Chances Please!!! UCB, USC, CMU, T20 in US!

Hey I’m a rising senior at a rural high school in Japan. Do I even have a chance at these reaches?

Planning on applying to

  • Carnegie Mellon University (ED)
  • Stanford
  • USC Viterbi
  • UPenn
  • Cornell University
  • UC Berkeley
    (safeties all in different countries, so I’m only applying to reaches in the us)

Demographics: Asian Male, International.

Intended Major: Computer Science, (possibly applying as an econ major for competitive cs schools to increase my chances… thoughts?)

SAT: 1540 (taking in oct probably going to get 1540+)

SAT Subject: Didn’t take since all the schools I will be applying to does not consider them in the application process due to COVID-19.

UW GPA: 3.65 ish (it was like 3.45 freshmen year 3.6 soph and 4.0 junior year – upward trend? not sure if it helps)

UC and Stanford UWGPA: 3.8 (sophomore + junior year)

WGPA: not sure; took all the challenging courses that was available.

AP -

Sophomore: AP Seminar: 3. AP World History: 3.

Junior: AP Research: 4. AP Computer Science Principles: 5. AP Macroeconomics: 4. AP English Language and Literature: 3.

Senior (going to take): AP Calc BC, AP Mandarin, AP Computer Science A, AP Physics C.

Extracurriculars:

Varsity Swimming : All four years, captain all four years, a lot of medals but a little short in qualifying for the ncaa divisions for like recruitment.

National Junior Honor Society: President (Freshman)

National Honor Society: Junior and Senior year, President (Senior)

Student Council: Head of the Advertising Team (Junior and likely Senior year)

Model United Nations: Only joined for one year in junior year to try new things (Junior year)

Speech and Debate: NSDA Regional Octafinalist (Freshman), NHSDLC Regional Octafinalist (Sophomore)

School Production: Band (Junior year, just joined for fun and the teacher asked me to)

App/Game for Apple Store: Currently working on a game that I will upload in the apple store. Relating to social distancing and a game to teach or influence younger kids to act upon social distancing. Arcade game ish.

Teacher Assistant at a local church: more than 100 hours. Every week for two hours, excluding holidays from freshman til now.

Habitat for Humanity: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior. Got worker of the day certificate(junior)! haha if that even counts. Around 40 ish hours.

Awards:

Swimming: MVP (freshman), Team Spirit (Sophomore), Most Dedicated (Junior)

Model UN: Most improved Delegate(Junior)

HSK (Chinese Profiency Test): Level 3

AP Scholar w/ Distinction

Internships:

  • Worked for the highest ranked technology company in the country I am currently living in. Worked in a new group for their new sub-app that they are developing. After leaving, it turns out they used my suggestions in developing the app and the app sits on #36 on the Top Chart of the Entertainment Section in the App Store. It is also the biggest video streaming app in my country.

Questions:
Should I apply as a econ major for carnegie mellon university in the dietrich college of humanities and social studies, since cmu is such a competitive cs school. Will that effect my chances?

I can’t comment on chances. I will add that UCB offers CS in both COE and L&S. In L&S, your major of choice is not considered. If accepted In L&S, students complete the pre-requisites and meet the GPA requirements, and can apply for CS at that time. COE EECS is more competitive for acceptance but is a direct admit to the program.