Weighted HS GPA (incl. weighting system): 4.58 out of 5
College GPA (for transfers):
Class Rank: Not available
ACT/SAT Scores: 34
Coursework
Multivariable Calculus (UIUC course), AP Calculus B/C, AP Stats
AP CS Principles, AP CS A, Mobile Application Development
AP Physics C, AP Physics, Honors Chem, Honors Bio
AP Language, AP Human Geo and 4 years of Spanish
Awards
Not really… got a National Merit recognition recently (does that count?)
Extracurriculars
2 summer internships at a tech startup in QA dept coding and executing test scripts in Java
IoT Engineering summer Programfd at [Northwestern University - built an ioT device that combined system programming, hardware design and 3D-printing as part of that.
Chess Team Varsity
Swim Team (2 years)
Volunteer at local pantry (Feed My Starving Children) and another local non-profit
Essays/LORs/Other
LOR I guess would be average, nothing exceptional. Can’t guess about the essay… probably decent, not great.
Cost Constraints / Budget
Flexible budget
Schools (List of colleges by your initial chance estimate; designate if applying ED/EA/RD; if a scholarship is necessary for affordability, indicate that you are aiming for a scholarship and use the scholarship chance to estimate it into the appropriate group below)
Safety (certain admission and affordability): Loyola University, Iowa State University, University of Iowa
Likely (would be possible, but very unlikely or surprising, for it not to admit or be affordable): see Safety List
Match: UIUC, Purdue, Georgia Tech, WashU, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, UW-Madison
Reach: Northwestern, Carnegie Mellon, Duke — should I even try for these reach?
Does your HS use Naviance? If so that, plus your HS GC will be most helpful in categorizing schools. Not sure UIUC is a match for CS+X, could be high match, even reach with your uwGPA (is that core courses only?). What are your AP scores?
Georgia Tech and U Mich OOS are definite reaches for all students. WashU is also a reach. I would defer to Naviance and your HS GC for Madison…what major there? It will likely also be a reach if engineering. Purdue is probably a match/high match…but you have to make the early deadline.
It does seem like you have plenty of reaches on your list, I doubt NU, CMU and Duke are realistic reaches (assuming the uw3.62 is core courses only)
Definitely this. Also, regarding the University of Michigan, look at its Common Data Set. Section C7 tells you that academic GPA is a “very important” admissions factor, whereas standardized test scores are “important” (same with Georgia Tech). Further, if I recall correctly, U of M recomputes academic GPA by eliminating all plusses and minuses in grades – thus, B+ is considered a B (3.0) and A- is considered an A (4.0); this may or may not have a negative impact on your recomputed GPA.
As others have said, none of your “matches” are matches with exception of Wisconsin. If you choose WI, you’re not guaranteed CS of CompE. You have to compete after admission.
I love that you have ISU. Great school. Anything beyond that is just icing on the cake.
I’ve looked into most of these schools pretty extensively, as my D22 is also looking at CS, and I agree that those listed as Match are Reaches. Wisconsin may be close. Maybe look at Maryland in that same bucket.
GPA is the number one factor in almost all admissions decisions.
If you like Loyola as a safety, have you considered DePaul? They have strong CS programs, and have a Software Engineering concentration as an option within CS.
UMinn Twin Cities is good for CS and within your desired geographic radius.
CMU is a very unlikely admit for CS, but Pitt has a good program too and could be worth a look.
U of Cincinnati has a great co-op based CS program and gives good merit.
There are also some highly-regarded LAC’s in your target region with strong CS, especially St. Olaf and Grinnell.