Help me find match schools

Parent Cafe
1

<p>I am looking for schools that will be a match for me. The schools on my current list seems to be too competitive for me, and I need to apply to some lower-tier schools. I am interested in engineering and computer science programs.</p>

<p>Can you please name some for me? I don't really care about geography, so name any.</p>

<p>I have applied so far to:
-Stanford (EA)
-Caltech
-Carnegie Mellon
-Georgiatech
-UPenn (Jerome Fisher M&T)
-Brandeis
-Northwestern
-Columbia
-WashU
-UMichigan</p>

<p>Can you please also classify these fore me?</p>

<p>Here is my resume:</p>

<p>Tests:
SAT I: Verbal: 730 Math: 800 Writing: 790
SAT II: Physics 800 Math IIC: 800
ACT: English: 35 Reading: 32 Math: 35 Science: 36 Writing(essay): 31(8) Cumulative: 35</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: about 3.5
Weighted GPA: not quite sure, probably around 4.1
unranked HS</p>

<p>Extracurricular:</p>

<p>Marching Band
Math Team - Captain
Science Olympiad
Drama Club
Film Society
Volunteered at local Jewish Community Center drama program
conducted research at Columbia's astrophysics lab this entire past summer(anticlimactic, did not submit paper anywhere. does the experience still look good?)
Built website for multi-school district anti-drug coalition
Built website for school's counseling department
Ham Radio Technician Class License
Former Moderator of Larger (10,000+ members) computer forum
invented and distributed new ring tone (commended by New York State & covered heavily in the press)
Taught myself guitar and music theory
Contestant on winning team on "The Long Island Challenge" TV Trivia program (had to qualify)
Ran a company for tech support and computer construction in 8th and 9th grade
Design commercial websites</p>

<p>Awards and Recognitions:
5th Place individual - Nassau Math Tournament - County
10th Place team - Nassau Math Tournament - County
National Merit Semifinalist</p>

<p>I attended a private school for the gifted that had an IQ requirement for grades 5 through 8, at which I took high school classes beginning in 6th grade. My grades in high-school level classes (on a separate transcript sent to colleges) were all 4.0.</p>

<p>I skipped my sophomore year of high school.</p>

<p>Classes:
Freshman:
Precalc Research Honors (honors + 4 independent projects)
AP Physics B
Global II H
English H
Spanish H
Writing Enrichment</p>

<p>Junior:
AP Calc BC
AP Physics C
US H
English H
Spanish H
Natural Science Research Seminar
Health</p>

<p>Senior:
Multivariate Calculus
AP Chemistry
AP Government
AP Economics
AP Biology
English H
Spanish H
Independent Science Research</p>

<p>My situation concerning my GPA is a little bit weird. After 8th grade, I switched into public school and got terrible grades, a 3.2. After that year, I was skipped ahead to 11th grade. In eleventh grade, I got better grades. My public school will not integrate my 4.0 GPA from 8th grade (which was all high school classes) and earlier into my cumulative GPA.</p>

<p>The principal of my school has included a personal recommendation for me that explains my situation and how to view the other school's grades.</p>

<p>Thank you so much for your help!</p>

2

<p>You should get into several of these. I wouldn’t sweat any more matches but would add Cornell to your list and wonder why Brandeis for computer science and engineering.</p>

3

<p>I just added Brandeis because my counselor wanted a safety that would at least make me feel better. I do, however, want some with better programs in my areas of interest.</p>

4

<p>Did you consider RSI or WPI or Olin? Your stats seem strong, but better to cast a wide net.</p>

5

<p>If you want a safety, which I honestly don’t think you will need, because Georgia Tech already is your safety based on your stats shoot an application over to Case Western Reserve or UT-Austin.</p>

6

<p>Univ of Southern California USC for engineering and comp sci is a good match</p>

<p>Perhaps Case Western is worth a look as well</p>

<p>Others that come to mind
Purdue
Olin
Univ of Washington</p>

7

<p>I visited Olin, and I think it was way too competitive and small. bookworm, did you mean RPI? What’s RSI?<br>
Cornell sounds like a good option. I know some 8 billion people there. </p>

<p>I will look into the rest as well. </p>

<p>Thanks for your help so far.</p>

8

<p>I second the suggestion of USC. If you apply before DEC 10, as a National Merit semi finalist you will get 1/2 tuition scholarship!</p>

9

<p>My son had similar interests and had RPI and WPI (Worcester) as his safeties. They both have some very nice programs, though they aren’t in the prettiest cities! Did you look at MIT? I think you have a shot there too. I agree that Brandeis seems like a weird safety for your interests.</p>

10

<p>GTech, as I think someone said, is definitely a safety for you. As long as you’re comfortable with ending up at GTech, I don’t think you really need to apply anywhere else that you’re not genuinely interested in. With your stats, you’ll likely end up getting in to quite a few schools on your current list.</p>

11

<p>I will apply to MIT if I can figure out an essay topic for it. I have a great common app essay, but I can’t use it.</p>

12

<p>A safety with a great little engineering program is Santa Clara…the Jesuit education will offer you a well-rounded experience and it’s ranked #2 in the west for Master’s Universities by USNWR.</p>

13

<p>So, as it stands now:</p>

<p>Sent apps to:
-Stanford (EA)
-Caltech
-Carnegie Mellon
-Brandeis
-Columbia
-Columbia
-WashU</p>

<p>Will apply to:
-Georgiatech
-UPenn (Jerome Fisher M&T)
-Northwestern
-UMichigan
-Cornell (almost done)
-USC</p>

14

<p>Don’t miss the Dec 10 deadline for USC in order to be eligible for scholarship consideration.</p>

15

<p>It seems like maybe I shouldn’t apply to USC. I already have GATech, which is far superior in academics, as a safety, so USC seems unnecessary.</p>

16

<p>d4 - Did you apply to GTech before the October 31 deadline for the President Scholarships? If so have you heard from them yet? D applied there, although her stats aren’t quite as high as yours.</p>

17

<p>No, I didn’t apply there yet.</p>

18

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</p>

<p>I thought you said you had already applied to the above mentioned schools. If not, you’d better hustle. Are you waiting to hear from Stanford?</p>

19

<p>See my last post:</p>

<p>

</p>

20

<p>Sorry, you see the conflict in your own posting.</p>