EECS Chances

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

My stats are:

UW GPA: 3.9-4 according to Berkeley
W GPA: Probably around 4.1 or 4.2 at time of application, but that is just because most of my IB HL classes are in grade 12, and Berkeley said that it’s fine
SAT Score: Yet to take it, but practice was 1380/1600 a couple months ago, and I’m pretty sure if I study for it I can reach 1500+.
SAT Subjects Test: Yet to take; will take in September and October of grade 12

Note: I am taking IB Bio SL and IB Math SL this may, and I think I will score a 6, possibly a 7 if I work hard enough.

For fellow Canadians:
Average is around 84 percent currently with IB courses, but when I apply for the pick 5/pick 6 depending on the Canadian university, I expect to have a 92 or 93.

My ECs:

Note: Dad was really worried about my grades dropping when I joined a new school in grade 10 and the school I attended in grade 9 virtually had no clubs/ECs.

Model UN since grade 11
Basketball and Track since grade 9 (On track team but not basketball)
Swimming since grade 9 (Not on team)
Lifeguard Certified since grade 11 (planning on finding a job from summer of grade 11 and onwards)
Science Olympics since grade 11
Volunteering as YMCA basketball coach and ref since grade 11
Vice President of Physics Club since grade 11
Vice President of Comp Sci Club since grade 11
Robotics Club since grade 11 (Joined around end of school year, so not really anything to do)
I am also planning on creating gaming apps in the summer

Schools I am Thinking About Applying to:

Dream Realistic School is Berkeley

Stanford
MIT
Carnegie Mellon
Princeton
Berkeley
UCLA
UCSD
Duke
USC
Caltech
Illinois- Urbana-Champaign
Columbia
Michigan
U of Washington
Cornell
U of British Columbia (UBC)
U of Toronto
U of Alberta
U of Calgary
Waterloo

What are the best schools I should apply to if I want to ultimately work in Computer Science in Silicon Valley or a major tech company like Microsoft? I am planning on obtaining an American citizenship five years after I start university in the US or after finding employment in the US after studying at a Canadian university.

What are the best universities for computer science in the US and can you list them?

How can I improve my chances of getting into an EECS program?

2

Berkeley EECS has an acceptance rate of about 5%, so it’s definitely a stretch school (probably similar to Carnegie Mellon).

If your GPA is a 3.9 as UC GPA, that’s slightly low for UCLA and Berkeley. A 1380 will not be looked upon favorably by almost all of these schools on the list. Your ECs make you look like a ‘serialized hopper’. I’m not seeing much of a consistent effort among anything (why didn’t you join any clubs during year 10?).

Quite honestly, Waterloo has an amazing CS program (and Canadian admissions are much more straightforward). They also send graduates to Microsoft/Google/Amazon in CA as well.

CS here is one of the most popular majors across all colleges. It is a possibility that you may go 0/15 among the US schools you listed here.

Berkeley - High reach
Stanford - High reach
MIT - High reach
Carnegie Mellon - High reach
Princeton - High reach
UCLA - Reach
UCSD - High match / low reach
Duke - Reach / High Reach
USC - Low reach / reach
Caltech - High Reach
Illinois- Urbana-Champaign - Low reach
Columbia - High Reach
Michigan - Reach
U of Washington - High match
Cornell - Reach

3

I appreciate your honesty, but my UC GPA is not 3.9. I personally emailed Berkeley and they said 80%+ and over in a course is considered an A from where I am from. I had one courses drop below 80 for one term, but all my final grades in all courses are over 80. UC GPA is likely a 4.1 or 4.2 since IB courses are mostly taken in grade 12, and Berkeley says they completely understand that, and that they still view me as having a strong academic rigour.

I was unable to join clubs/ECs in grade 10 because my dad greatly discouraged me since he heard the IB program was really tough and didn’t want my grades to drop. I also went to a relatively poor school in grade 9 which severely lacked opportunities for ECs. Therefore, my first real chance to join clubs was in grade 11.

I know my SAT score is currently low, but my weakest area is mostly just the writing questions and some of the math simply because I haven’t done those types of questions in a long time. I honestly feel that if I actually study for the SAT I can reach 1500 if not higher.

4

@asianfang

5

All international students face extreme competition for those top private schools (Stanford, MIT, Ivies, Duke, CalTech). I don’t see how you’re going to get yourself into any of them. You might have better chances at Cal, UCLA and UCSD though. Calculate your UC GPA with this tool: https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
Even at 4.1, you’re still below average for UCLA an Cal. For UCLA, the average is a 4.33. For Cal, the average unweighted GPA is a 3.86. You can double check my numbers on their respective common data sets.

