<p>Before I start applying I thought that I would put together a nice list. Here is what I have so far and here are some stats about me. Also, I would love to hear criticism on the list; I want to know what wrong with it and how to make it better.</p>
<p>Intended major: Computer Science</p>
<p>ACT: 32 (hopefully 33 next time I take it?) 34E 30M 29R 33S
SAT: nope, most midwesterners don't take it
UWGPA: 3.78 (3.9 if you take out freshman year)
Rank: Top 5%
EC's: Involved in a lot of stuff, but it doesn't mean much. Though what is good is that I do a lot of programming on my own. I've put apps on the market. I have a part-time job too.
State: Illinois
AP Classes: 11 by the time of graduation: AP Gov, AP Micro Econ, APUSH, AP Bio, AP Calc AB, AP Lit, AP Lang, AP Calc BC, AP Psychology, AP Macro Econ, AP Computer Science</p>
<p>Strengths: Rank, Rigorous Schedule, Passion in Major, Part-time Job, Sophomore and Junior Grades (All A's except one B in AP Lit and one B in AP Calc AB(but I brought it up to an A the next semester)).
Weaknesses: Math Subscore in ACT (30), Freshman grades(only C in Honors Geometry)</p>
<p>Reaches</p>
<p>Northwestern
U of Chicago
UIUC
Carnegie Mellon</p>
<p>Matches</p>
<p>Saint Louis University
Purdue
U of Wisconsin
Marquette
University of Illinois in Chicago
Ohio State</p>
<p>Safeties</p>
<p>Illinois Institute of Technology
Bradley
NIU
Elmhurst College (free app)</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Your list looks good</p>
<p>Your safeties consist of some pricey privates. Have your parents agreed to pay all these costs? If not, then those aren’t safeties. A safety must be affordable. However, if your parents will pay, then fine. :)</p>
<p>UIUC would have been a match but for computer science, its a high match.
Purdue is a safety.
IIT is also free to apply.
UI-C is safety.
Ohio State is a low match.</p>
<p>Isn’t CS at UIUC in LAS? If so, I would think that UIU isn’t so much of a reach with your stats.</p>
<p>CS is both engineering and LAS</p>
<p>There’s one degree in CS in the engineering department, which is very widely known.
There are two degrees in LAS
—> Math and CS
---->Stats and CS</p>
<p>I’ve heard mixed opinions on the LAS degree and have yet learn if it is better than a CS degrees at other schools like Purdue.
Also, when applying to engineering CS, the LAS CS is given as an alternative for those that don’t make it into the engineering department.</p>
<p>I graduated from UIUC 25 years ago, so I didn’t remember the distinction. AN engineering focus would likely be better, but I still think that your stats are pretty competitive for Engineering too.</p>
<p>Did you look into Case Western?</p>
<p>Yea, the LAS Computer Science degrees are pretty new…6 years old I think?</p>
<p>And actually, up until reading your post BeanTownGirl, I have not looked into Case Western. However, I just did a search to refresh my memory on them and they do look very good to my interests. Thanks.</p>
<p>Oh and @mom2, I actually forgot to put it into my list, but I will apply to University of Alabama where I would be given a full scholarship + $2500 for certain stats. It’s a good school too and the full scholarship is given automatically for those certain stats so I can count it as a pure safety. (sorry, should have included that)</p>
<p>Elmhurst’s CS offerings seem to be lacking some typical ones like compilers and databases, and seems to be light on algorithms. Not sure why it is worth bothering with when you have better schools for CS among your safeties (e.g. Alabama with the automatic scholarship).</p>
<p>Do you have cost constraints, and have you checked the net price calculators at each school? If the net price calculator indicates unaffordability on need-based financial aid, you would have to evaluate reach/match/safety based on a large-enough merit scholarship, not merely admission.</p>
<p>At UIUC, the LAS major math+CS still has substantial CS course content; compared to the engineering CS major, it has some additional advanced math requirements but fewer physics requirements and slightly fewer CS requirements. It does appear to have enough free elective space to add additional CS courses so that you should be able to add back the CS courses that the LAS major does not have. Check the curricula for the two majors and see if you can construct a desirable course selection with either major.</p>