Improve Acceptance

Colleges & Universities A-Z Carnegie Mellon University
1

<p>I am currently a high school junior. I would like to apply to CMU CIT for electrical and computer engineering next year, through early decision. I was wondering what things I should focus on improving. Thank you for your responses!</p>

<p>SAT Scores - I will definitely be taking these again, at least once.
Math: 700
Reading: 620
English: 580</p>

<p>I will be taking the Chemistry and Math 1 subject tests later this year.</p>

<p>AP Classes currently enrolled in:
AP Chemistry, AP Calculus AB, AP English Lang</p>

<p>GPA
Unweighted combined: 4.0 </p>

<p>Ranked 1/245</p>

<p>I haven't done any sports in high school. Is this something that CMU looks for?</p>

<p>I am involved in the tech crew as stage manager, key club as treasurer, show choir, marching band, concert band, and chorus.</p>

<p>I do a lot of community service through my church and through school.</p>

<p>Is there any area that you would suggest me to improve in order to increase my chances?</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>I know little about CMU. But it never hurts to improve your SAT scores. Some of that will just happen naturally by learning more in school. I think the CollegeBoard “question of the day” is a neat thing too. You sign up for one question to be sent to your email each day.</p>

3

<p>Not sure if it’s changed, but I’m pretty sure CMU required the Math IIc test off of the SAT II and not Math Ic.</p>

4

<p>The things you should work on is Math II, try the ACT’s and work hard on your essay’s. BTW Math I = :frowning: at CMU. Beastly rank and EC’s though.</p>

5

<p>Ok, thank you for your responses. I will take the math 2 test instead of math 1. </p>

<p>Does taking both the SATs and ACTs look better than just one or the other?</p>

<p>I am also planning on doing the ap/ea program which I hear helps a lot.</p>

6

<p>Does taking both the SATs and ACTs look better than just one or the other?</p>

<p>Well you never know which test is better suited for you unless you take both. Here is a conversion chart that compares the SAT and ACT.
[SAT-ACT</a> Conversion chart](<a href=“http://spart6.org/dhs/Guidance%20website/SAT-ACT%20Conversion%20chart.html]SAT-ACT”>http://spart6.org/dhs/Guidance%20website/SAT-ACT%20Conversion%20chart.html)</p>

7

<p>You can just take SAT or just take ACT - you might want to try the ACT many people score higher on one test or the other. Since your SAT scores are a bit low, I think you should try taking the ACT. I think the writing prompts on the ACT are much easier and more straightforward. You might also get a bump from the science section (which is really just reading graphs). Your scores are an obvious place to improve.</p>

<p>No sports is not a problem. My son didn’t do sports either. </p>

<p>I’m a bit surprised not to see an EC or summer activity related to your interests, but your plate looks pretty full already. My son (in SCS) did Science Olympiad and Math Team and had jobs programming computers for example.</p>