Schools for CS major

College Majors Math/Computer Science Majors
1

Hey guys,
I was wondering if you guys could give me some suggestions for reaches, matches, and safeties for CS.

GPA: 3.85
Weighted: 4.075
UC GPA: 4.17
SAT: 2260 (Math:730, CR: 730, Writing:800)

Notable Classes:
Junior Year:
AP Bio
AP CS
AP Spanish
Analysis Honors
English Honors
Senior Year Schedule:
AP Physics C
AP Calculus BC
AP Econ
Art Spectrum
English Honors

Activities:
Volunteering at local Veteran Affairs hospital (200 hours)
Research assistant at Veteran Affairs/Stanford Hospital
Varsity Tennis every year
Engineering Innovation summer program at JHU
TV show: friends and I discuss and analyze professional sports
various CS/engineering projects

Please suggest schools for me.

Thank you

2

How much can you and your family afford? In need of FA/merit aid? Home State?

3

Home state is California, and right now not in need of FA. Just looking at schools in general and will consider money later.

4

California Schools:
Reach:::
Harvey Mudd
Stanford
Cal Tech

High Match/Low Reach::
UCLA/UCB/UCSD/Cal Poly SLO

Match::
UCD/UCSB/UCI

Low Reach/Safety::
UCSC/UCR/SJSU

5

Have your parents explicitly told you that they will pay the list price that can exceed $60,000 per year at the most expensive private schools?

6

Rather they said dont worry about the money right now, we can choose the school once admissions come in.

7

@nballday: Please get a dollar amount that your parents are willing to pay from college now, to avoid heartache later.
So many applicants will get a vague answer from their parents and after admission results are posted, find out they cannot afford to go to any of the schools they applied. No reason to spend money on applications if you can afford the school. Also have your parents figure out their EFC (estimated family contribution) and run the Net Price Calculators (NPC) on any schools of interest. Once this is done, then start forming a list of schools. Make sure you have 1 safety school which you can afford, a high probability of being accepted and are willing to attend.

I am a California resident, 2 sons in college, income level around $200K and of course they were not eligible for any FA except for student loans and parent plus loans. They had a budget of $30K/year due to a 529 plan I started when they were infants. This amount was enough for a UC and/or CSU without the burden of having to take out any loans. Older son did apply to some privates with price tags around $55K/year, got some scholarships but the COA was still higher than any of the UC’s and opted to attend a UC. When tuition/room/board/books etc… costs range from $22K/year up to $65K/year for colleges these day, you need to know how much money you have to work with in the beginning. If you need significant aid, you need to target schools that have need-based and/or merit based aid from the very start. Just some words of wisdom from a mom that is full pay for both sons at California schools.

Getting opinions regarding good CS programs now is helpful, but always have the money factor in the back of mind to see if these schools are even possible.

I would also add USC to the list.

8

Are you exclusively looking at schools in CA? Granted, the best CS schools are in that area (Silicon Valley and all) but if you want to travel I’d say add UMD, McGill (Montreal), Lehigh, and maybe an Ivy or two? You’re a competitive applicant, for sure.

9

If you are a California resident, then you are in great luck.
Your state schools have fabulous CS programs and CS job proximity.

Recommendations would be for state schools (affordable and very respected): UCB, UCLA, and UCSD (all fantastic CS schools and quite frankly, the premiums of the top privates diminishes in your case -having California as an instate is a HUGE advantage when it comes to choosing colleges-)

And please talk to your parents about financial aid and stuff. Technically, with those instate choices, it is kind of pointless to apply to the top privates unless you are getting heavy financial aid and which in that case, I do also recommend (if you are getting a lot (much enough to make the difference between private and public indistinguishable):
Stanford
Princeton (arguably the best financial aid system in States)
MIT
Harvey Mudd
CalTech
Harvard (don’t scream back at me for adding this guys. It’s just that it’s financial aid is incredible and it still does hold a solid reputation among the CS folks. Also, fortunate or not… Both Harvard and Princeton don’t look at house value so for people in California where cost of living is high, financial aid wont be a disadvantage unlike Stanford, MIT, Harvey Mudd, and CalTech)
Columbia (cause well, it’s my school! And it also practices no loans policy and is regarded to have one of the top 4 financial aid system in the States) <I think Columbia has a noticeably better financial aid policy than Cornell. However, if you dare apply to both and Cornell comes out similar or better, I hate to admit it but Cornell has a better CS reputation than Columbia (though this really doesn’t affect your future prospects much as at a certain point… companies don’t really differentiate) BUT, Cornell is in -no offense- a caved in prison while Columbia is in NY~~)

I would have added places like USC, Rice, Cornell, Brown, etc. but given your instate options and the fact that those schools kind of indirectly practice bigger loans, I don’t really think it’s worth it for your case. In fact, the list above which is extremely selective was just made because of the financial aid process. I can’t really understand the necessity to take loans when your instates are touted to having one of the best CS in the world.
If those schools I listed above cost noticeably more than UCB, UCLA, and even UCSD, I do recommend just to go to those state schools. It’s really not worth the premium… maybe Stanford, MIT, CalTech, and Harvey Mudd within a net worth of ~20k$ (over 4 years) but really… your instates are like… what most people would crave to have for their instates

btw, for financial aid:
**This is very important as some privates like Columbia is like 70,000+$ total a year without financial aid. And add in tuition spike every year and you have to expect more like 80,000+$ a year. You would be spending 1/3 of a million dollars on an undergrad degree in which your career opportunities would be similar to if not just a hair better (for grad applications) than your state schools.

