Hi all, I’m currently a high school sophomore looking to improve my chances at SCS (thinking of applying ED in my senior year). I may try to get recruited for cross country, but I am not sure. Currently I attend a competitive (not ranked) high school and do well academically with a challenging STEM-focused curriculum, and I’m good with test taking. I’d rather not post all my stats here since I don’t want to focus on them, but the three tests I’ve taken (SAT I, ACT, SAT Math II) are within the admitted student range at SCS and I have solid AP scores. (I can probably make NMSF in junior year, but that’s not a very impressive accomplishment.)
My ECs/awards are not particularly impressive, so those are the main things I’m worried about. I do know I’m interested in CS, so I’ll be participating in USACO and competitions for mobile app development and robotics. I’m currently looking for research/internship opportunities over the summer (applied to a few but have yet to hear back, will likely be doing the same next year). I’ll also be working on improving my cross country times. It’s mostly just something I enjoy, but I guess it could help for recruitment if I decide to go that route.
I have a pretty unique EC that’s not related to my intended major as well, though I don’t want to say too much about it on CC. All I’ll say is that it’s one of the things that wows most people since most people don’t do it because it’s too hard/time-consuming/difficult to stick to, but I don’t know how much CMU would care about an activity like it, especially considering that it’s non-STEM. I’m definitely going to continue pursuing it whether it substantially affects my chances or not, though.
Does this sound like a good plan, and what else would you recommend to improve my chances? And could you share any good opportunities you know of for females in CS other than NCWIT and WTP?
@h2omolecule Take AMC 10 math exam and AMC 12 math exam. This could qualify you for AIME.
https://www.maa.org/math-competitions/amc-1012
Give CMU your github link.
National Merit is announced in your 12 th grade year, state by state. You must take the PSAT in the fall of your 11th grade year, and score well compared to your other peers in your state. Maryland and NJ is the hardest states to win most years.
National Merit will get you eligible for scholarships at schools like Case Western Reserve U and RPI. consider those schools too.
Agree w/ above - math basis is really good for CS and can help push you up.
CMU CS has a program called Women at SCS (https://www.women.cs.cmu.edu/test-site/). Take a look through the website - dunno how much it’ll help, but won’t hurt.
And yeah, upload your code to Github and try to get it out there. Having a wide reach can’t hurt.
For ECs, I was kinda in the same place - my strongest were sports and debate as compared to anything STEM related. But I’m headed to SCS in the fall, so I must have done something right hehe.
to me, ED is the best way of improving your chances, all other things being equal and assuming you have good stats. I know at least 2 kids in the last 4 years who made it in to CMU SCS thru ED whose stats definitely wouldn’t have made it for Berkeley EECS, maybe not even Berkeley L&S, but managed to get into CMU.