldn’t be any good.</p>

11

<p>no problem. good luck!</p>

12

<p>You seem to be good! I mean, with a PSAT score like that, you have great chances! Possibly look into raising it a bit more to ENSURE your admission to the schools but you are in good shape for the difficulty of those schools!
Chance me back? :slight_smile:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1457047-chances-summer-b-2013-uf.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1457047-chances-summer-b-2013-uf.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;