Compiling college list (Major: Computer Science). Help?

College Search & Selection
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<p>Hello! I am a high school senior looking for quality BS-degree Computer Science colleges. I already have some schools I have been considering, but I'm looking for more options! I also do not know how the colleges I have already chosen classify on the "safety, match, reach" scale, so I am unable to find other colleges to fill the other categories.</p>

<p>I am a California student, and I am looking for out of state colleges (although in USA) - preferably Mid-West. I am drawn towards the larger, spirited schools, but that in no way means I want a party school. A quality CS college that challenges me and has a great facility is ideal. I'm not sure what kind of campus I like, but nothing horrible... if that clarifies anything.</p>

<p>What am I aspiring to be? Honestly, I'm not sure, but I can see myself in the electronics field. I have taken a lot of rigorous math courses that I don't want going to waste.</p>

<p>So, if grades are necessary:</p>

<p>GPA Total (9-12): 3.925
GPA Academic (10-12): 3.885</p>

<p>Freshman year: All A's</p>

<p>Sophomore year:
-World History A/A
-World Lit A/A
-Pre Calc H B/B
-PE A/A
-Chem H A/A
-Japanese 2 A/A
-Marching&Concert Band A/A</p>

<p>Junior year:
-AmLit H A/A
-Journalism A/A (School newspaper - required interview)
-AP US History B/A (4 on AP Exam)
-AP Calculus BC A/A (5 on AP Exam)
-Japanese 3 A/A
-Physics H A/A
-Marching&Concert Band A/A</p>

<p>Senior year (I expect easy A's this year)
-Voices of Modern Culture, Japanese 4 H, Gov/Econ AP, Physiology, Band, Journalism, AP Statistics</p>

<p>I am President of Cooking Club for the second year in a row, the Public Relation Officer of Japanese National Honor Society, Copy Editor for our school newspaper, and I've been section leader of the percussion section in our high school marching band since sophomore year (freshman year was unofficial).</p>

<p>My SAT's are a low point for me thanks to my cold both times.
-1st time: 2010 (650 Reading, 710 Math, 690 Writing)
-2nd time: 2050 (660 Reading, 730 Math, 650 Writing)</p>

<p>SAT II:
-Math 2: 800
-US History: 700</p>

<p>I plan to take the ACT this October 23rd - and do well too hopefully.</p>

<p>Okay! So now the list of colleges I am considering in no particular order:
-University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (first choice - my dad is an alumnus)
-Purdue University (sister is currently attending)
-University of Michigan
-University of Texas, Austin
-UC Irvine
-UCSD
-UC Santa Cruz?
-UCLA?</p>

<p>Financially: Nothing like Ivy League pricing apparently. Not sure what that means, but apparently UIUC's price range is okay?</p>

<p>Note: I don't really know much about the UC's, but people here say that they're good to apply to because they use one application. Any other UC's I should consider or not consider?</p>

<p>Basically: Help? Please and thank you!</p>

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<p>The list is great. I wouldn’t change a thing. Michigan is more expensive than Illinois, you’d better make sure that the price tag is ok. </p>

<p>Your stats are decent also. A 5 on BC Calculus Junior year is very impressive. The GPA is very impressive. The 800 on the Math SATII is also impressive, but unfortunately I don’t think that the midwest schools even consider the SAT II! </p>

<p>You should apply immediately to Purdue with the stats that you have. I don’t see a scenario where you don’t get in. They admit over 70% of their applicants and your stats are way above their norms. It’s a great school though, one of those schools that is much easier to get in than to get out!</p>

<p>For the more competitive schools like Michigan and Illinois, there are two potential issues that I see. The first one is your light senior load and only 3 years of science. I don’t know if it’s too late to take a science senior year. If you can’t fix that now don’t worry about it, it might be ok. </p>

<p>The second problem is the timing. Most of the midwest schools have rolling admissions. That means that it is easier to get in, the earlier that you apply, and being out of state, you should really apply pretty early. However, given the 800 on the SAT II, I suspect that you can really nail the ACT. You are right smack in the range of SAT for the Engineering school at Illinois and they definitely give priority to earlier applicants. Michigan on the other hand specifically states that the evaluation criteria are the same no matter when you apply. This hasn’t been the case in the past though, and some top students have been rejected from Michigan, so I don’t know if they changed their process or are simply lying.</p>

<p>Illinois seems to indicate that they really consider your math subscore very heavily for engineering (where computer science lives), but that the September ACT and October SAT are the last ones that can be used for the priority deadline. Why not take the SAT again in October and try to nail the math. </p>

<p>I think I would apply to Purdue immediately, and all of the other schools before November 1, using the SAT scores. </p>

<p>You can take the ACT score and send them also so that if you get postponed from Illinois or Michigan, they might consider the newer ACT scores on the second reading. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>I would add the University of Wisconsin to that list.</p>

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<p>Consider Iowa State University of Science and Technology. DD is there now. She chose over UIUC and Purdue.</p>

5

<p>Add the University of Washington in your list. it has an amazing computer science program and it’s relatively easier to get into.</p>

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<p>I’m taking physiology this year. Doesn’t that count as a science?</p>

<p>Thank you so much for your responses! I’ll consider the SAT again - does this mean I can’t show Midwest schools my SAT 2’s in some other way? </p>

<p>Also, about the ACT: does this mean they won’t necessarily get my scores? I checked their website, and I believe they accept the October scores. Is it not guaranteed though?</p>

<p>To those who posted colleges, I will consider them! I’m still not sure which is a safety, reach, etc.</p>

