Chancing and Suggestions for Some Universities

Chance Me / Match Me!
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Demographics
(US citizen)
State/Location of residency: PA
Public School
Gender/Race/Ethnicity: Asian Male

Intended Major(s): Physics and CS

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA:
    4/4
    96/100
    Weighted HS GPA *(incl. weighting system):
    4.46/5
    100.2/107
    Class Rank: N/A
    ACT/SAT Scores: 1530

Coursework
12 AP-submitting Physics 1, and both Physics C exams, Comp Sci A, Calc BC, APUSH, Gov, Seminar, Research, and Spanish all 5s
Dual Enrollment: 3-Comp Info Systems, Calc 1, Multivariable Calc
6 Honors
Also EdX CS50 intro with certificate

Awards (By far my weakest category)
NHS, Quiz Bowl tournaments, AP Capstone, State level Vex Competitions

Extracurriculars
Published Research regarding cancer and relation to technology, Worked in some minor projects with large companies, Tech Club Secretary (Tech Club for 3yrs), Led a Java workshop for 3yrs, Vex (2yrs), Math Club (2yrs), Science Club (2yrs), Deca (2yrs), Quiz Bowl (3yrs), Debate Team (3yrs), 50 community service hours.

Essays/LORs/Other
Idk really know what to write for this one since I have not actually applied yet.

Cost Constraints / Budget
I would like if the cost for all four years was less than 250k and it would be great if the suggestions were under 200k.

Schools (Assume that I am applying for Comp Sci unless it says otherwise, thank you)

  • Safety * Penn State University Park (In-State)
  • Likely *Penn State Schreyers Honors, UW Madison, UMD (I am still unsure about if I should apply to the latter two)
  • Match: GaTech, UIUC
    *Somewhere between Reach and Match: UMich, UT Austin, Cambridge (Physics)
  • Reach: UCLA, Cornell (Hoping to apply ED), UChicago (Physics), UC Berkeley (Physics), and MIT

Hello, these are my stats. I would appreciate it if you guys could give me some universities that are well known for physics or computer science and that are not very expensive (Preferably less than 200k) or if you guys could rate my chances for some of the universities from Match or Above. Also, just some info, I plan on doing graduate work in Physics. Thank you in advance.

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Hi there

As an OOS student I would move GaTech into the reach category for you. And UMich would be either a high target or low reach.

UMD and UIUC - definitely apply, but make sure you apply in EA to both!

PSU is a good safety. You may want to consider Rutgers too as an additional safety as they’re rated higher for CS (but will be more expensive unless you get merit scholarship)

Is $250k a hard limit or are you eligible/hoping for financial aid? If full-pay and $250k is a hard limit you can’t ED to Cornell as it costs more than that.

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Hello, yeah, traditionally GaTech would be in reach, but because not many people apply from our school those that do generally get in. UMich is definitely a high target and with UIUC, UMD, and UMich, I will be applying EA. I forgot to mention that bit. 250k is also not really a hard limit but rather just something I would prefer. I will definitely consider Rutgers as a safety, thank you for the suggestion.

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Your stats are competitive but your matches are reaches. GT’s OOS acceptance rate is around 15%. I think you will get in to some, maybe all but they’re still reaches.

My S20 is as at GT. His HS friend got into GT, Michigan and UIUC for CS. His stats were similar to yours.

Maybe add Pitt and NC State. Good luck.

5

Ok, thank you for the suggestions. I guess I’ll move GaTech up to Reach or the section between reach and match.

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As a CS major, the OOS publics have started turning into reaches. Look at the UMD thread from this cycle. GT,UIUC, and UT are definitely reaches for CS from OOS.

I’d recommend adding schools like RPI for a true match where you would likely see merit money as well.

If you are really looking to stay within your budget, add Purdue.

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Absolutely, Georgia Tech is a reach for any out-of-state CS applicant. It’s a very tough admit — only 12% covering all disciplines. CS is hugely competitive and the toughest of all.

