CS is so hot right now that historical data may not be representative of current standards. Be very aware of this as you categorize your schools into their respective ranges and make sure you have some true safeties included. Good luck!
While you said US only you may want to look at McGill University in Montreal. They admit by stats only and there is no yield protection so for you it would be a true safety. The cost would also be less than US schools. Montreal is a hub for AI research.
Never said Michigan was a safety. Think I gave many colleges that would match her as safety and then I suggested a few based on her profile that would be matches /reaches.
Thanks to all for your suggestions.
- Yes, I am taking AP CS A this year plus AP Calc BC and AP Physics 1. Next year, I’m planning on Multivariable Calc, AP Stat (because I LOVE statistics and probability), AP Physics C and am considering a 2nd semester independent study in something CS-related because I’ve run out of CS classes at my school.
2-4) Thanks for the great info! - UConn Storrs is on my list, but it’s one of those safeties that I think I’d be happy to go to and would do well at but I’m not very excited by. I will of course apply and try to keep an open mind because of affordability and convenience, in addition to the fact that it offers an excellent academic program.
@4gsmom Thanks, I’ll definitely take a look! I’ve heard that they have an excellent honors college.
@Creekland I’m actually visiting Pitt very soon and am hoping that it ends up being a safety that I can get excited about!
@taverngirl I also happen to be visiting Rochester in the near future as it seems like an excellent school that meets a lot of my requirements and preferences!
@prodesse Unfortunately, my NMS selection score is one point below last year’s cutoff for my state. So, I’m hoping that the cutoff declines slightly and I’ll meet it, but I’m not counting on that happening. (Curse their doubling of the verbal side rather than math!)
U of Maine at Orono has an ABET accredited CS department, in-state matching tuition, very pretty campus of the right size, an airport close by.
Schools with the most generous need-based aid usually are very selective.
OOS public universities usually offer little or none (although a few, like Alabama, are generous with merit scholarships).
So be sure to run the online Net Price Calculators on any safeties that appeal to you, then ask your parents if they are able and willing to cover the Expected Family Contributions.
You might have a shot at big competitive merit scholarships such as UMCP’s Banneker-Key awards, but these would push nearly any college into “reach” territory. Some private “match” schools, such as George Washington U, might offer a combination of competitive merit & n-b aid sufficient to make the net price affordable.
For safeties, I suggest looking first at in-state public colleges, then at schools that offer big merit awards automatically for qualifying stats. http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
You may need to consider one or two schools within commuting distance from home (in order to save on R&B)
@mathhappy For CS independent study, look at edx.org for interesting self paced classes. They’re free. Or you can get a verified certificate for a reasonable cost. Check it out for this summer’s todo list. Within the larger context of your entire application, its worthwhile to show independent interest in CS.
Btw, make sure your safeties and matches are affordable. Otherwise, you’ll invest a lot of emotion getting excited about something that is not attainable. That’s why several posts here have mentioned npc’s etc.
@mathhappy While there isn’t auto merit for stats, your stats would put you in contention for generous merit at UT-Dallas, Arizona State (Barrett Honors) and U of New Mexico (at a minimum in state tuition = COA of about 18K per year, plus possibility of (competitive) free ride Regents scholarship through separate application. I cannot speak to the strength of math and CS at these schools.
UT Dallas also has rolling admissions. It feels great to get the first acceptance. CO School of Mines isn’t exactly a safety, but if you meet an early deadline you might get an acceptance in December. Check to see if the academic admit at Texas A&M applies to out of state students (top quartile of class and meet an SAT or ACT minimum).
For rolling admission schools, applying very early in the admissions cycle will put you in a much better position to get strong merit aid. Pitt, at least, uses up merit aid as it goes, with the biggest awards going to earlier applicants.
I know an ACT34 and ACT 35 that were waitlisted at Michigan this year both 4.0 with 30+ college credits. Safety for no one out of state for sure.
There are tons of great choices out there. However, a safety is only a safety if you can swing it financially. That’s an important piece of the puzzle.
Miami University OH. If money becomes a issue my D19 did well getting merit there. I don’t know about their CS program because she is BioChem/Spanish. At the moment their honor programs look pretty cool.
She wanted urban, but ended up liking the campus a lot. They have Greek, but as my D19 put it they are not like Southern States Greek. Their sororities don’t have their own houses. Frats do.
With your stats you could probably make undergrad very cheap and save funds for grad school.
You might even end up majoring in statistics. A friend of my D’s started out in engineering but then switched to statistics, and got a BS and MS in four years at Pitt. She had an internship at CMU and has a job lined up for after graduation.
And automatic for sufficient scholarships if not affordable at list price or on need-based financial aid shown on the net price calculator.
Remember, if you need a merit scholarship to make the college affordable, reach/match/likely/safety must be based on the likelihood of getting a sufficient scholarship, not just admission.
Hey - I just saw this post while searching for info on the statistics dept / major at U Pitt. If possible, would love any info you might have (via your D’s friend) on this dept because I can’t see to find much online!
I sent you a PM