@pleasgod, given my misunderstanding (assumed you were a Junior with the potential for an upward GPA trend), I think schools in the top-30 will still be a challenge with the potential for some test optional schools such as Bates as providing an opportunity to tell your story - still a reach, but has a better chance. So, my advice would be to focus on test optional schools as they will be more holistic in their review process.
Re #20: I’ll take a different position. While admission criteria at test optional schools may be more generally holistic in principle, I do not think they would offer any particular advantage to a student with a 1520 SAT score.
@ClassicRockerDad is there any specific reason you don’t like RIT? I know a few people who went there and they have nothing but good things to say
@chembiodad @merc81 my plan is to apply to a bunch of very different schools with different policies including a couple test optional with the hope that one good one will let me in. I’ll check out Bates
@merc81, my thought was that test optional schools that take a more holistic approach will be more likely to factor in a real life issue that resulted in lower grades for a period of time - my suggestion would be to submit these strong scores and then take time in the essay to tell one’s story.
@Chembiodad Test optional schools are generally a good option for students with strong GPA’s and EC’s. Here, the opposite is true; OP has stronger test scores than grades, and EC’s seem limited. But I agree that essays and letters of recommendation may make a difference.
@pleasgod, what about Carnegie Mellon? I’m not that familiar with CMU, but it seems like a match for your criteria. Does CMU not have one of the things you mentioned?
@WalknOnEggShells thanks for the suggestion! I was considering applying but it’s super competitive for CS…might give it a shot anyway