match me !! current junior trying to create my college list

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey, I’m a junior looking at colleges. I’m worried about my lack of EC’s relating to my intended major. I’ve only recently realized my interest in CS. I’d like some feedback on creating my college list. THanks!

School: large public school (3,000 students)
Gender: F
Race/ethnicity: asian
Intended major: computer science
State: CA

GPA:
-3.76 UW
-4.12 W

Rank: N/A

SAT:
-October 2015: M 710, R 670, W 630; 2010
-December 2015: M 780, R 650, W 710; 2150

SAT II:
-Math 2: 800
-Biology: 790
-Korean w/ Listening: 780
(planning on taking Physics, US history)

PSAT: 1460/1520

AP scores:
-European History: 4
-Biology: 4

Current AP’s:
-Physics 1
-English Language
-US History
-Calc AB

Senior AP’s:
-Macroeconomics
-Comp Sci A
-Calc BC
(i’m taking linear algebra if you’re wondering why i dont have as many ap classes next year)

Extracurriculars:
-co-founder and vice president of club helping homeless with laundry (11-12)
-peer tutoring (11)
-mock legislature and court program (9-10)
-gayageum (korean traditional instrument)
-hs cheer squad (9,10)
-church band/volunteer (9-11)
-piano

Summer activities:

  • 8/9, 9/10: volunteered at local convalescent home
  • 11/12: waiting for acceptance into computer science immersion program

also, i have been teaching myself to code and i have basic knowledge of html5, css3, and java.

here are some of the schools i’ve been looking into applying?
Carnegie Mellon University
Cornell University
UC Berkeley
University of Southern California
Georgia Tech
Harvey Mudd
U of Washington
U of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
U of Michigan Ann-Arbor

Please help identify my reach, match, and safety schools! Feel free to recommend any other schools with recognized/decent computer science programs.

THANKS SO MUCH

2

How are your finances? Will you happily pay OOS costs for an OOS public (versus other very good UCs not on your list)?

3

I second the question about $

You seem to have all reaches except for Uwashington (maybe usc and uiuc could be matches?)

4

Three issues:

  • Your list is highly unbalanced. Consider “reach school” any university where the acceptance rate is 30% or below. You need to find universities you like and can afford, with an acceptance rate of 35-45% (matches) and 45+% (safeties)
  • At universities that admit by major, which major would you apply for? Check if the major is restricted and if its percentage of acceptance is lower than average for the university.
  • 5 universities on your list are public universities. At best, you’re instate at one of them. They’ll all be extremely costly since OOS publics don’t offer financial aid. You MUST talk with your parents about their budget and ask for a precise number. Better yet, sit with them and run the NPC (net price calculator) on your state flagship, on one of he public universities in your list, and on one of the private universities in your list. Which ones are affordable without their having to take loans? (You do NOT want your parents taking loans for you.)

You must include Cal Poly SLO and at least 2 other UC’s, plus other universities where you may have good merit and which are good for CS.
I’d add Carleton (reach) and St Olaf (match), where you’ll be considered URM, for instance, and at St Olaf you’d likely get merit; Scripps in addition to HarveyMudd.

5

Plan to apply to more safety/match schools. As far as your reaches, consider Johns Hopkins? It may be a good fit for you.

If you are not worried about financial aid, considering EDing at one of your reach schools.

6

Second on CAL SLO. I would also add Virginia Tech.