<p>Hey guys!</p>
<p>I've researched extensively on this forum, and read this website on a day-to-day basis. After moderate amounts of research, I usually find my answer and don't post anything. But now, I think I've come to a dead end. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to help me with my list of colleges?</p>
<p>A little back-ground: I'm Hispanic from suburban Maryland (10 miles from D.C.). I'm looking for a college with high rankings in Computer Science.</p>
<p>I have a 3.9 UW GPA, 4.5 W GPA. My PSAT score is 197, and my SATs are 740 (Writing), 580 (Math, pretty weak), and 620 (Writing). Taking SAT IIs in June. I'm looking to raise my SATs by October with SAT preparation over the summer. I demonstrate heavy interests in programming and computer science, and am looking to major in either Computer Science or Information Systems (maybe both, if it's possible).</p>
<p>Right now, I have:
-University of Maryland: Baltimore County (Safety)
-University of Maryland: College Park (Safety)
-Drexel University (Match)
-Northeastern University (Match)
-Stevens Institute of Technology (Match)
-Carnegie Mellon University (Reach) (I am a two-year attendee of their summer program, SAMS, so I feel I have an upper hand.)
-MIT (High Reach)
-Cornell (Mid Reach)</p>
<p>I'm looking for universities in MD, PA, NY, and MA that could be good matches or reaches (I'm open to any possibilities down South). I place high emphasis on NYC; I simply love NYC and its subway (I am a metrophile). I love urban environments and co-op programs, as well as a highly-ranked computer science program.</p>
<p>Again, I've use the Search function exhaustively, but I feel that my exact stats are needed to find good college. Help, please? :).</p>
<p>Reaches: UPenn (definitely top 10 or 15), Harvard (pretty decent, top 15, a prof there just won the Turing Award), Columbia (also decent, top 15 or 20), Princeton (not in NY but close enough, probably the best out of the four, top 5 or 10) – yes, these are all Ivies, but they also perform pretty well in CS and are the only reaches in the locations you mention</p>
<p>Matches: U Rochester, UMass-Amherst</p>
<p>edit: these are grad school rankings, but they will help you find strong CS schools</p>
<p><a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/computer-science-rankings/[/url]”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/computer-science-rankings/</a></p>
<p><a href=“NRC Rankings Overview: Computer Sciences”>http://chronicle.com/article/NRC-Rankings-Overview-/124721/</a></p>
<p>If UMCP is a true admissions and financial safety, then there may not be too many schools that will be significantly better in terms of CS academics.</p>
<p>Some other well regarded schools for CS include (since you mention South and PA) Georgia Tech, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Penn State, University of Texas (Austin), University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), and Duke, but unless you get very generous financial aid from them (or come from a wealthy family for whom university cost differences are not a concern) it will be hard to beat UMCP.</p>
<p>If the NYC experience is so desirable, why aren’t Columbia and NYU on your list?
Both show up among the USNWR top CS schools.</p>
<p>[Top</a> Ranked Computer Science Schools & Best Computer Science Colleges](<a href=“Web Page Under Construction”>Web Page Under Construction)</p>
<p>Consider taking the ACT. Some people do better on it than the SATs.</p>
<p>@phantasmagoric: Thanks for the list! I’ve had a close look at the list, and some of what you mentioned (UPenn, Harvard, and Princeton) are, in my mind, schools that I have a low chance of getting into. Although I do want reach/ dream schools, I want some realistic possibility.</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus: Wow! Actually, a lot on the list, I’ve considered. To justify the geographical requirement, the main reason I want to be close is to bond to my five-year-old brother as much as I can. I want him to have me as a brother while growing up; I love him and want to know him as we grow older. That’s why I intend to enroll at a college somewhat close to home (6-7 hours or less). Georgia Tech seems like the best match for me, but it’s 11 hours away. Penn State is HUGE :O. I’ve never thought about U of Texas, UNC, Duke, or VA Tech before. :P. Need to start opening up to colleges down south.</p>
<p>Again, I appreciate your list! It gives me more to think about!</p>
<p>@tk21769: NYU and Columbia are both possibilities that I’ve looked into. However, NYU seems very skimpy on financial aid (I come from an upper middle class family). In thinking of Columbia, I compared it Cornell, and how I would like a gorgeous campus with rolling hills. With Cornell having the higher acceptance rate, I decided to go with Cornell as an Ivy League choice. However, given the time between now and the college admissions process, I would be more than willing to chew over my options (and possibly have Columbia on my list).</p>
<p>Thank you ALL for your help!</p>