6

Re #1

UCSD, UIUC, and Washington should all be high reach for the CS major. They may admit CS applicants as undeclared, but if such students enroll,they will find it difficult to get into CS.

A 4.1-4.2 UC GPA makes UCB and UCLA reach generally; applying for CS in the engineering division makes it even harder to get in.

7

@asianfang @beepybeetle @ucbalumnus I specifically emailed Berkeley’s international admissions and they said that they will still view me as academically competitive since I am an IB Diploma student (most of weighted courses have to be in grade 12) and because I am self-studying for numerous APs.

I do not think GPA will be a major issue, and I will likely be viewed as around having an average weighted GPA relative to most of the other applicants as a result of this. My 4.1-4.2 UC GPA likely still stands, but from what I have heard from Berkeley, they also judge you based on the academic circumstances around you. I am definitely taking the hardest classes available, and I have all As if grades are by semester, and I am even looking at taking AP exams at other schools through self-studying in order to make myself as competitive as possible? I think this shows initiative, but if I am wrong please correct me; I appreciate bluntness and honesty.

On my college application, I am going to talk about how in grade 9, I went to a relatively poor charter school where I was easily a top 5 student in my grade. I went to a wealthier public school in grade 10 in order to challenge myself, and because I wanted to be able to access more opportunities for both academics and ECs. Unfortunately, my dad was really concerned about my grades slipping due to the notoriety of IB, and he heavily discouraged me from joining new clubs and ECs.

I am also going to talk about going “full circle”. The reason why I am volunteering at the YMCA as a basketball instructor is because I was once part of the program and felt I wasn’t pushed hard enough now that I look back. I want to make sure that those same kids, who are in the same situation I was once in will flourish in basketball, and won’t regret not putting in enough work or choosing a different coach. Do you feel this looks attractive on an application?

What I am more concerned about is separating myself from everyone else when I apply. I know my ECs are not that strong, so what can I do to improve them?

I feel like I am showing some leadership since lifeguards are in charge of the lives of others, and because I have 2 vice president positions for STEM related clubs. I instruct kids on how basketball skills and leadership at the YMCA. I have to organize the teams based on skill and also deal with conflicts that arise either through the kids themselves or parents. I am also part of a team of students that is introducing a new MUN committee to our school. What else can I do for leadership?

I am currently planning on taking introductory computer science summer classes through Berkeley, UCLA, or UCSD programs for international high school students. I feel that this show them that I am serious about computer science since I will likely be studying on my own in US. During this time, I also plan on creating a gaming app, and more apps stemming from there. The reason why I became interested in computer science was because my friend and I were talking about video games, and he brought up the idea for a new game that hasn’t been created before. I then looked into programming, and then organized a group of friends in order to make this app a reality. Do you think colleges would view this as initiative?

8

These activities will present you in a favorable light, and I definitely commend you for your “give-back” attitude. The fact of the matter is, 1) any kind of substantial leadership is difficult to develop in < 1 year, and 2) you are competing in the international pool, with candidates who have done some remarkable things on a national or global level. So my response was really focused on keeping expectations realistic. At this point, begin to work on your essays, and make them great, and continue the CS work and leadership activities. Make sure your scores are up to par as well; CS is no walk in the park, and no matter where you apply the committee will want to know that you are capable of handling a rigorous, quant-heavy curriculum. Good luck!

9

@asianfang Appreciate all the help! Thanks!

10

@beepybeetle I emailed Berkeley and based on what they said and using the calculator you told me to use I have a 4.19UC GPA and 4.0 UW GPA. Keep in mind, I am taking every single class at the highest level available except for math, but I am planning on taking the AP Calc BC Exam for senior year. I am also taking AP exams for the courses that are not IB in my school through self-studying next year even though my school only offers IB (shows initiative?).

I’m planning on taking summer courses at UCLA since Berkeley’s program starts before my exams end, where I’ll be taking CS31 or COMPTNG 10A, Math 32A (beyond difficulty of AP and IB math), and Introduction to Political Science (Self-interest for MUN, and to make my courses more well rounded).

  1. Do you think Berkeley and UCLA will appreciate the initiative? I am trying to show universities I am dedicated about computer science and am capable of taking university level courses.
  2. Do you think it is okay for me to take the SAT subject tests for Math II and Bio even though I am applying to EECS Engineering? I have yet to take grade 12 physics and chemistry, so some of the topics will not be covered, and I would need to self-study.