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I have heard a lot about RPI, it seems like a solid school. I guess I’m going to have to do some research on it, thanks for the suggest.

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I’d say your research is standout if you are first author and published. Physics at Cambridge is extremely difficult so be sure to prep for that interview where you’ll be asked around three problems that you are asked to solve, sometimes interactively. My kid made it to the pool in physics at Cambridge, and had two years post-AP plus Intel STS plus USAPho medal (was six years ago) so I promise you, there is some competition. And, American education is much different than the UK and IB so there is already a bit of a mismatch. That said, APs are strong and you can prepare. Be sure to pick your second subject matter well (math?) as it will matter even if you are physics only!

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Wow, yeah that sounds quite competitive. I guess I’m going to have to prep a good bit to stand a chance. Thanks for the info.

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As suggestions based purely on your academic interests, particularly in physics, look into Williams, Hamilton, Harvey Mudd, Pomona and Carleton.

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If you’re looking to go to graduate school in physics, why are you basing your application list on computer science?

With respect to your list I’d move all your matches up to reaches (with the possible exception of Cambridge about which I know too little about the admissions process but recommend you review this thread). Wisconsin & Maryland I’d move from likely to match. Your opinion about the Penn State options are probably correct.

What kind of college experience are you looking for? U. of Chicago is very different from Michigan which is very different from Cambridge. Apart from a top-ranked school for CS, what do you want? Large, medium, or smaller university? I’m assuming little Greek life based on your choices, but please correct me if I’m wrong. What about the importance of intercollegiate athletics? Are there majors particular extracurriculars you’re interested in pursuing? A preferred distance from home (whether hours of flight, hours of driving, etc)? Rural, suburban, or urban?

If I had to guess, this is where I’d place your schools.

Extremely Likely (90+% chance)

Penn State

Likely (60-90% chance)

  • Penn State Schreyers Honors

Possible (25-55% chance)

  • UW Madison
  • U. Maryland

Unlikely (less than 25% chance)

  • UCLA
  • Cornell
  • U. Chicago
  • UC Berkeley
  • MIT
  • U. Michigan
  • UT Austin
  • GA Tech
  • UIUC
  • Cambridge?

For computer science programs where you would be extremely likely to receive admission, I’d take a look at this list of good CS schools for “B” students (meaning that you’re 90+% assured of getting in). UT – Dallas, Stony Brook, and U. of Massachusetts are two that are on the list for “B” students and on the regular list of strong CS schools.

There’s also this list of strong CS programs at smaller schools. If you have MIT on your list (smaller university, tech-focused) then you might like Rose-Hulman, which I think would be a Likely for you, and it would probably give you sufficient merit aid to easily come in at the $200k mark.

I’ll refrain from adding more suggestions until we get a better sense of what exactly you’re interested in from your college experience.

ETA: All those schools are unlikely because they’re unlikely for anyone. Most applicants self-select, meaning that they only apply if they think they have a decent shot of acceptance. So lots of highly qualified students apply, but the university will only end up taking a small percentage of them.

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Hello, thanks for responding. After looking into some of these, I might consider Harvey Mudd as a solid reach since it is actually very good for most criteria, and I think I will consider Carleton as well because it not only has good programs, but it is also free to apply to. Couldn’t hurt. Thanks for the reccs.

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So I look at everything from a monetary standpoint - because if grad school is coming, as long as you go to a big name, you’ll be fine. And you can spend $250K - but you can spend less.

In regards to your list, you will get into PSU, and Wisconsin.

UMD is likely but not assured - and it’s not cheap. UIUC is a reach adn Ga Tech is a super reach as is UT. I think you’d have a better shot of Michigan than UT - but both are a reach.

UCLA, Cornell (assuming you won’t get need aid), Bekreley and MIT should come off - because you won’t hit the price target.

Others have listed great other options - Purdue, NC State. I’d add Florida as another. Pitt seems logical too. U of Miami with merit could be another solid choice. And Ohio State.

