Looking at QuestBridge

Paying for College Access Programs (Questbridge, Posse)
1

<p>But I'm not sure if I'm a strong applicant. </p>

<p>My family's situation:
Disabled mother, father working part time at Home Depot. Two younger siblings, plus two cousins and an aunt living with us. Coming from an automotive town, with many people out of a job.</p>

<p>My educational/extracurricular activities are as follows:
Objective:</p>

<p>ACT:
Composite: 29
English: 34
Math: 25
Reading: 28
Science: 27
Writing: 10</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.73</p>

<p>Course Load:</p>

<p>Format Class: Grade (AP Score) </p>

<p>Freshmen Year
Computer Programming Languages: A
Geometry: A
American History: A
Biology: A
Japanese 1: A
Performing Arts: A</p>

<p>Sophomore Year
Choir: A
AP World History: B+ (3)
AP Language and Composition: A- (3)
Algebra II/Pre-Calculus: A
Chemistry: A
Japanese 2: A</p>

<p>Junior Year
Physics: B+/A-
AP Calculus: B
AP Government B+ (4)
AP Literature and Composition: A- (3)
Computer Programming/Independent Study: A
Computer Programming Languages: A</p>

<p>Senior Year (planned)
Dual Enrollment:
Calculus II
Physics 110
English 102
CS 150
History 101
At School:
Computer Programming/Independent Study</p>

<p>Taken AP Computer Science Exam, received a 4</p>

<p>Total AP classes: 5</p>

<p>Subjective:
Extracurriculars: Varsity Football, Drama Club (Secretary Sophomore Year), National Honor Society President, Microsoft Student Insider (New Pilot Program, one of six students in the country)
Volunteer/Community Service: Tutoring, S.O.N.S. Outreach Talented Tenth Initiative
Summer Activities: Internships with local companies, blogging
Competitions: 2010 Imagine Cup, entering the 2011 competition
Awards and Honors: Student of the Month, received interview in local newspaper about Microsoft Student Insiders, blog post featured on the Computer Science Teachers Association website.</p>

<p>Other
Tested out of my Health and Economics classes.
State (if domestic applicant): Michigan
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Attended Camp CAEN at U of M back in 8th Grade.</p>

<p>Sorry if this is a bit much. Trying to wrap my head around this program</p>

2

<p>Your ACT is low but besides that you’re a strong applicant. I don’t think you’ll have time to retake it before you apply. But go for it anyways, you never know.</p>

3

<p>I actually signed up last night to retake it on Sept. 11th. I did take it again in June this year, but scored a 28. Hoping to break the 30 barrier. I’m looking at Computer Science/Computer Engineering as a major. Which schools should I choose in QuestBridge?</p>

4

<p>You don’t mention anything about taking SAT subject tests. Have you taken them? Check out the QB schools’ testing requirements here: [QuestBridge</a> College Match Program - Required Standardized Tests](<a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/students/required_tests.html]QuestBridge”>http://www.questbridge.org/students/required_tests.html)</p>

<p>There are quite a few schools that will accept the ACT with writing in lieu of the SAT and SAT subject tests, but there are some that want SAT subject test scores. In particular MIT comes to mind, given your interest in Computer Science/Computer Engineering. If it were me I’d first concentrate on studying for the ACT to get that score up. Then I’d check out the practice tests at [SAT</a> Subject Tests - Practice SAT Questions](<a href=“http://sat.collegeboard.com/practice/sat-subject-test-preparation]SAT”>http://sat.collegeboard.com/practice/sat-subject-test-preparation) to see what I felt best prepared for. Given your focus on the ACT at this point, you might want to take SAT subject tests in time for Regular Decision, rather than trying to take them in October in time for the College Match round. </p>

<p>However, you may feel you just want to stick to schools that don’t require subject tests. That would be very reasonable given the time ECs, schoolwork and applications take. Adding subject test studying on top of that could be tough. Taking the practice tests and deciding how badly you want (or don’t want) some of the schools would help you decide if its worth the effort.</p>

<p>If you stick with just the ACT and no subject tests, I’d apply to Brown, Pomona, Rice, and Swarthmore. Even though Stanford likes to see subject tests, they are open to students who haven’t taken them so I would also definitely apply to Stanford. I’m no expert, but from what I’ve read here on CC, all those schools offer a good CS program. Anyone else have suggestions of schools? You will probably want to apply to more schools than those, but I’m not sure which of the other schools without subject test requirements have good CS programs. For the College Match round, keep in mind that only Stanford is non-binding of the schools mentioned. </p>

<p>You have an interesting profile. Good luck!</p>

5

<p>How much does Work Experience help? I’ve got two internships right now, so I figure I should add those, no?</p>