<p>I'm considering applying to Cornell ED School of Engineering. To get to the point, does it really help being a girl and wanting to major in computer science? I have heard both answers.(yes/no)
Should I try and shoot for a 2200+ on the SAT?
Would a 730 in BIO SAT II suffice? I know it's a good score, and since I'm not majoring in Biology I was thinking that the score shouldn't matter too much.
Also, since some of you are probably attenting the Engineering school, I was wondering what you guys did for extra curriculars relating to computers? I have been having a hard time finding volunteering/ECs related to computer science. I know web design is a computer related EC, but I can't think of anything else?
As for the USACO.. my school is soo small that I never heard of it until I joined up with CC, so I don't think there'd be a point in trying my senior year? (this year will be my junior year, but I don't think I am prepared enough for the USACO anyways).
Any help would be appreciated. =]</p>
<p>Being a girl will definitely help you to get in, especially at cornell where I believe girls only make up 30% of the college. I think in any subject a sat score of 700 or above won't hurt you. You should always try to do your best on the sats though... you never know what will happen with college admission, so you should try hard to maximize your chance.</p>
<p>the acceptance rates for men and women don't give any distince advantage to women.</p>
<p>ok, thanks gomestar. =]
123orange: yeah I hear that it helps, and I hear that it doesn't. I don't know what to believe. O_O. I'd be too afraid to ask admission officers anyways.</p>
<p>bump 10char</p>
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As for the USACO.. my school is soo small that I never heard of it until I joined up with CC, so I don't think there'd be a point in trying my senior year? (this year will be my junior year, but I don't think I am prepared enough for the USACO anyways).
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<p>They have contests before apps are due, so I guess that could help a little. And there's also TopCoder, which has contests more frequently, and they happen during the whole year, so maybe you can get started with that.</p>
<p>But about doing well in USACO as a senior - it's definitely possible. But you'll have to work really hard to make the camp, because they only pick seniors who have a good chance of making the team to go to the camp. So if you want to do that, you should probably start the training pages now, and try to finish before October. But I know someone who was able to do that, but he later decided not to go to the camp. And there was someone who had never heard of USACO until like a week before the final contest or something, and he ended up making the team that year. So yea, you should still try even if you're going to be a senior.</p>
<p>girls always have an advantage when they are applying to an engineering school.</p>
<p>they home come they're not admitted at a higher % than the men?</p>
<p>Thanks shravas! I'll try to start doing the exercises asap. Do you by any chance know what happens after the exercises? you take the test right or something similar?
hinmanCEO- haha. Well, I'm not trying to sound and neither would I want to be accepted based on my gender. I think that it's given a negative aspect to many people and is a cause of much controversy, but asking I guess can't hurt.</p>
<p>Well, the training pages are just there to train you, so technically you don't have to do any of them to still participate, but unless you've done something outside, it'll be hard to do anything without them. And then they start doing the contests in October, and every month after that until April. The October one just places you into which division you'll do the other contests in though (Gold, Silver, and Bronze). You can move up and down divisions later, but I think it's kind of hard to do that.</p>
<p>Shravas:
Sorry to bother you with so many questions, but another quick/last one.
Does my school have to register or have to be involved in the USACO if I participate or is it more independent, so I can just register and do contests..etc, without having to worry about my school stating if they want to do this/that for the USACO?
Thank You,
Vera</p>
<p>Yea, you don't need any involvement with your school. The only thing you need besides a computer is a proctor for the April contest, but that can be anyone (I've used my dad).</p>