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<p>Sorry, my middle aged eyes saw psychology :slight_smile: </p>

<p>Physiology is a science. </p>

<p>They will get your ACT score, but may have already reviewed your file before it comes. Illinois specifically says September ACT and October SAT are the one’s acceptable for the priority filing date. </p>

<p>[U&lt;/a&gt; of I Admissions: Freshman Admission Requirements](<a href=“http://admissions.illinois.edu/apply/requirements_freshman.html]U”>Page Not Found, Illinois Undergraduate Admissions)</p>

<p>If you wait to apply, you miss the priority deadline and the standards for admission get higher. </p>

<p>Michigan says that it WILL accept your October ACT if you specify it as one of the recipients
[Office</a> of Undergraduate Admissions: Early Action](<a href=“http://www.admissions.umich.edu/prospective/applying/earlyresponse.php]Office”>http://www.admissions.umich.edu/prospective/applying/earlyresponse.php)
Michigan also says</p>

<p>“All applications are reviewed using the same guidelines – we will not be awarding additional consideration in the review of an application simply because it was completed in time for Early Action. However as our application volume continues to increase, the process may become more competitive as the application review season progresses.”</p>

<p>Washington is a great school for computer science - lots of Microsoft support - but I think it’s pretty competitive (though you surely compete). Same with Wisconsin. </p>

<p>I don’t think any of your schools are reaches, all OOS schools but Purdue are matches, Purdue is a safety if you apply immediately and the UC’s I just don’t know. I think of a match as having between a 40% and 80% chance of admissions. </p>

<p>Also, with the rolling schools like Purdue and Wisconsin, if you apply now, you will hear back by October. My D got into Wisconsin last October. Once you get in, it’s a safety :-)</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>Don’t know where you’re looking at regionally, but Georgia Tech is excellent also - I 'm heavily involved with the CS program here even as a CompE, and many of my friends do undergraduate research in AI and algorithms :)</p>

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<p>You’re a California resident.</p>

<p>How much will your parents pay for an out of state school like UIUC?</p>

<p>Many of your OOS publics will cost $40k per year. Has your dad said that he will pay $40k per year?</p>

<p>Does he realize that OOS publics (like Purdue and UIUC) are NOT going to give you more aid just because you have 2 in college?</p>

<p>As your dad how much he’ll spend on YOUR education each year.</p>

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<p>For CS, I think I would choose UCI or UCSB over UCSC. Also consider Cal Poly SLO. At any rate, you have a good list for what you want in a school. UIUC is a good CS school.</p>

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<p>oops…</p>

<p>Meant to write…ASK your dad how much he’ll spend on your education each year.</p>

<p>The reason you need to do this is because he may be under the mistaken impression that with 2 kids in college (both in OOS publics) that each child’s EFC will drop and therefore they’ll each get more aid. However, there are some schools that will give you merit money for your stats.</p>

<p>That would not happen with OOS publics. OOS publics will just gap you and expect you to pay.</p>

<p>So…try to get a dollar figure of how much he’ll spend each year. :)</p>

<p>It’s VERY IMPORTANT that you know how much he’ll spend otherwise you may be making unaffordable lists of schools.</p>

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<p>Thanks again for the replies! This is extremely helpful!</p>

<p>So, does that mean I should go ahead and apply early to MidWest schools, even if my ACT doesn’t get there in time? It seems almost like a gamble: if I do well on the ACT, do I have a better chance getting in and sending it later than sending an app now, early, with my average SAT scores?</p>

<p>I’m a little worried for the college essay. It says to write about an experience that relates to my major, but honestly, I don’t have much to say about CS. My high school doesn’t offer much in regards to the field, despite my interest. Maybe I should apply as “undecided”…?</p>

<p>mom2collegekids: Oh, I’ll try to get an exact figure from him. I’ve asked, but he says UIUC is fine in the price range (40k I guess?). I don’t think he was expecting aid in paying, but I’ll give him a heads up about the money again today to check on the college prices. Thanks for the warning!</p>

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<p>If you are into CS, I hear that Carnegie Mellon has one of the best CS programs in the country. Your grades and scores look good, perhaps you should add CMU to your list?</p>

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<p>I think you should apply to Purdue and if you are interested Wisconsin ASAP, like tonight because they are pure rolling. Admissions decisions are already being made and the longer you wait, the more competitive the standards. </p>

<p>For Illinois and Michigan, apply by Nov 1, use your SAT for Illinois and send your ACT to Michigan. For Illinois, it is worth taking the October SAT to improve your math score even more, though it’s competitive where it is. They say that the October ACT is too late for the priority deadline but that the October SAT is ok. For Michigan, they will consider your SAT II scores also and they will consider your October ACT even for the priority deadline. </p>

<p>There is little upside to waiting because the admission standards only get higher after the priority deadline. University of Washington has a Nov 15 priority deadline. They also have a nice honors program. </p>

<p>You should confirm everything I’m saying on the websites of the colleges, because I’m going mostly from memory. I know nothing about California schools because D didn’t consider them.</p>

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<p>I’m considering CMU, yes, but I was thinking less East coast. Great suggestion though!</p>

<p>I’m making a list with all the information I’m getting here. I’ll be sure to do just that with my standardized testing scores, ClassicRocker (I’m a big classic rock fan too, haha) - it clears up a lot of the questions I had about the advantages/disadvantages of sending later. Thanks a ton!</p>

<p>Any more information for UC’s? I want to get out of California, but I think it’s safe to have some UC’s open.</p>