I have had quite the high school experience, to get to the point I’ve had a pretty large rising trend in my GPA since freshman year. With all regular classes freshman year, I received a 2.665 GPA, sophomore year I received a 2.882 gpa with only one honors class. However, junior year, I have a 4.0 GPA in multiple honors and AP courses as well as getting a 1300 on the SAT. Freshman + Sophomore year I had family conflicts + other personal things which I would be able to explain to colleges, also I was very non-social that beginning half of high school but now I’m in 4 clubs and play one sport which I participate very actively in, which is something I’d also be able to mention. By the second quarter of senior year, I predicted my GPA to be a 3.25. What are some of the best schools you think I could get into?
Additional info:
I am a minority(black) (if that even matters anymore)
My school has a really good report/standing - i’d give it an 8.9/10
What is your home state? What do you want to major in? What is your financial situation? Any preference on school size? Have you visited any schools, and what did you think? You could get a bit of a bump at some schools as a URM. Do you intend to retake the SAT? The higher the score, the better your chances are, especially with a soft GPA. Is that projected 3.25 unweighted?
Regarding family and personal issues, it can come across as making excuses if you aren’t careful. It can be helpful to ask your GC to talk about issues (if appropriate) vs trying to do it yourself. I’d say if you were homeless or in foster care or there was police intervention or a serious illness in the family or death of a sibling/parent, things like that could carry weight.
Home state: MA
Major: Computer Science (attending summer school at UCB)
-Also have taken AP CSP (exam in May)
I prefer a big school and have not visited any
Retaking the SAT in May
I prefer to go out of state but realize that may not be an option
Out of state is certainly possible but much will depend on how much your family can/is willing to afford for your school.
Yes, your financial situation is important.
UMass or an HBCU or a public liberal arts college assuming money is a concern, if not then too many options to mention without more criteria. Many large state flagships would accept you.
@nw2this the university of massschsetts at Amherst is a preeminent cs research uni and top five in ai. And with a level popularity and new facilities, energy and student excellence is higher than ever.
It’s actually no safety even in state for many. Kids are paying 49k a year oos to attend. It’s no consolation prize or the school of last resort for the low ses student.
OP. With your awesome academic comeback you will have some great options.
But if your desire is to become a great computer scientist, don’t overlook the home town team.
Also Amherst will be unlike anything you’ve experienced if your from eastern mass. It will seem like a whole new world. And it had the best food in the country - it sounds unimportant but it’s a place you live for four years.
Plus the new student union in process. Best men’s hockey team in the country and lots of fun.
If you are a first-generation college student you will also have an advantage at almost every college. UMass Amherst, as @privatebanker noted, is on the rise and no longer the gimme safety school (2nd best college hockey team, kudos to Minnesota Duluth). UMass Lowell also stands out for its engineering program (not sure about CS).
Although you said you preferred a big school, many small liberal arts colleges have stellar CS programs. Middlebury is opening a new CS center. Many kids say they need a large college but small classroom instruction matters much more than you may realize at 18. Unless you really like sitting in a dark lecture hall and not engaging with your professor except through taking exams, think critically about how you like to learn. When the lights go out, will you fall asleep in the auditorium? At universities, many professors care more about research and grants than undergraduate education. TAs do the “front-line” work in breakout sessions. There are exceptions but the question for each student is if that is the optimal situation for them. If you prefer a professor in a small classroom where you get to speak and contribute (and yes, with no place to hide and nod off), then smaller colleges offer more.
Also, many small liberal arts colleges are need-blind and with demonstrated need your family expected contribution will be zero or minimal. Use the college cost calculators each college has to get details.
SAT: recommend using Khan Academy (free online) for prep. Use the rest of spring break to take practice tests.
@AmBuddha lol. Ok second best that night for sure. Totality of their season they are number one in my heart!
@Gosixers76 - Congratulations on an impressive comeback. It would help to know your family’s financial situation and/or budget. Would you consider going to a smaller liberal arts school in exchange for an excellent financial aid package? Is that even necessary?
What part of the country would you like to go to? Are you planning to play sports in college?
Fun hockey note. Was at a friend’s house for dinner last night. Daughter attends UMASS (from FL) and was home for Easter. Huge hockey fans. Apparently ne of UMASS’ kids was previously drafted by Calgary (didn’t take any money so was still eligible - not sure how that works). Was called up right after the finals and joined the NHL team (not minor leagues), right away to play in the playoffs. Scored in his first game! Wow. DOn’t know the name but what a great thrill for that kid and his family.
He won the Hobie Baker award for the best college player of the year. College hockey’s “Heisman Trophy”.
He drafted as the 4th overall pick in the first round. You can be drafted. But you don’t sign and the team owns your “rights”. While you are playing In college.
@privatebanker
I suggested UMass because it is large and OP is instate and it would be cheaper than oos, didn’t mean to imply that it was a last resort or a safety.