Colleges an Average Student can apply to for Computer Science?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So like, I'm a senior studying at an American school in Saudi Arabia (Weird huh?), and I'm definitely not one of those "Whoa I'm so amazing, I have a 4.8 GPA, a 2400 on the SAT and I take part in about a bajillion extra-curricular activities" students. My grades have always been a bit shoddy, as I'm not I'm not really smart (I've been hanging around the 3.6-3.8 GPA range the entire time I've been in High School). My SAT Scores are abysmal. I've never participated in any extra curricular activities because none of the ones available have ever been of any interest to me, and on top of all that I never took the subject that almost every single university requires: Chemistry.
I never took Chemistry because I thought I wouldn't need it. Nobody ever informed me in my freshman-junior years that I needed it, and besides, what could Computer Science possibly have to do with Chemistry, right (I'm more of a physics guy anyways!)? It was probably the most boneheaded mistake in my entire life (apart from taking Economics, ew.). I've been researching universities and it turns out that nearly EVERY SINGLE ONE requires a year of high school Chemistry. It's already four weeks into the year, and I don't think I'll be able to change my schedule to accommodate a Chemistry class in there.
I'm hoping to go into Computer Science because that is what fascinates me the most (and also because it happens to be my best subject). However I'm slightly worried that I won't be able to get into any "good" university to study it. I'm not so much looking for a university with a "name", than I am a university in which I'll be able to gain a good amount of knowledge from.
Yes, I know, I'm in an incredibly bad situation right now, but that is why I'm asking you for help in determining what SIX universities I should apply to (I'm thinking one reach, three matches and two safeties). Six because just this year our school announced that they would not let us send applications to more than six universities due to the immense amount of effort required from a relatively small group of people.</p>

<pre><code> Below is a summary of what I have so far:
</code></pre>

<p>GPAs: </p>

<p>9th Grade GPA: 3.71
10th Grade GPA: 3.857
11th Grade GPA: 3.857</p>

<p>Extra Curricular Activities:</p>

<p>I'm not sure if this counts, but in my Junior year, I went on a study trip to Thailand, in which we spent 3 days building a library for a village.</p>

<p>Awards:</p>

<p>Programming Award - 11th Grade</p>

<p>APs:</p>

<p>Taken: </p>

<p>AP US History - 4 on exam.</p>

<p>Taking:</p>

<p>AP Literature/Composition
AP Physics B
AP Economics (Micro and Macro)
AP Computer Science A</p>

<p>SAT Scores:</p>

<p>Critical Reading: 540
Math: 600
Writing: 560
Total: 1700 (Yes, it's terrible, I feel like crying when I think about it)
Math/CR = 1140</p>

<p>Note: I WILL be retaking the SAT's in October and December; but this time I'll be more than prepared.</p>

<p>SAT 2:</p>

<p>I haven't taken any! I'll be doing the Math 2 and U.S History subject tests in November.</p>

<hr>

<p>Do I have any hope of getting into a university with a decent Computer Science program? Or am I doomed to stay a failure? Thanks in advance!</p>

<p>Note: I'm looking for universities in the US/Canada. I don't really mind any region within those two countries. D:</p>

2

<p>Where’s your senior year math?</p>

3

<p>Right, I’m taking regular Calculus for that.</p>

<p>I’ve taken all the required subjects except for Chemistry (2 Foreign Language credits, tons of electives, etc.)</p>

<p>I can’t seem to edit my first post so I guess I’ll put all the courses I HAVE taken here:</p>

<p>9th Grade: </p>

<p>English 9
Geometry Honors
Physical Science
Ancient World History
PE
Health
Arabic 1
Intro to Business
Computer and Information Management</p>

<p>10th Grade:</p>

<p>English 10
Algebra 2
Biology
Modern World History Honors
PE
Arabic 2
Digital Photography
AUTOCAD</p>

<p>11th Grade:</p>

<p>American Literature
Precalculus
Physics
Economics
AP US History
Weighttraining
Programming 1
Programming 2
Beginner Guitar</p>

<p>12th Grade (What I’m taking right now): </p>

<p>AP Literature
Weighttraining
AP Physics B
AP Economics (Micro/Macro)
Technology Assistant
AP Computer Science
Calculus</p>

4

<p>Be honest, you thought you could get out of high school without having to take Chemistry.</p>

5

<p>Yeah, I did. I thought you could choose Physics and stick with it, instead of doing Chemistry.</p>

6

<p>Is there an equivalent of a local community college nearby for you to take Chemistry and the accompanying lab?</p>

7

<p>Why didn’t your guidance counselor catch the mistake last spring when you picked your senior classes?</p>

8

<p>Because Chemistry is not a required subject at my high school. And there aren’t any other places I can take Chem. I could try persuading my counselor to get Chemistry in my schedule. But my major gripe is that it’s CHEMISTRY, of all science subjects that is the “one” science you must take, especially when I never knew… :frowning: Life…</p>

9

<p>You could take an online Chemistry course but you need a lab portion to meet requirements for admissions. Chemistry is the science with a lab, that is why it is the “mandatory” science. Maybe you could still enroll if you promise to get a tutor to get you caught up to the ongoing Chemistry class. Go to your guidance counselor ASAP.</p>

10

<p>If it was not offered at your school then the GC should write this in the letter and you can take it in the summer before college. I am sure colleges are willing to listen to a good reason.</p>

<p>If it was offered but not required you can still add it on provided they let you and you can take some tutoring to get upto speed.</p>

11

<p>Bio and Physics are both lab sciences at my kid’s high school. IIT requires three years of science, two must be lab.</p>

<p>[IIT</a> Undergraduate Admission | First-Year Applicants](<a href=“http://www.iit.edu/undergrad_admission/apply/first_year_applicants.shtml#highrequire]IIT”>http://www.iit.edu/undergrad_admission/apply/first_year_applicants.shtml#highrequire)</p>

12

<p>So let’s say I do get Chemistry into my schedule. Which universities in particular should I be targeting?</p>

<p>(And thanks for the help so far!)</p>

13

<p>You could probably do a much better job of researching this for yourself, but…these are a few great schools you might want to look at. Your SAT is weak for many of them but it’s good your math is strongest. You might want to check into what (if any) subject tests are required–I don’t think any of these require them, but I do recall that some engineering programs (so it may not apply to CS) require Math II and a science subject test.</p>

<p>[Case</a> Western Reserve University - What We Look For](<a href=“http://admission.case.edu/admissions/application/profile.asp]Case”>http://admission.case.edu/admissions/application/profile.asp)</p>

<p>[Freshman</a> Admission Requirements - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)](<a href=“http://admissions.rpi.edu/freshman/freshman_requirements.html]Freshman”>http://admissions.rpi.edu/freshman/freshman_requirements.html)</p>

<p>[Rose-Hulman</a> Institute of Technology : Admissions](<a href=“http://www.rose-hulman.edu/admissions/admsrequirements.htm]Rose-Hulman”>http://www.rose-hulman.edu/admissions/admsrequirements.htm)</p>

<p>[Purdue</a> University - Subject Matter Expectations](<a href=“http://admissions.purdue.edu/Admissions_Criteria/Misc._Admissions_cri/Subject_Matter_Expec.html]Purdue”>http://admissions.purdue.edu/Admissions_Criteria/Misc._Admissions_cri/Subject_Matter_Expec.html)</p>

<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.mines.edu/Requirements]Requirements[/url”>http://www.mines.edu/Requirements]Requirements[/url</a>]</p>