The majority of the majors at SDSU start off as Pre-majors. The GPA requirement varies to declare after completing the required courses. For CS and ME, a 2.0 GPA is required in the Major prep classes.
WashU and Vanderbilt are excellent for Stem! They are likely still reaches for your student, as is Rice, but the size/fit /etc would likely be a lot closer to the Rice feel. Why not go for Rice ED if thatâs the dream? But definitely consider these other two schools. Love the other reaches on Austenutâs list too, but not sure how many reaches he needs, and many of them would be harder to get admitted ti than Rice. WashU/Vandy will be similar.
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3.5 college GPA is generally significantly harder to earn than a 3.5 high school GPA. Also, this is just the minimum to apply into the competitive admission process to CS.
While math of computation as a backup needs only a 2.5 to enter, it is mostly math with a little CS that is likely to be mostly theory. Students who want to take more other CS courses may have difficulty getting into them.
If math of computation does become more popular, expect the GPA threshold to be raised.
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Iâll second Utah. Our son is a Cal Poly alum (BS/MS ME), but he almost chose Utah. Thereâs lots to like there.
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UCSC doesnât have MechE. The closest major is a robotics BS that is not ABET accredited. I donât think it fits his location preference either if he wants to be in a big city.
I would suggest UMN Twin Cities. Excellent university, urban setting, good merit scholarships, flexibility in choice of major (including access to the CS major), very easy travel from the bay area. Apply early and get an admissions decision early in the season.
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It does have secondary admission to major for CS and engineering majors, although 3.2 college GPA is automatic admission.
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Secondary admission, with a relatively low bar to admission, is not a bad thing for a student that hasnât made up their mind yet about what major they want to pursue.
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Thanks for the info. We are looking into the CS+X at UIUC and if we go the CS route we will most likely go with the CS+X path.
Need to research if they would let you change from Mech E to CS+X and what that would require.
A 2.0 GPA is much more easier that the 3.X required by many majors. Thanks.
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I agree Wash U and Vanderbilt would be reaches and not sure he would like their location as much also as Houston or Boston. The reason for not considering Rice for ED is because we want to maximize our chances with ED if we go that route and even with ED I dont think Rice would be possible. This is one more reason we did not consider some of the reaches in Austennets list like Duke and others.
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Thanks will add UMN to the list. Multiple people have suggested UMN.
In regards to UC Santa cruz you are correct on Mech E I knew we would have to look at robotics but did not realize it was not ABET accredited. In regards to Santa cruz location I agree itâs not a city and it will be a compromise if he chooses here.
I disagree.
You ED if and only if you have a favorite.
While your son is unlikely for Rice, if itâs his true dream and youâre willing to cover the bill, itâs the only place you should ED.
Why ED somewhere else and then - what if you get into Rice?
Given your list, you neednât ED at all - especially if you ultimately decide to chase merit.
But this is the exact/perfect reason to ED. But make no mistake, ED does not mean acceptance and too many think itâs wasted if theyâre not. I say - if it gets you a leg up on your dream, why wouldnât you ED. Your son is solid academically with nice rigor and great ECs. Rice also likes demonstrated interest.
I donât see how you couldnât use ED thereâŠplus the admit rate is higher although likely thatâs in part due to athletes, etc.
Obviously your decision - but to me, you and Rice/ED are a no brainer assuming youâre good all in financially. If he can move up the SAT a bit, thatâd be helpful too - but at 1500, itâs still worth submitting.
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This is a pet peeve, but itâs he and his, not we and our, unless youâre all attending with him. 
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Think of UMN as your choice to substitute for your kids U Wisconsin choice - solid big 10 school (and in a bigger city) but most importantly - lots of flights home!!! Thatâs for mom and dad!!!
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- CS: cannot change into major
- Math & CS or Statistics & CS: competitive admission, 3.67 GPA minimum with A- or better in CS courses.
- CS + X: competitive admission, 3.50 GPA minimum with B+ or better in CS courses.
The various X for CS + X are listed at CS + X Degree Programs | Computer Science | UIUC . Economics but not political science is listed as a possible X.
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You are correct :).
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I think your plan makes sense, as it seems you have determined Rice is not a reasonable reach. Our school advising has been known to describe schools as Ridiculous Reaches or Reasonable Reaches(depends on many factors, and we have the advantage of getting fairly detailed predictions, in addition to a good Naviance dataset). I would have strongly discouraged mine from applying ED to a ridiculous reach, and their school counselors do encourage applying to a 2nd choice ED if it is a more reasonable reach. D21âs # 1 was ED to a Reasonable reach(deferred then accepted and attends). D23 didnt have a number one favorite , but her top2 had restrictive-EA only and her next group tied-for 3rd, two had ED one had EA. Didnât want to ED to a 3rd choice. Even the restrictive EAs were Reasonable Reaches for her. She has no regrets(though that is because a tied-for3 let her in RD and into a special program she thought she didnt have a chance at getting). So I think it all works out for the most part, and if he wants to ED to a school that is close to his favorite and is a more reasonable reach than Rice, I think he should do it, provided he knows himself well enough to have no regrets.
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Yes our goal is to ED only if he really likes a college which he feels he will have no regret about other colleges.
He is also at a stage where he is still researching colleges and may still change his mind before we apply. So will wait and see how things go. Thanks for sharing the example of your kids and how you choose to Ed or not.
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The important take home is that he doesnât have to apply ED anywhere.
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Exactly. Donât feel compelled to ED somewhere just because many great schools offer that option. We almost EDed to Mudd but backed off because we didnât want to be in a position where we had to renege on it or let go of a great UC admit. In hindsight, it was right thing to do.
Unless itâs the absolute dream school donât do it. Also, kids will go gaga for a school during the applications and then sing a completely different tune when actually committing. So donât put too much stock in it too early.
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