So I have a 3.3 UW GPA and a 3.8 W GPA, but a 1490 SAT and 4’s in AP Bio, APWH, AP Calc, AP Lang, AP Psych, and AP Chem. My grades also have an upward trend since 9th grade, starting with a 3.13 UW and ending with a 3.833 UW. I teach kids swimming classes at the YMCA, I did an internship at an energy management company, I interned at my dentists office, and I’ve joined a couple of other clubs at my school.
I’m applying to a lot of schools (28), but my main ones are University of Washington, Northeastern, Washington and Lee, Washington State for Computer Science. I’m also applying to like 10 Accelerated Medical Programs in schools like NJIT, Drexel, UPitt, Florida State, and Howard.
I’m a female Indian.
Also, after 9th grade, I moved from Massachusetts to Washington.
I am concerned that you are a bit all over the place. 28 schools is a lot to apply to. Computer science is very different from an accelerated medical program.
What do you want to do? What do you want in a university?
I completely agree with @DadTwoGirls . You need to set your mind on something.
Unfortunately, your stats are not high enough to be competitive for accelerate medical programs or computer science. Out of all the schools you listed, I think the only ones that are within reach are Washington and Lee, Washington State, NJIT, Florida State, Howard, and Drexel.
However, based on your ECs, you are pretty average, maybe even slightly below. I would revise the list of schools and the major you are applying for. I would STRONGLY recommend doing statistics or psychology.
So I really want to become a doctor, but I know that my stats are wayy too low to get into any accelerated program, so doing computer science is my backup option. I want to do accelerated because I’m afraid of doing a Pre-Med program but not getting accepted into any medical schools, so accelerated is a safety net in that sense.
Also, I’m only applying for accelerated medical programs in NJIT, Drexel, Howard, and Florida State, not computer science.
First off, computer science is never a backup for any school. It is the hardest major to get into for most schools. I believe you can get into those med programs however
Computer science is a great career for people who like it. However, computer science is a tough major for someone who does not like it. Also, it is hard to get a “medical school worthy” GPA while completing premed requirements with a computer science major. Of course, it is hard to get a medical school worthy GPA while completing premed requirements with any major.
When an old person such as me goes to a hospital, we see a lot of medical professionals. Most of them are actually not doctors. There is a wide range of medical occupations. I don’t personally know what they all are but you might want to take some effort to consider what the possibilities are.
Many high school seniors think that they have a good idea what they want to major in, but then change their mind before the end of their freshman year of university. Both of my daughters changed their major sometime between applying to university and the end of their first year. It is reasonable to be unsure what you want to do at this point, and it is good to keep an open mind.
Do you know what your budget is? Budget issues constrain the choice of university for most students in the US.
My parents don’t have much of an issue with budget, it’s mostly just about my grades. Of course, I’m applying for merit scholarships, but there isn’t much chance for financial aid.
Also, I might have come off a bit wrong about this, but I do have an interest in computer science, but it’s mostly because everyone in my family is a computer scientist, so having grown up around it, I got to see how cool it really is and why I might have an interest in it. I’ve taken a couple years of Web Design where my teacher has told me that Computer Science would be a very good option for me because I pick up the code quickly, but physical sciences have always drawn me in, hence taking AP Bio, AP Chem, and I’m taking AP Physics this year.
The thing about my parents is that they don’t want me going into a path that doesn’t have a clear set-out future, because with my history, that’s where things get difficult for me. Personally, I’m okay with going into a Pre-Med program and applying to Medical School because I’m a good test-taker, but I understand where their worry stems from, especially given that they’d have to pay over 10 years of around $50,000 each year, which is a HUGE investment for anyone, and I don’t want to take that much from them anyways.
Computer Science isn’t as competitive as it seems. Plus you don’t even need a degree in computer science to have a well-paid career in computers. A degree in IT is more than sufficient to get a good job out of college. In fact, a tech degree with a business background is highly sought after in the corporate world. Just go into college with an open mind.
Also, you don’t need prestige in order to have a career in computers. I work with excellent programmers who are literature majors and others who are college dropouts. If you come out of college with a tech degree and some proficiency in a mainstream programming language, you’ll find a job.
Indian students are ORM (over-represented) in BS/MD program applicants, and frankly your stats are way too low compared to them. Even at low-ranked one such as Sophia Davis (CUNY now?), people got interviews have Ivy stats (and they do get Ivy acceptance). Also less schools doing accelerated programs, heard Drexel is changing to traditional 4+4. Assuming you live close to Seattle, a CS major would get you good internship at MS/Amazon. CS + pre-med is hard to do because CS courses are very very time-consuming, and pre-med science courses such as Orgo/Biochem are time-consuming too. When you combine them together, you’ll have a miserable life and often your grades will suffer … and that’s the biggest factor that most pre-meds got weed-out. Better option might be going for an easy major while doing CS/IT on the side if you aim for med school. As others said, IT jobs don’t need CS degree, any IT training will suffice… I bet you already knew about it since you said your family members are in IT.