I want to pursue Computer Engineering. I will be applying as an international (Indian) student. I want to know which college is better for CS and which one I should apply for early action keeping my academics and ECs in mind. Which will be a better option for me. I would love to get into any of them.
ACADEMICS:-
9th grade: 97% (2nd in class of 87)
10th grade: 96.4% (2nd in class of 84)
11th grade: 3.7 out of 4 (8th in class of 163)
SAT: 2120
Sat subject test not appeared yet. Will give Chemistry and Mathematics level 2. Average score on practice tests is 800 Math and 770 Chemistry.
Won many quiz competitions (state level and inter school)
I have made many science projects in school like Helicopter, hover craft, Google cardboard, Solar street light
AWARDS:-
Sports boy of the year (2013)
Student of the year (2014)
2nd in Abacus (Math exam). Dont know what is it called in USA. Over 1000 students appeared.
Other awards are not worth noting.
EXTRA CURRICULAR:-
Head boy i.e. school captain (2014)
Sports captain (2013)
As being a part of the student govt. for two years, I have been responsible for organising the annual function once and many othe rprograms carried out in school.
Winner Volleyball (taluka level)
1st runner up Volleyball (district level)
I have volunteered for about 60-65 hours in the past four years.
Along with I have also helped our society organise blood donation camps, health care camps and other functions.
I really don’t know what else to mention in my ECs.
WRITING:-
I have my own webpage cum blog ‘TALKING COVERS’ where I have written around 50 articles, a dozen of poems and around 10 stories on love, life and friendship. I have over 100 followers and also a facebook page by the same name and over 350 likes. I have started this website with the intention of motivating people through my articles. And the stories and poems that I write are just because I love to do so.
Link to my blog : https://ankitdesai313.wordpress.com/
COMPUTERS AND ME:-
I have designed two websites :
- Job portal design
- Another website which I will soon upload. I will manage my writing database over this one.
I am currently working on a mobile app which is set to be released on app store and play store this September. This app has been made for a start up (company).
This is my complete info. If u need any more please let me know. And based upon this information let me know which university can I make Cornell or Princeton and which one should I apply for early action to enhance my chances?
Thank you for your help.
While you do have a good rank/GPA your SAT’s scores still do cone out to be subpar compared to what most ivy’s are looking for. If you were to draw a bell curve of SAT scores of students accepted into ivy’s a 2350 would be at the top of the parabola. Your SAT score would fall into the bottom 15th percentile. For computer science, thwre are a lot of cheaper alternatives than Ivy’s with better programs… which would be better fits with your SAT scores. I’d look into Rutgers-New Brunswick, Georgia Tech, University of Michigan, and Univiersity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign if i were you. BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, PRINCETON HAS THE SUPERIOR CS PROGRAM, ALTHOUGH IT IS MUCH HARDER TO GET INTO THAN CORNELL.
Also Computer Engineering and CS are two different majors. If you want to do CompE, Cornell is superior.
Sorry for the spam of comments but I just have more and more things that keep popping up in my mind. Being that your last name is Desai I’m assuming that you are Gujarati. If so, you will have an easier time adjusting in New Jersey than any other state. New Jersey has the larget population of Indians in the US and the majority of us are Gujus. A good estimate would be that 75% of Indians in NJ are Gujarati. I myself am Guju and live in Princeton, there are so many of us here you’d feel just like you are home.
Thank you mohchan360… Yes I am Gujarati…
I have heard so far that with a SAT score of 2100 above u can get a good ivy… What matters is your ECs and teachers recommendations. Is that not true? Are my ECs and academics strong enough to hide my SAT scores…
Thank you mohchan360… Yes I am Gujarati…
I have heard so far that with a SAT score of 2100 above u can get a good ivy… What matters is your ECs and teachers recommendations. Is that not true? Are my ECs and academics strong enough to hide my SAT scores…
Test score so important. You should check this article from Forbes about U.S. Top colleges with SAT scores. http://www.businessinsider.com/colleges-with-the-highest-sat-scores-2014-8
Cornell isn’t in that list…
I didn’t know Desai is Gujarati, one of my close friend is from that area. But I think if you get into Cornell ED, count yourself lucky. It’s not easy getting into Princeton, particularly for internationals.
I’d look at this list (grad schools, not exactly equivalent but a good indicator):
http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/computer-engineering-rankings
With your scores, you are much more likely to be admitted to UMich and Georgia Tech than Princeton or Cornell. Many Indians studying at both of these schools too. You might like the weather better in Georgia better.
You can apply ED Cornell and EA Michigan. Perfectly acceptable.
Only apply ED to your #1 school. Don’t do it to increase your likelihood of being accepted. If a school wants you, they’ll take you.
Schools like umich and Georgia tech aren’t need based… They won’t offer need based grants to international student. I want to apply to school that has need based financial aid for international students
There are many schools out there that are need aware, but if accepted, they will meet full need. Off the top of my head, I can think of Swarthmore.
Post #12, then I think it’s even harder for Cornell. There are probably lots of internationals like you.
14....
But if I apply early decision, would I have better chances of getting in?
Are my ECs not strong enough along with my GPAs to make a good chance?
A lot of internationals know the ED advantage. Every year, I have seen similar threads to yours popped up regularly. But do check the Cornell forum for admission stats for internationals.
Honestly, even if you were non-international, your stats and ECs do not give you good chances. Sorry to be blunt. CS is very competitive major.
Won’t the thing that I made a couple of websites and a mobile app for a start-up make a difference? And since its something related to computers, would it be considered?
Anybody could do that. At my daughter’s school, which is not as selective as Cornell, guys who made Apps were not admitted to CS major even. My kid got into her school solely base on grades and SAT scores. She knows nothing about app.
I am retaking the SAT this October. So what will be a good score that I should look for ?
Also Is university of southern California a good school for computer engineering?