Computer Science Schools for slightly above average student - East coast

College Search & Selection
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Looking for school suggestions that are excellent for computer science but perhaps not as competitive to get into. Daughter, HS Junior, has 4.3 WGPA but 1310 SAT and 29 [ACT](plans to retake). This may not get her into VA Tech, Pitt, William & Mary, UMDCP, [Penn State], [Lehigh], Villa Nova, Colgate and if so there will be no merit, which we could live with. She’d rather go to a school with an even male/female ratio if possible. Wants a traditional college experience (doesn’t want Drexel or Temple).
Should we be looking at lower tier schools that offer the coursework but maybe not the connections? JMU? Delaware? I think we need some safeties on the list.
TIA for any suggestions. She’s getting stressed and I want to help her as much as I can.

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RIT and WPI come to mind as more likely admits. Both have good programs for CS.

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WPI is test blind, so that might be a good option.

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Your daughter wants to study computer science at a traditional school where there’s an even gender balance. What other factors is she interested in? What size school? Lots of Greek life or not so much? Big into athletics or not so much? Are there any extracurriculars that she would like to pursue in college? Rural, suburban, urban? How far from home? And what is her home state?

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There’s lots of schools - but I guess the question is - define East Coast - the entire seabord?

I think you get into Pitt.

You’ll find merit at Alabama, UAH, and Mississippi State - UAH is mid size and because it’s an engineering focused school, it leans male - but not horribly so. Auburn too.

You have many schools in Florida - UCF, USF for example.

You can go up the Eastern Seaboard - schools like College of Charleston (skews female) and Coastal Carolina. U of SC is a match I think.

Elon and UNCW in N Carolina. WVU, URI, U Maine, and some SUNYs may be others that work. UTK, Salisbury, Loyola of MD, etc.

Honestly lots of options and in lots of flavors (per @AustenNut ) meaning if you lay out your desires, there will be something.

Good luck.

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For a true safety where she would also see merit, look at Clarkson U.

Many schools are staying test optional next cycle so she may be OK with some on the current list but CS is more competitive than most majors so be sure to have some true safeties where she would be happy. (I don’t think Delaware would fit into a safety category).

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Unweighted GPAs are on a 4.0 scale, so the 4.3 doesn’t make sense…does she have straight As? Will she have 4 years of each of the 5 core subject areas? What proportion of her core classes are honors/APs?

All of the school you have listed are test optional, so she can definitely retake a test (I would NOT retake both ACT and SAT, the ACT is relatively higher, so maybe focus there), but I wouldn’t spend much more time on test taking.

U Dayton would be highly likely. Lehigh should be easier to get into than Bucknell, which you could add to the list as a target.

I assume you live in Virginia? If so, I agree that JMU could be an excellent safety, and you don’t give up anything ‘connection’ wise there.

You mention merit $, but sounds like you might be full pay, do you have a budget you want to stick to?

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If you give us more feedback about what your daughter wants, we can give more tailored options. But I’m going to throw out some names that might work. I’m not sure if some of them are capping computer science and what those odds for entry are, but these are some where I suspect your daughter would have decent chances:

  • New Jersey Institute of Technology (24% female)
  • Rochester Institute of Technology (34% female)
  • Stony Brook University (SUNY) (50% female)
  • George Mason University (50% female)
  • University of Tennessee (there were a lot of state flagships on your original list) (53% female)

(Above 4 based on this list, not that your D is a B student, but meaning that odds for entry are better.)

  • Grove City College I think would come in as a safety (noted for computer science at smaller schools) (47% female)

I’d also take a look at some of the Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL).

  • Allegheny College (56% female)
  • Clark University (62% female)
  • McDaniel College (55% female)
  • Ursinus College (49% female)
  • Juniata College (44% female)

I’m not sure whether the gender balance is because your daughter really wants an even gender distribution, or doesn’t want to be a rare girl, or wants a decent chance of dating members of the opposite sex, so there are some outliers here in terms of gender distribution.

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Thanks!

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Thanks, will look into that. You don’t think Delaware is a safety?

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Thanks a lot. We’re in VA and was thinking VA, MD, PA, NY but will also look at some of those you mentioned.

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Thanks for that advice. She did really well on the Math and Verbal so just needs to pick up the science so will try the ACT a couple more times and see.
She has AP Calc (AP/BC), AP Physics,2 - AP Comp Sci classes and will have a total of 10 APs upon graduating.
What did you mean about JMU not giving up anything connection wise? I’d think the Va Tech connections would be much, much better. And of course same with some of the other schools like Pitt, UMDCP, Penn State.

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You have great schools there - GMU, CNU (which rates highly for dorms and food unlike most schools), VCU - if in state is what you want.

I agree with @momofboiler1 that UD is not a safety (since you asked her).

CS is brutally competitive - many/most (major) flagships punch above their norm in admissions difficulty - like a UMD or UMASS. I don’t know how UD does gender - some schools, being a female will be advantageous. It’s likely a target but if she were poli sci, then yes a likely.

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First off. Relax. It’s a marathon not a sprint.

What is she looking for? Big? Small? City? Rural? That would help.

Does she love coding and math? If not, maybe MIS or something business with technology.

Maybe a little prep for SAT or ACT and try one more time. She’s only a junior.

She’s probably good for PSU. Maybe just apply DUS? Our HS probably sends at least 50 to PSU. I’ve seen kids with lower stats get main campus. There’s always Behrend campus.

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You may want to consider Rutgers as well. It’s well ranked for CS (#37), has a respected program and is well known to a lot of big NYC employers. Plus I think your daughter has the stats to get accepted (although, without merit $$).

Gender balance for the Arts & Sciences school is about 55%W, 45%M, but don’t have stats specifically for the CS major.

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Thanks again! I’ll check some of them out. Not sure about the computer science offerings and connections post graduation at the smaller schools but will read up on it. Some of the smaller schools have only a handful on computer science students so I’d guess the faculty is more limited as well.
I think she’s after a “typical” college experience and wants to be able to make friends and have fun while working hard.

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@csmom2222 Delaware is not a safety for CS
See

FIRST-YEAR ADMITTED STUDENT PROFILE

3.69 - 4.22

Mid-50% GPA

1220-1380

Mid-50% High SATR

25 - 30

Mid-50% ACT Equivalent

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Thanks - will look into Rutgers. I think I shouldn’t have mentioned the gender ratio lol. It’s just something she mentioned in passing.

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Thanks!

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I assume connections means job placement. Your D should do research at all the schools on her list…look at career outcomes at each school, look at the CS faculty/adjuncts and programming, internships, etc. Here’s JMU’s CS placement: https://www.jmu.edu/career/careeroutcomes/major-spreadsheets/computer-science-careeroutcomes.pdf

I also agree Delaware is not a safety.

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