Chances with low GPA and high SAT?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
1

I am a senior now and am applying EA, so I want you guys to chance me and let me know if there is anything I can do to increase my chances of getting in.

I am interested in CS in general, but am planning to apply to CS + Math or CS + Econ because they are less selective and would help me since I am also interested in finance. I will most likely not get into CS through Engineering due to my GPA

Stats :

Asian Male, Big, competitive public school from New Jersey (OOS)

SAT - 1540 (770/770/19), only taken once. Got a 740 on Bio-M. Taking Chem and Math II subject tests this week and expecting close to 800.

GPA - 3.7 Weighted and 3.4 Unweighted. Mostly B+ grades on transcript with some As. One C+ in Calc BC (got a 5) which caused a downward trend in GPA.

Courses - Taking Data Structures and Physics C this year, took BC and Stats last year. I am also pretty strong at CS and self-learned most of it. I have some projects on GitHub too.

Essays - I think these are very good due to my unique background and cultural situation.

PSAT - 1500. I am a National Merit Semifinalist.

I took 10 AP tests so far and am taking 4 more this year. I only took five of these APs in school; I self-studied for the rest. (five 5s, two 4s, and three 3s.). I will have around 50 college credits just from AP tests by the time I start college.

ECs - Summer Research Internship at a Medical School. Helped produce data about cell bio/ neuroscience. My prof. is working on publishing a paper.

Currently at a part-time internship in computer science for the next 3-6 months.

Also part of NJ Science League, Math Honor Society.

Tons of really smart people with stellar stats (4.2+, 1550+) and ECs are applying from my school so am kinda worried my GPA won’t cut it due to the competition. I am not applying to any Ivies for the same reason. The only thing I have going for me better than them would be my essay (I guess).

That being said, what would be my chances at UIUC ? Thanks.

2

I can’t chance you, but why UIUC as an OOS NMSF? The school will be relatively expensive as an out of state student with no NMSF merit dollars. What other schools are on your list?

I haven’t seen data that show CS + math and CS + econ admission stats…can you share the source? Certainly apply, but make sure to have target and safety schools as well. Good luck.

3

UIUC is just one of my reaches due to its excellent CS program. Some of the best NMSF programs seem to be ASU, UCF, UTD, and NJIT (All full rides). However, the CS programs don’t appear to be good at those. I’m probably gonna end up going to Rutgers anyway as I’m from New Jersey and they have a decent program.

4

chance for Stats + CS please !

5

This is a very high reach school for your major. 3.4 UW is pretty low for CS applicants, and being OOS doesn’t help. Your SAT scores are excellent on the whole, of course, but many CS applicants at top CS colleges tend to be in that range.

DD attended an info session with an admissions rep a few weeks ago who told her the acceptance rate for CS last year was about 12%. I haven’t seen that number published officially yet, but in recent years it was <20%. Either of those stats are significantly lower than the acceptance rate of the university as a whole. You have great ECs, but unfortunately GPA and test scores are considered very important there. Self-studying for AP exams won’t do much for you at selective colleges. After all, if you can self-study what you need to know, what do you need college for?

Check out Rose Hullman, MSOE, or IIT for excellent CS programs if you want to study in the Midwest. Rutgers is a great school, and will be your best bet in-state.

6

thanks for the response @Groundwork2022. I am also strongly leaning towards Rutgers and it would be a no brainer if I get any merit aid from them whatsoever.

Also, what do you think my chances are for Purdue or Northeastern ? I am primarily looking only at colleges better than Rutgers specifically for CS and am finding very few that are genuinely better, and all of those are extreme reaches for me (Berkeley, MIT, Stanford, CMU). I am applying to UIUC, Purdue, Northeastern, UMD as my high reaches as I have no shot at the schools I just mentioned + the ivy leagues.

7

Purdue is very, very similar to UIUC in that CS is significantly more competitive than the college as a whole, also <20% acceptance. They also consider GPA and test scores more important than other factors. Northeastern is STEM-competitive as well. I’d categorize both of those as high reaches too.

Take your shot if you want, but make sure you have matches and likely schools on your list. For CS, those are probably going to be colleges outside the top 100 or 150 in the rankings.