<p>depends. I’m not an expert or anything on engineering, but there are majors in computer engineering and computer science. comp sci majors do learn programming as well. i’d probably look at specific programs and note the differences in degree and courses. </p>
<p>It depends on the school. For example, UCSF Pharmacy is a post-bacc PharmD program, and is a four year program, completed after 4 years undergrad. Some schools have an integrated program where you complete the PharmD in 6 years. Again, it depends on the school.</p>
<p>You can be an engineer with a BSE, and many people go on to get a masters. This is generally how it works in science and engineering, though many/most science majors go on to get a PhD, with a masters included in the degree progression. Also, higher degree will usually mean higher salary. A PhD in engineering would only make sense if you want to teach really.</p>
<p>Pharmacy has a maximum salary, everybody gets the same. I think in CA this year is around $160K. While engineers start out lower(I don’t know how much), but if you like engineering you could rise up faster. Some people are made for pharmacy and some are made for engineering.
BTW, USC has both computer engineering and pharmacy, you might want to apply to USC. Weatherwise, it’s hotter than Northeastern schools but not as hot as Texas.</p>
<p>No offense, but with your stats (I saw that you don’t have any ECs and hardly any comm service hours) you shouldn’t even consider applying to ivies.</p>
<p>Hahaha thanks guys. You help so much. It was stupid for me to ask all these questions and still think I could get into Ivy League (or MIT) in the first place. I thought internationals are easier to get accepted into these schools but now I think I assumed too much. I’m not even val or sal at school ^^ Just in top 10. And no ECs :D</p>
<p>How selective is USC? I have, let’s see, a 4.0 weighted at my current school (competitive prep school with AcDec ranked 3rd in the nation), and around a 4.5 if it was in my old public school. And yes, like GiggitusMaximus said, hardly any EC. I’ll make it into NHS this year (late b/c I’ve not been here long enough, not b/c of GPA), and SADD. I have to have 80 hours minimum of comm service at the end of senior (again school policy), but that doesn’t count much anyway.</p>
<p>Top 30 selective? For some reason, it looks pretty doable to me. Around 2200 SAT, 3.8 GPA. I don’t know what kind of scale they’re using though; it says 4.0 but does it mean anything between 90 and 100 equals a 4? If it’s so then I’d have a 3.875. Texas is also in their top OOS list.</p>
<p>And, um, I’m watching a Korean drama, called “Love story in Harvard” but for the most part, it’s filmed at USC. So far I’ve had a pretty good look at the school without going anywhere, lol. I’m so excited :)</p>
<p>I don’t know how to convert your grading scale to A/B/C/D. </p>
<p>Also, do apply early to get scholarship, if they want you to go to USC, they will give you money for scholarship. Deadline is Dec 1? But please check with USC website for accuracy.</p>
<p>I believe “Legally Blond” was filmed at USC. It’s supposed to be Harvard in the movie.</p>
<p>Take a look at Michigan, Wisconsin and U of Washington. Excellent PharmD and Computer Science programs … and as far away from Texas as you can get.</p>
<p>If you want to try for Ivy Leagues, go for it. Your grades are strong, you have strong test scores, and you are involved in some ECs. Contrary to popular belief, there is no magic combination that will get you into Ivy League universities, and not all of these kids here did three million hours of community service to get in. Some did a little, some did a lot, some did none!</p>
<p>If you’re not applying because they don’t have the major you want, that’s fine. If you’re not applying because someone on this message board convinced you you’re not worthy, screw that. Talk to your counselors; they will be better able to gauge your competitiveness since they know you and your record.</p>
<p>Community service is something that you do to give back to the community, not to get into college. If you do it for your own gain, it ceases to be community service. Of course it looks nice on your resume/application, but that shouldn’t be the only reason you or anyone else does it.</p>
<p>I do help other people but mostly by answering technical questions on the Internet. I hardly get out of my house and do physical activities.</p>
