Cryptology

College Search & Selection
1

<p>What are good colleges for one who wants to pursue a career in cryptology? I'm mainly looking at the UCs right now (UCB, UCLA, UCSD, UCSB, UCD, UCI) and University of Washington, but wouldn't mind looking else where.</p>

<p>My stats, if it matters (some predicted, as I'm just beginning junior year):</p>

<p>Chinese female
CA resident
GPA: 4.1-4.2W, 3.8-3.9UW
Top 10% of class for sure...
SAT (took some practice tests): 2000-2200 (800 in math, 600-700 in the other two, probably closer to 2000 or 2100 than 2200 though)
ACT: Ranged from 31-33, with 35 and 36s in math/science, lower in the other two.
Subject test: Math 800 (got results), Physics 700 (got results), will probably take Chem
APs: AP Calc BC (5), AP Physics B (4), AP Chemistry, AP Statistics, AP English language, AP English literature, APES, AP Econ (maybe)
College classes: Taking multivariable calculus right now, differential equations next semester, linear algebra also next semester or senior year, then math on EPGY or self study</p>

<p>EC/Acheivements (so far):
Math team 3 years...qualified for AIME in sophomore year, should qualify again this year. Won 1st place freshman year in 9th grade Pythagorean division in school, 2nd place sophomore year for California League in school. Officer fresh/soph year, captain junior year.
Founder of model rocketry club...1 year
Founder of moonbuggy team...1 year
Play viola in youth orchestra...5 years
Viola in quartet...3 years
Wrestling/MMA
100+ hours of volunteering at local hospital
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Mathematics Talent Search award in 7th grade for scoring over a 700 on sat 1 math.</p>

2

<p>West Virginia University has some special programs in cryptology and other intelligence- related fields.</p>

3

<p>WVU is excellent. However, they are not as strong in other areas of math as some of the schools on your list.</p>

<p>The NSA has very good internships that you should aim to take part in regardless of the school you choose.</p>

4

<p>Thanks. According to this site, [Centers</a> of Academic Excellence - Institutions - NSA/CSS](<a href=“http://www.nsa.gov/ia/academic_outreach/nat_cae/institutions.shtml]Centers”>http://www.nsa.gov/ia/academic_outreach/nat_cae/institutions.shtml) , UCD and UCI and UWash also have some sort of special programs? I will be looking into the internships.</p>

5

<p>Oh and would it be a good idea to major in math while minoring in computer science?</p>

6

<p>^ Definitely a good combination. My cousin is a software engineer in Silicon Valley, and he says that math and CS together make a very attractive package.</p>

<p>Udub has ACMS: [Applied</a> and Computational Math Sciences Program (ACMS) - University of Washington](<a href=“http://www.math.washington.edu/acms/]Applied”>Applied and Computational Math Sciences Program (ACMS) | College of Arts and Sciences - University of Washington |)</p>

7

<p>Thanks! The ACMS program, looks confusing. Which would be the option I’d go for? Discrete math and algorithms?</p>