But if you want to get to the dirt cheap programs where you spend less than $100K and get a great education - Alabama and then strong in physics/astronomy would be Arizona…so you go from $250K - to maybe $80-90K.

You have a good path - but it would help you to add a few lower cost schools and take note that some of your targets are just not - they are reaches - but you definitely have schools that work within your budget. But when I see Ga Tech and MIT, etc. I wonder - will you be happy at Penn State or will you feel it’s a let down - which is why schools like Purdue and Florida can be solid backups - well thought of yet still affordable.

Good luck.

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Hello. The comp sci instead of physics probably does not make a ton of sense. It is because I want to double major, as a double major is somewhat similar to the level of work in most grad schools. I applied to comp sci as my major for many universities because I think cs and physics are my favorite major comb, but it is more difficult to add a cs major than a phys major. UIUC definitely should be in reach. Looking at some statistics from my school (likely not applicable to others), we have a program that lets us see every student that has applied from our school in the last 10 years with their sat/act and gpa and their admission decision. Most of my ideas on reaches etc are from that, but on a macro level you are right. Going from the statistics, I think Madison and UMD are actually just as easy to get into as penn state at least for our school. UMich also does not reject anyone from our school that has above a 1500 and 97/107 GPA, and instead its basically 50/50 waitlist or admit. The other universities seem like reaches, and I will definitely look into stony brook and rose hulman. Thank you for the feedback.

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Yeah, I will definitely look into Arizona and Purdue, but for the most part the budget is less of a constraint and more of I don’t necessarily want to spend a whole ton unless its a really well-known program or something else, so I would be fine paying more than 250k if it was cornell or berkeley. Thank you for the suggestions though.

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What you’re fine paying matters less than what your parents are fine paying - so you might want to have that discussion first.

You’d be amazed that if you can spend $80 or $150K - how quickly $250K+ is no longer a decision you get to make. That’s different family by family.

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If you are wondering why I recommended those particular schools, it was based partly on national recognition by the American Physical Society (for faculty, students, or both), and the connection of this to your interest in later pursuing graduate school. As examples of this recognition, see these links:

https://www.hamilton.edu/news/story/aps-physics-research-prize-gordon-jones

These awards apply especially if you would like to conduct mentored research as an undergraduate.

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I understand that CS is a significantly more popular major than physics and that with many colleges it is an impacted major with major enrollment restrictions. You may want to enter as a declared CS major in order to secure your spot in that major depending on whether the institution does have strict caps on its CS major. But if your major interest is in physics, then I would be much more interested in the quality of the physics program than the CS one. I suspect that the CS major at most universities is going to be perfectly sufficient for most people who intend to go on in physics. If there’s a particular subfield of CS that you’re interested in, especially as it relates to your interest in physics, by all means look at the faculty’s descriptions and course offerings to make sure that university will work for you. But the focus, in my mind, should definitely be on the main field of study you’re interested in.

There are many high schools with Naviance or similar programs that detail what the stats and acceptances/rejections have been at universities from a particular high school. If you look at various threads around here (including the yield protection one or the one on VA Tech EA results) you will see that there have been lots of surprises with people who had very high stats with universities that they think they “should” have gotten into.

Once again, I’d ask what kind of an experience you would like out of college? Doing that can help not only in creating a balanced list of schools to apply to (balanced with respect to odds of admission and affordability), but also when it comes time to make a decision. If you know the things that are most important to you, then it’s easier to evaluate your options to decide where you want to enroll.

ETA: You can also check out the Georgia Tech EA results thread.

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20

Regarding the suggestion of Hamilton, this student provides a good example of its opportunities for a student with your interests:

https://www.hamilton.edu/news/story/caltech-physics-renewable-energy-ryczek-goldwater

You will see she majored in physics and minored in computer science. Among her accomplishments, she was a Goldwater Scholar and one of seven Apker finalists. She is now in a PhD program at Caltech.

From what you have posted, Hamilton would make an excellent reach school for you.

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