Looking for some Suggestions

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey, I'm new here, and just wanted an idea of what colleges to consider.</p>

<p>I'm a sophomore right now, but that's only for a few more days...
I'm really pretty sure on majoring in CS (computer science), if not, something very closely related, and I want a college with a good CS program. I'm not that great, not that bad. I go to a private school, so Bible classes are required.
Here are some of my stats:
**Freshman Year<a href="I%20didn't%20care%20as%20much%20about%20grades,%20and%20it%20was%20a%20much%20harder%20school">/B</a>
French I: B/B
H. English I: B/A-
Sem1: Geography: B-
Sem2: Health: B+
Chorus I: A/A
PE: B-/A-
Geometry: B+/A-
Bible: A/A</p>

<p>**Sophomore Year<a href="Started%20caring,%20school%20was%20much%20easier">/B</a>
World History: A-/A
PE: A/A-
Spanish I: A/A
Biology: A/A
H. English II: A-/A
Bible: A/A
Algebra II: A/A</p>

<p>This summer, I'm taking a computer course at my school and an economics course at a community college nearby. </p>

<p>EC's: Not many, I'm not the most involved in school stuff. The few things I have:
Math tutor, started this last year, plan on continuing till senior year
Math club
Politics club
There are a few other things I'm sure, but nothing big I can think of.</p>

<p>I also took SAT II's in Math II and Bio. I expect 650-700 in math, no idea in bio, but i'll retake both. No SAT I's</p>

<p>I'm planning on taking harder classes for the next two years.
I.E. AP English Lit., AP US History, Advanced Chemistry, AP Calculus, AP Bio, AP Eng. Language, AP US Gov</p>

<p>I'm very limited in terms of class options at my school, but it's decent. I would guess that I'm in the top 10% of my class, but they don't rank as far as I know.</p>

<p>Anyway, I live in Burbank, CA, that's in LA County for those who don't know and I'd like something nearby. um, I'm financially limited, but that can be worked around.
The schools I'm looking at are:
Cal Poly Pomona
UCLA
CSUN as a safety, though I think I can do better
maybe Cal Poly SLO
How do you guys think I would do there? Any school suggestions or any advice? </p>

<p>Thanks a lot!</p>

2

<p>bump. anyone?</p>

3

<p>USC has a good computer program too.</p>

4

<p>I dunno menlo, I never really considered USC because of the price and atmosphere. I think it's too much of a stereotypical school, but I could be wrong. </p>

<p>Anyone else?</p>

5

<p>I'm thinking with your grades, and if you study for the PSAT, by doing practice SAT exams this summer, you might qualify for a National Merit Scholarship which means 1/2 off tuition at USC. You might even qualify for the Trustee's scholarship [full tuition], if you continue to do as well as you have. There are lots of really smart students in the CS and Engineering schools at USC. Now, given that, I will say that the atmosphere there is not condusive outside the classroom to academic pursuits for the brightest of students, which is why my son, who is a trustee scholar, is transfering to the University of Chicago this fall. But his roomate last year, who is from S Calif and is in the CS program, along with many of the E students, are of the same caliber as top students at UCLA, and Cal Poly. Something to think about. At any rate, I STRONGLY encourage you to do some practice SAT tests this summer, so you do as well as possible on the PSAT.</p>

6

<p>Here's the list of CA schools from Rugg's Recommendations for Comp Sci:</p>

<p>Most selective: UCB, UCLA, Harvey Mudd, Stanford</p>

<p>Check the book out at the library to look for the very selective group. It includes most of the rest of the UC's plus Caly Poly SLO, but I don't know about the private schools because I don't have the whole list. Sounds like you want a public school, anyway. But, don't rule out private schools as you might get a decent scholarship. Some of the smaller schools give full rides.</p>

7

<p>I think you might be overestimating me just a bit. Unfortunately, getting straight A's at my school is less than difficult, but thanks for the consideration. I'm always interested in hearing about different scholarship programs. Especially since that's an issue for me. I was thinking about Harvey Mudd though when looking at privates, but that's much more expensive than USC and also harder to get into. I know it's bad, but I tend to limit myself and keep it as realistic as possible. I just can't see myself having a shot at a school like Mudd or USC, and on top of that, if I get accepted, I don't know how I'd pay it off. My parents would help as much as they could, but that's not much. </p>

<p>I'm just looking for an idea of where a student like me could get into, a school that's not too far away (like more than 3-4 hours away) with a good CS program that I can afford.</p>

<p>So far, that search has lead me to UCLA, CPP and CPSLO. I would like to know how my chances are there, how it's like there regarding their CS programs, if I should be considering other schools, and if so, which? </p>

<p>Thanks for the replies so far.</p>

8

<p>Search this website for "flopsy" and you can find out all kinds of information about UCLA. He is probably still around and can give you "inside" answers about the engineering school (CS is in the engineering school there). CPSLO has a better rep than CPP. Truthfully, you should at least check out Pepperdine. With your Christian school background they might be interested enough in you to give you a scholarship. They do have CS, but I don't know anything about the department. It never hurts to have choices. Loyola Marymount is a good safety option. You sound like a good match for CPSLO. Kids from our school have gotten in there without taking any AP courses - just good grades. I agree that Harvey Mudd is too difficult to get into, but I was just giving you the list. California doesn't have much in the way of private schools good in comp sci beyond the very top tier.</p>

9

<p>If you keep getting As and get a good SAT score, then you definitely have a shot at Mudd. I wouldn't just pass it off as "too difficult to get into" just yet.</p>

10

<p>I don't want a religiously affiliated college. It's purely personal preference, but I don't want it. Flopsy is a pretty helpful guy..lol I'm really thinking about CPP and CPSLO because they're realistic, and good colleges, particularly SLO. I'll be stuck though, if I get into either of them and also to UCLA. I know that Mudd is difficult, but I think it's easier than Caltech, though I'm not completely sure about that. They're on the same level, but Caltech just seems harder for some reason. I think Mudd will be the college I'm going to cross my fingers for..
I need to talk about it more with friends and family though.
Thanks for the replies, and encouraging words</p>

11

<p>Caltech is harder to get into than Mudd for sure. But, after you get in, Caltech is not that much harder than Mudd. Caltech is the hardest school in the country, but Mudd is possibly the 2nd or 3rd hardest.</p>

12

<p>..... Cal Poly SLO! Cheap, prestigious, white. <---- LOL, sorry, I just had to add that one in.</p>