<p>I am an incoming senior in high school. This past year I took an intro to comp sci class in my first semester and realized I highly enjoyed it and wanted to do something engineering or computer science related. Since then I have joined my robotics team, done a part-time summer internship for a software start up in Seattle, I went out for a Microsoft high school internship and got an interview, but did not get the job, etc. I am planning to take AP physics, AP Comp Sci and AP Calc BC in my senior year. I am currently trying to get into web development through learning HTML and also I have taken a couple classes in Java Programming. </p>
<p>I have a GPA of 3.7, a SAT score of 2170 (which I am going to retake), an ACT score of 34, and after this year I will have taken 8 AP classes in total. My best subjects are ALWAYS math and science and they are the ones that interest me the most too. However, in other subjects I am pretty well rounded. My course load has always been fairly rigorous. </p>
<p>My problem is, however, that computer science programs are extremely tough to get into. I feel like everyone has some kind of unique thing they have done or apps they have created, but I am highly inexperienced in this area though since i have learned that I wanted to go into this area, I have tried significantly to learn more and show my passion for colleges. What are some good schools with decent computer science programs? I honestly don't care that much for ranking, but I do recognize that ranking is there for good reason a lot of the time. I doubt I would be able to get into the best programs like UW and Georgia Tech and CMU, so I'm asking for decent colleges that might have comp sci programs that are a match for me? </p>
<p>Yes this was very, very long, but your help is much appreciated! I am currently looking at UW, UT-Austin, Georgia Tech, USC, CalPoly, University of Maryland.</p>
<p>What are your cost constraints and state of residency?</p>
<p>If you are a Washington resident, University of Washington is an obvious choice, but be aware that if you are not direct-admitted to the major as a frosh, it can be extremely competitive to get into the major later after enrolling.</p>
<p>I don’t qualify for need-based financial aid for sure, my family income could be considered very substantial, but it’s still not enough to just be able to dish out thousands for college on a whim. I don’t really have defined cost constraints but my parents definitely want me to look into schools that are more willing to give scholarships. I live in Washington.</p>
<p>Also just FYI: I am a female. I understand that females do have advantages in STEM fields.</p>
<p>Also: I have looked at UC Berkeley but I don’t exactly want to look into UC schools because I feel I would not get in and it is out of my reach and also because UC finances are kind of a mess and I would enjoy graduating within 4 years :).</p>
<ol>
<li><p>If it wasn’t “on a whim”, meaning you did well in HS (which you are), are genuinely interested in CS (which you have demonstrated) would your parents consider an expensive school?</p></li>
<li><p>without scholarships included what are your parents willing to pay per year? You must define the “constraints” before you can make a decision. Also, how much in loans are you and your parents willing to take out? </p></li>
<li><p>If it turns out you can afford them and with your stats I would consider as “possibles but still a reach”:</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Stanford (best return on investment for sure)
MIT
CMU
Caltech
Cornell
UCB</p>
<p>and definitely U. Wash. IF you get admitted into the CS program</p>
<p>Relatively low cost at list price (for out of state):</p>
<p>Minnesota
Stony Brook
NCSU
Cal Poly SLO
Virginia Tech</p>
<p>You may also want to go to the financial aid and scholarships forum and look at the sticky threads at the top for automatic and competitive full tuition to full ride scholarships.</p>
<p>I am currently looking at UW, UT-Austin, Georgia Tech, USC, CalPoly, University of Maryland.</p>
<p>Some/many/all of those schools may not be sources of merit for you since none of those schools have assured merit. </p>
<p>You need to ask your parents how much they’ll pay each year so that you can strategize your list of schools so that you’ll have at least a couple of schools that FOR SURE you know that you have all costs covered.</p>
<p>UCs, UT, GT and some others are hard to get merit from. </p>
<p>So, ask your parents how much they’ll pay, so you’ll know how much merit you should try to get.</p>
<p>UW has a good computer science program. Since you live in Washington, if you can get in, it is probably the best deal.</p>
<p>USC is expensive unless you get aid. My friend’s son got in this year. She looked up the cost for the past several years. She said USC’s cost goes up about 7/8% per year.</p>
<p>CalPoly has a very low 4 year graduation rate, something like 30%. Most UCs have a much better 4 year graduation rate, especially UC Berkeley and UCLA, something like 70/80%. You can look it up in the colleges’ common data set.</p>
<p>As others pointed out, many of the colleges you listed are expensive and might not offer much merit/financial aid.</p>
<p>You have perused CS interests, which is great and will look nice on your app. Most programs will not expect you to have previous experience in CS (my daughter didn’t, but her school didn’t require acceptance specifically to the major). I think your stats are going to be the most important admission criteria. Your ACT score is higher so use that. If you are retaking the SAT, don’t miss the 2 pinned threads with tips in the SAT preparation subforum. Hopefully your gender will give you a tip factor.</p>
<p>You likely know that UWashington only does 20% direct admit to the program. So if you don’t get in, you aren’t assured admission to the program later because it is impacted. But if you get in, there you are with a top program and best cost.</p>
<p>I think CMU is worth a shot. Also they have a lot more women in the CS dept than you will find elsewhere.</p>
<p>If you seek merit aid, then you have to take OOS schools that don’t give OOS merit off the table (maybe except schools like GATech where tuition is pretty good for oos) and look at private schools where you are in the top of the applicant pool. Also, go to the financial aid forum and read the pinned threads on automatic scholarships, qualify for LSU and Universty of Alabama for CS.</p>
<p>You can do searche of the forums for smaller schools for CS. You might get merit at some. Holy Cross comes up a lot but I don’t know it.</p>
<p>Females are very much underrepresented in CS at most colleges. And since you have a good GPA and scores, you will be in a good position for not only admissions but also merit aid at those schools that offer it.
One idea (for merit aid) is to target some STEM-centric schools that are trying hard to attract more women. I’m less familiar with the west coast schools, but back east some likely candidates would be RPI, Case Western, WPI. Do some research on those and others that will be suggested and perhaps add a few to the mix.
CS is offered at lots of schools, so there is a variety of school types to choose from - LACs, state schools, research universities of all sizes, STEM schools…</p>