ACT: 27
SAT: 1870
GPA: 4.03
Class Rank: 11/139
Ap tests:
biology 4
Apush 4
Stats 3
7 ap/honors classes (up to junior year)
Activities: (I’m only writing the ones relevant to engineering)
FIRST Robotics 4 years (captain for 3)
Math league 3 years (lettered for 2)
Knowledgebowl 3 years
I don’t have the best test scores but I was hoping my other states would possibly make my chances better.
I don’t know for sure, but U of M like many universities do tend to have narrow vision, they like to see extra activities and leadership, but if you don’t have a test score and GPA within there avg they wait a while to come to a decision on your app.
If they definitely thought you belonged in CLA instead of CSE or CBS they would have offered you that slot by now. Either they don’t see you as a good fit for CLA (highly unlikely given your course rigor and stats) or they are trying to see how you’d fit into one of the more selective colleges you applied to. In this case no news may (still) be good news. I’d be preparing for a “worst case” that includes an invite to CLA and crossing my fingers hard in the meantime . . .
You’re borderline for CSE or CBS, but still have a shot.
Have to agree with @UniversityGeek . Your ACT is significantly below the middle 50% and your class rank is just inside the top 10%.
Is the 4.03 GPA weighted or unweighted? Did you take AP Calc and AP Lit/Lang?
When did you apply?
@Mamelot Hi, again! I applied to CSE Computer Science. If I didn’t get into that, would the University of Minnesota automatically match me for CLA Computer Science?
@CEOSandeep, that is certainly one possible outcome. I think they look at what you specified for your colleges and your major(s). What did you specify as your alternative?
@Mamelot I put Biomedical Engineering at CSE as my secondary choice.
I don’t know the specifics of your application, of course, but I thought your stats are high enough - 31 ACT/3.8 uw GPA, correct? - to still be a shot for CSE. I would think they would offer you CLA as a worse case unless they figured it wasn’t the right fit. You might call and ask to speak to your admissions counselor just to get some clarity and reiterate your interest in UMN - I would think that would guarantee you an admissions decision to CLA if they won’t accept you to CSE.
Good luck!
October, but got my sat and act in by end of November
Weighted, and I’m taking them both this year, along with cis physics this semester, currently with strait a’s and only two weeks to the end of the semester.
I also have had an internship as an engineering tech and I am having a coworker whom also happens to be an illumni coworker write a letter of recommendation.
@Mamelot Hi again! I got waitlisted to University of Minnesota with a GPA of 3.776/4 and a 31 on my ACT. I put CSE as my first preference and CLA as my second, but I guess I didn’t get into either. I also applied very early in October and had super outstanding extra-curricular activities such as creating mobile applications, internships at software firms, varsity baseball, etc. Do you know what my outlook is to get out of the waitlist? Minnesota is my first preference, and I thought I can easily get into CLA.
Hi @CEOSandeep I’m surprised you didn’t get into CLA, especially if you specified it as a backup!!! Was that GPA of 3.776 weighted or unweighted?
I don’t know much about the waitlist process so it’s best that you ask over on that thread or start one if one isn’t already going. You should definitely send your mid-year transcript if you haven’t already.
Good luck to you!!!
@Mamelot Yes, the GPA is unweighted. And I have already sent my mid-year transcript. Do you think calling the admissions department and explaining to them my stats? Because I’m very sad as I expected I would, at least, get into CLA and I applied very early and sent over three great recommendation letters.
@CEOSandeep if you meet the stats of a college you applied to, applied within the priority deadline and don’t have any thing on your application that would knock you out of the running (things like felonies, cheating, etc.) then you might have grounds for an appeal. Perhaps you can contact your admissions counselor right away as a first start and get some feedback.
Question: You said at post #8 that you put biomedical engineering (CSE) as your second choice. Were BOTH your choices CSE or did you also apply to CLA? That actually does make a difference. Admissions makes all decisions with their own yield in mind; therefore, they will sometimes admit to CLA when it isn’t specified but not always - it really depends on what they think your interests are. If they thought you would ding them rather than enroll in CLA they may have a reason to waitlist (assuming you didn’t make the cut for CSE, of course).
@Mamelot Yes, I have applied in October, well before the priority deadline. Also, I initially put CSE as my second choice also but then I took your advice and called the admissions office to put my backup as CLA Computer Science. My first preference of CSE Computer Science remained the same. And I don’t have any history of felonies or cheating at all. I’m just a typical OOS student who is really interested in studying computer science in any way possible at the U of M.
@CEOSandeep then you probably have a great opportunity to appeal - I recall now that you were planning to switch your second choice - perhaps that phone call conversation you had didn’t get implemented. I believe they do record the conversation and it was probably noted in your file.
I could understand not getting into CSE (assuming you are male and not an URM or have any other distinguishing hook) but not getting into CLA? Seems very odd as your stats actually IMPROVE their averages.
Call the rep. and see what he/she advises. Be sure to speak to a rep and not one of the students who picks up the phone. Could be a simple as an “oopsie” that they turn around quick. Then you wouldn’t even have to go through the process. Or you somehow become prioritized. While they don’t seem to rank the waitlists (based on what another poster on the admitted student thread is saying), betting they do have some form of selection so fit and stats would, IMHO, be part of that calculation.
Let us know what happens - Good luck to you!!!
@CEOSandeep here is that conver. about the waitlists:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/19295403/#Comment_19295403