<p>One of the things that made me think about the Ivies was that I’d have to stand out in some way or another, and not necessarily through ECs. You see, I do all of my studies in the laundry room, and sleep near the kitchen. Other people might or might not have parents to support their studies, but I definitely don’t. I sleep an average of 4 hours a day (used to be b/c of video games but lately it’s been homework, lol). When I was about 10 or so, I thrived to make perfect grades everyday to be able to play Solitaire for an hour. I’m the first in the family to go to college. These probably make me unique in a way but then again, I don’t think they can back me up against those with high AIME scores or Intel prize (I do intend to take the AMC12 in the upcoming Feb to see how it goes).</p>
<p>I think I’ll apply blindly to see if I can get into any of the Ivies. There are 8 of them, plus Tufts, USC, UT Austin, and maybe MIT. $900 in application money alone ;p</p>
<p>By the way folks, “2200 SAT and 3.8 GPA” was my reference to the USC application pool, not my score. I do have above 3.8 GPA unweighted but I haven’t taken the SAT yet, nor any of the SAT IIs. I want to see my PSAT score first and decide if I want to improve anything. Sadly, even if I score something like 230 I still wouldn’t be able to do NMSQT b/c I’m an international student. ;)</p>
<p>^Don’t underestimate yourself. First generation is an important boost. Go ahead and apply to a few Ivies. The only problem I foresee is you are not able to pay for it once you get in.</p>
<p>Heh, Columbia_Student, you might be right. My parents are not very wealthy. I think if I just get admitted to an Ivy, my parents will be satisfied enough (they either want me to prove my strengths or to brag about with their friends, I don’t really know) and everything thereafter, including tuition, they decide.</p>
<p>What kind of SAT IIs do you think are the easiest to score decently? I’ve seen people saying that Math is a breeze (even going so far as to say that people who don’t score a 800 have problems 0_o). At this moment my choices are as follow: Math, Bio, Chem. If Math is really that easy, I wonder if it hurts my chances to take both Math I and Math II as separate scores.</p>
<p>Oh and Columbia_Student, do you actually go to Columbia? If so, why do you think you got in?</p>
<p>If you are Math/Science person than take those subjects for SAT II. My daughter scored poorly on math, it was her weakest subject, but she got 700+. However, she is strong in lit and took SAT II lit(I think she got 780/790?).She also got near 800 for Bio. Don’t take Math I and Math II, just take Math II. Some schools don’t accept both.
Why do I think I got into CS? Obviously I have superb intelligence. :D</p>
<p>Jk, of course. I’m on their Master Program so it’s not as selective. They accept almost anybody who are willing to pay.</p>
<p>Haha, I think Ivy people must be either very smart, very hard-working, or both. If I actually get into one, I must be a huge exception. No really :D</p>
<p>Looks like I got the Pharmacy thingy sorted out and torn to pieces in the Recycle Bin. It’s kinda funny how you guys (ok, one person) seriously told me to apply for the Ivies. I never considered myself Ivy material, until C_S’s posts came up, that is. I know that the Ivies are almost always asked about by international students (3 years ago I thought it’s pretty easy to get into Oxbridge !!!), but this feels amazing.</p>
<p>And Columbia_Student, does your daughter go to Columbia as well? If so, wouldn’t your presence in the school stress her out? Lol. I think that’s unlikely, since you probably take different paths but still.</p>
<p>9th Grade
Regular English I 96 100
Honors Algebra 100 100
Honors Geometry 99 99
Regular Biology 95 98
Regular World Geography 92 94
Regular Art I 99 93</p>
<p>10th Grade
English II 91(Honors) 95(Reg.)
Honors Algebra II 100 96
Honors Chemistry 97 100
World History 89(AP) 94(Reg.)
Anatomy & Physiology 85(Honors) 91(Reg.)
Regular Speech/Theology 99 92
Regular French I 99 96
Honors Computer Science 99 97</p>
<p>11th Grade
AP English 93 ??
AP Biology 90 ??
Honors Pre-Calculus 95 ??
Honors Physics 94 ??
Honors French II 94 ??
Regular US History 90 ??
Regular Theology III 96 ??
Regular Health 0.5 96</p>
<p>Those are my grades so far. I don’t have a clue what kind of GPA system the Ivies use, so I’ll just post these instead. I’m not surprised or depressed if somebody says the grades are low, so please voice your opinions. I need some more input.</p>