Finalizing a college list for student in top 10% of class,
3.95 gpa unweighted, 4.1 gpa weighted,
total of 7 APs, STEM classes,
SAT probably around 1400s,
community volunteer work in the areas of mental health and social justice,
California resident, but also interested in East Coast, especially Northeast,
prefer smaller class sizes and access to professors/research,
good connections for internships in computer science,
prefer collaborative versus competitive atmosphere,
not into partying, but like to have fun with friends, gaming and outdoors
applying to UCs, but also other state schools and private
needing reach, safety, but especially TARGET schools
What are your 3 UC GPA’s? GPA Calculator for the University of California – RogerHub
What is your local CSU which might be a Safety? https://www.calstate.edu/apply/freshman/Documents/CSULocalAdmission-ServiceAreas.pdf
Other than UC’s, what other schools are you applying to determine which are Reach, Target or Safety schools? Are you looking for more Target schools?
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Unlimited budget?
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Are you the student’s parent?
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For this type of experience, look into purely undergraduate-focused colleges such as Hamilton. This brief article describes the type of research opportunities you may encounter:
This Princeton Review article offers context with respect to classroom experience: https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings?rankings=great-classroom-experience.
Based on what you have posted, Hamilton might represent a realistic reach for you.
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So assuming a .5 weighting for honors and 1 for AP your weighted gpa doesn’t match your UW. It’s too low.
No budget is given but your home run for merit is Arizona…close, Honors college for some small classes and yearly expense all in of $20k or so.
Small classes you want to look at LACs or focus schools such as Rose Hulman. I imagine a LAC or other small school such as Case Western or RPI is the answer but I’d find small schools and email the depts to ask. Schools like Occidental and U of Pacific out West to WPI and pick your 2nd tier LAC in the Northeast…like Union as an example.
Good luck
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There are many different ways that US HSs weight classes. I don’t know which is the most common, but since there are likely hundreds of different ways, best not to assume. The unweighted GPA is what we need to know, and as long as what OP gave us for that reflects core courses only that’s all we need to know.
OP what is your budget? Are LACs of interest?
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looking for target and safety schools
would be great to get some merit/financial assistance but we are flexible on that.
LACs are of interest, because so far we have mostly large in-state schools or dream schools on the list!
Without listing the schools you are considering, it is difficult to give recommendations. Also, what are you considering your Reach, Target and Safety schools that are already on the list?
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If smaller class sizes and access to professors and research remain top priorities, then LACs with strong CS programs may represent dream destinations.
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thank you for the info, do you happen to know how important it is to apply to the UArizona Honors College within the Early Action deadline, or are the chances for admission to the Honors College fairly good via the Regular Admissions deadline?
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Probably best to apply by November 15. You still have time.
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My daughter decided late. They have their priority deadline but she fit in Honirs months later. If you have $80 to burn it’s a 30 min app. Auto merit. There’s other great merit schools too. Asu. Bama. UAH. Missouri Science and Tech. Arkansas. Mississippi State. They all will show you your aid pkg.
U may not hit your geographies but you could get a great deal.
You want the Northeast. Less merit but schools like umass. Delaware. Uvm. Rochester. Pitt is a bit smaller.
U can find parties anywhere but at a big school you can find your group too
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Based on your OP what about an LAC that is strong in STEM and particularly Computer Science? It seems to check off some of the boxes you are looking for. Especially the part of small class sizes access to professors and research.
In the larger schools priority for research goes to grad students and there should be more opportunity at an LAC for research for an undergrad. There are certainly a number of LACs in the Northeast that fit this criteria.
One school that comes to mind is Lafayette. This should easily be a match and may be a safety. It does really emphasize a collaborative environment, small class sizes and is an LAC with strong STEM programs. Good luck!
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Skidmore and Denison have expanded their science offerings.
Math is a strength at St Olaf and their CS, like STEM in general, is solid.
All 3 would be matches but run the NPC.
Seconding Lafayette.
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