Given my profile, COE or LSA?

<p>I'm a prospective student looking to major in computer science, which is offered by both COE and LSA. Not sure which I should apply to; I understand the differences in the actual CS programs are pretty minute, though. My concern is that for COE my math-related scores might not cut it (720 M SAT, 760 MII, 3 on the Calc AB test). Given that COE looks more closely at those scores, do you think I'm better off going with LSA, especially given that it's late in the application process? Also, is it difficult to transfer when there, if I decide I prefer one program or the other?</p>

<p>Here's a closer look at my application:</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (by section): 2180 superscore (720 M, 740 CR, 720 W)
[</em>] SAT IIs: 760 MII, 730 Physics
[<em>] APs: AP U.S. History (5), AP Eng. Lang. (5), AP CS (4), AP Human Geography (4), AP Calculus AB (3); currently in five more
[</em>] GPA (UW, W): 3.9639 UW through junior year, not sure of W
[<em>] Rank: 14/395
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[</em>] ECs listed on app: Lacrosse (4x varsity, 3x captain, various awards), volunteering at a local organization, co-founder and President of CS Club, won a programming competition, other less important stuff
[<em>] Job/Work Experience: Internship in the CS department at a local university
[</em>] Teacher Recs: Probably not exceptional, but certainly good
[<em>] Counselor Rec: Presumably very strong
[</em>] Hook (if any): May or may not be considered first-generation
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[<em>] State or Country: WA
[</em>] School Type: Public, ~1600 students
[<em>] Ethnicity: White
[</em>] Gender: Male
[/ul]</p>

<p>Sounds like you’re a better fit for LSA. CoE is generally considered more difficult to get accepted to. They put more emphasis on math and science scores, and as you’ve pointed out, yours are not overly impressive (although not bad either). You seem like a solid, well rounded applicant, which LSA likes.</p>

<p>Absolutely LSA for admission chances. If you find that you REALLY don’t want to do a language, and wouldn’t mind trading it for some Chemistry and Physics, you can transfer to CoE.</p>

<p>Just to clarify, the CS program for LS&A just had a major change to curriculum and requirements this year. The programs are now quite different. </p>

<p>ENGR: <a href=“Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan”>Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan;
LS&A: <a href=“http://cs.lsa.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/cs_lsa_guide_fall12.pdf[/url]”>http://cs.lsa.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/cs_lsa_guide_fall12.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Interesting. I wonder if Dorf had a hand in adding the preconcentration reqs for LSA, because I don’t see that in the ENGR one yet.</p>

<p>Kron, what is the difference between the 2 programs, ie what were the major changes?</p>

<p>That was an interesting read, Kron… it makes CS-Engr look favorable, but I may have misinterpreted the information. It looks to me like they’ve halved the number of hours required in CS-related courses for LSA. If that’s so, would I be able to fill those empty hours with more CS courses, or would they more likely be filled by general LSA courses?</p>

<p>Exactly what are my odds looking like for COE, anyways?</p>

<p>I checked my application, I was accepted to EECS from OOS(CA). My stats are not that different from yours, I have higher SAT but similar or lower SAT subject tests. I have very average ECs. I’m interested in Ross as well as engineering so Michigan is one of my top choices. I also received free application by applying to Dearborn. There was no way I would have applied to LSA to increase my chance(I rather stay in state) but I was surprised I was admitted.</p>

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<p>This late (application closes in a few days), it’s possible you’d get in but your chances aren’t great. You’d probably get into LSA but CoE is really a toss-up. Your chances probably are better if that was a really legit internship rather than what I’m imagining it was.</p>

<p>It was fairly legit, albeit short; I co-developed (coded + bug-tested) some educational and scientific crowd-sourcing games. Named cited in credits of one or two of them. It was not, however, a 40-hour workweek. </p>

<p>Well, after mediating with parents and thinking a lot about it myself, I’ve decided to go for COE. If I were extremely bent on getting into UMich I may have gone with LSA, but I’ve decided to accept the odds. Thanks to everyone in this thread for helping me come to the decision.</p>

<p>Your chances are pretty good either way. Good luck and go blue!</p>