<p>It wasn't my first choice, but I'm actually pretty SHOCKED at being waitlisted. Of all the schools I applied to, I was aiming for the ivies like Upenn (didnt get in) and I thought CMU was a pretty good choice - a match school that could almost be a safe match. My college results were disappointing - but I understand that the Ivies are a reach for anyone. However, I was accepted into several programs/schools that I think are more difficult to get into than CMU/Tepper/SCS: NYU - Stern, UNC Chapel Hill out of state, University of Michigan - Ross, and Northwestern. In spite of getting into these I got waitlisted from here. I'm just shocked...and here are my stats. Tell me if you think I DESERVE to be waitlisted and I'm just being arrogant (probably the case :P) or let me know if you're surprised as well! :)</p>
<p>Stats:
SAT: 1500 old (770V,730M) + 800 writing = 2300, 2180 new (720M,720W,740V)
SAT IIs: 800 math 2c, 800 writing, 740 bio
GPA: 3.9ish i think
Rank: school doesnt rank
Other stats: 5 on AP Comp Sci and AP English tests, decent extracurriculars, national merit finalist, volunteer work, etc.</p>
<p>Subjective:
Essays: good essays about my culture and my passion for business and computer science as well.
Teacher Recs: i think my english teacher's rec was great, and I got a rec from an AP computer science teacher which was also probably good.
Counselor Rec: Should have been good, my counselor likes me
Hook (if any): no hook, good scores?</p>
<p>Location/Person:
State or Country: NJ
School Type: public
Ethnicity: asian-indian
Gender: F</p>
<p>SCS and Tepper are definitely harder to get into than the other schools you got accepted to. Their acceptance rates are around 20%. Your scores and grades aren't outstanding for an SCS applicant. I know people who were waitlisted (and got in) with significantly better stats (for instance, I know a kid who got waitlisted to SCS with 15 5's on AP exams and 1550 on the SAT). I'm not surprised.</p>
<p>Yes, I think that you should have been admitted to Tepper. Their median SATs (M and V) were about 1360. Thus, I don't know why you weren't accepted. It could be that they didn't like your essay. It could be that you didn't have the ECs that they wanted. Maybe if you were a girl or a minority, it would have helped. Who knows? Schools like CMU , IVYs, MIT etc. are a crap shoot for everyone.</p>
<p>Do a search on the parent's forum for a guy named andison. He applied last year to six top college with a 1550 SAT (old), 3,8 something GPA in all top notch courses. He got rejected everywhere and decided to take a gap year. This year he reapplied and redid his essays. He got admitted to MIT and got a full ride to Brandeis. As I said, you can't take it personally.</p>
<p>Besides, I was not impressed with the few admission's people that I met at CMU.</p>
<p>Wow, I didn't know it was that selective, but thanks guys. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, but I was anyway. </p>
<p>Taxguy: I am an indian and a female, so I am a minority (kind of). My first choice at CMU was tepper, and I just feel like I should have gotten in. SCS was not my first choice and I know it's really hard to get in, so I'm not surprised. Just a little surprised for Tepper.</p>