I will be applying in the fall early decision to CMU. my interests are varied, but I think im leaning towards compsci, but I also enjoy business. Acceptance rate into TPR, cmu business school is a lot higher than SCS. should i apply ED to CMU TPR then try to transfer into SCS, or should I think of double majoring? Would that be feasible at CMU? Thanks for the help!
Your stats are pretty decent but agree that CMU CompSci is a crapshoot since the acceptance rate is at Ivy levels.
Try for Arts and Sciences as a neuroscience or chemistry major. My son’s high school has 13 kids going to Carnegie Mellon this year (top 25 high school in California) and one of the accepted students got in ED as neuroscience even though she did not graduate with academic honors/was not National Merit recognized. You have probably way better academic credentials.
It’s going to be a low reach though because as you mentioned you could have better ECs. If CMU is your first choice by all means apply ED.
Also no need to take the ACT if you already scored 1520 on the SAT 1 (btw you typed too fast-your verbal score is 720, not 820).
@Hamurtle Thank you so much for your advice! Do you think instead of in neuroscience I would have a better chance at business or engineering? Thanks!
my impression is that transferring into SCS is pretty impossible now (idk about double major but i suspect it’s the same). Therefore, I would apply to SCS and then double major in business.
Hi, I’m going to be applying in the fall Carnegie Mellon ED. I’m interested in compsci but I know thats really difficult for CMU. If anyone knows a major that I have a better chance of at CMU please lmk!! My stats are hella low and my ecs are all over the place but idk what to do about it 
SAT- 1520
Math-800
english-820
SAT 2- Math/physics - expecting 750-770
UW GPA- 3.75
W GPA- 4.2
rank- top 9%
(will be taking ACT soon, estimating 34-35)
extracurriculars:
math tutoring club president -2 yrs
singer- 8yrs
dance- 6yrs
marching band (leadership) - 4 yrs
vice president dance club- 2yrs
MUN- 4yrs
CSF/ CJSF- 6yrs
NHS- 2 yrs
math tutor- 6 yrs
girl scouts- 12 yrs
Internship (compsci/programming) at int’l company over summer
-founded nonprofit charity organization
awards:
presidential volunteer service award - 4yrs
gs gold award -80 hrs
gs silver award- 50 hrs
academic merit/honor - 6 semesters
background:
both parents and sister went to UC Berkeley
indian female
bay area
thanks!!
If you are passionate about CS, then apply ED for SCS. As @idkName said, transferring into SCS in the future will be very difficult. Based on your original post, it doesn’t sound like you are passionate about CS.
If you are more passionate about going to CMU and relatively undecided on your major, then apply ED for one of the other schools. Tepper sounds like an option, but given your Math stats and ECs, MCS or Engineering would be good options as well. According to CMU’s website, TPR and MCS have a 17% acceptance rate. Engineering has a 13% acceptance rate (ECE may be a good fit for you).
Overall, I think you have a relatively great chance of being accepted. The numbers that CMU provides on their website fail to reveal the fact that CMU typically receives more than twice as many applications from men as it does from women (and women have an acceptance rate double that of men). I personally really like your EC’s. The dance, singing, band, and Girl Scouts may help you stand out from a crowd of “one-trick-pony” applicants whose EC’s are limited to Science Olympiads and Math Club (especially if you apply SCS or Engineering).
@idkName @shortnuke Thank you guys for your advice! I read somewhere that on the CMU application you can put down two colleges that you’re interested in to broaden your chances so I might apply SCS and ECE instead of TPR. Thanks!!
I believe that you can apply to two, but only the first choice will be considered for ED.
Apply SCS or Engineering as a choice but those are extremely competitive. Tepper might be good. Another student from my son’s school got into Tepper ED and your grades are way better.
Internal transfer to SCS will be even more difficult. Don’t apply to tepper if you are hoping to transfer to SCS.