As for rest, granted your scores are high, I think you can try with UCSD as safety.

10

UCSD probably is not a safety, particularly for a popular major like CS. Only 39% of frosh applicants with a HS GPA from 3.80-4.19 were admitted for fall 2014, according to http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/freshman-admissions-summary . UCD, UCI, and UCSB were around 60% admit rate for that GPA range. Indeed, it is hard to see any UC as a 100% sure thing safety, due to use of essays and subjective criteria. However, adding several of the somewhat less selective campuses (including UCSC, UCR, and UCM, which had >= 89% admit rate for frosh applicants in that HS GPA range) makes it very unlikely that the OP will be rejected from all of them.

In recent years, SJSU’s most popular major was CS, which had the highest eligibility index threshold (4000 to 4550 over the recent years), according to http://info.sjsu.edu/static/admission/impaction.html , though the similar software engineering major has been significantly less popular (3200 to 3600 over the recent years). The OP’s eligibility index appears to be 4.17 * 800 + 730 + 730 = 4796, so it is unlikely that the OP will be rejected from SJSU unless the popularity of the CS major greatly increases from recent history.

11

Sure “only 39% of frosh applicants with a HS GPA from 3.8-4.19 was admitted for fall 2014” but…
I don’t think most frosh applicants had competitive test scores like this threader has (especially considering the applicants of those applying to UCSD)

This might be a bit outdated but…
http://collegeapps.about.com/od/GPA-SAT-ACT-Graphs/ss/uc-san-diego-admission-gpa-sat-act.htm
If you look at 2260 and then check the GPA (as UC schools use the UC system grading scale, op pretty much has a 4.0 on the collegeapps’ picture)
The chance of this applicant getting into UCSD is hugely in his/her favor (unless his/her essay is sub-par in which with a writing score of 800, I would guess he/she most likely won’t)

That said you usually should have 2-3 safety school which in my opinion, for the op UCSD could be somewhat considered safety. Now he justs needs about 1-2 more that is easier to get into.
<i would=“” risk=“” with=“” 2=“” safety=“” and=“” hey,=“” if=“” it=“” goes=“” bad,=“” community=“” college=“” for=“” a=“” year=“” save=“” money=“” -nothing=“” wrong=“” as=“” both=“” uc=“” usc=“” accept=“” lot=“” of=“” transfer=“” students-=“”><i would=“” risk=“” with=“” 2=“” safety=“” and=“” hey,=“” if=“” it=“” goes=“” bad,=“” community=“” college=“” for=“” a=“” year=“” save=“” money=“” -nothing=“” wrong=“” as=“” both=“” uc=“” usc=“” accept=“” lot=“” of=“” transfer=“” students-=“”>

As we all know, op has fantastic chances for places like UCSD but runs a bit short on places like MIT, CalTech, Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Cornell, Harvey Mudd, Stanford, Princeton (these schools as we all know by now are single digit acceptance rates and even a 4.0 and 2400 has very very little chance in which the op fails a bit short on both GPA and test score wise) <that said,=“” apply=“” to=“” some=“” of=“” these.=“” one=“” may=“” never=“” know.=“” (although=“” for=“” carnegie=“” mellon,=“” must=“” know=“” that=“” is=“” pretty=“” much=“” not=“” eligible=“” financial=“” aid=“” unless=“” he=“” she=“” also=“” gets=“” accepted=“” another=“” top=“” school=“” with=“” fantastic=“” -reason=“” being=“” why=“” i=“” didn’t=“” include=“” it=“” in=“” the=“” previous=“” post-)=“”>

Oh, btw:
I heard great things about SJSU and how it is an enormous feeder to places like Apple. (proximity advantage)
I’m just a bit wary about that place though as one person who I know who had attended there said that he regretted the decision a bit as he felt that SJSU felt more of a commuter school than an actual college -and he complained about how some employers did not treat him seriously because of the college name but I kind of question that part of the statement as everyone else in the web seems to praise the university-.
Anyways, if you are into the “college experience”, then idk :/. Just know that you are spending 4 years (day and night) in the school you chose. Trust me, environment plays a big factor. (I know nothing about SJSU cause hey, maybe the person I knew is just a very grumpy cat xD)

And oh ya, I forgot to mention, I heard Cal Poly SLO is also a good place to study CS. I know nothing about its environment cause I don’t have any friends who attend there but hey, I just thought it would be good to let you know of other possibilities.


[QUOTE=""]
Don't be intimidated by the low acceptance rates of the UC schools in general. The acceptance rates do not tell a whole lot as the UC system pretty much lets anyone apply to all schools. In other words, many who are not as academically qualified to apply to UCB, UCLA, UCSD would "tick" those checkboxes just for the heck of it. e.g.those applying to UCR, UCSC, UCM, etc. would be "competing" with you for the above spots in which though they might have similar GPA, would have much lower standardized test scores. idk, my experience with UC apps was that even UCLA just about admitted everyone in our school after an SAT of 2240 regardless of a lower GPA. Be sure to check your school naviance or whatever system your school uses as that will be the best approximation of your chances.

[/QUOTE]


12

Horowitz of Andersen & Horowitz VC went to Columbia for undergraduate and then UCLA for MS.

13

UCI is his safety because his GPA is not high but not low either. SAT score is good but not in the range that put UCSD as a safety.

14

I disagree that for his GPA and SAT scores, he should apply to those private schools. Two CC parents have mentioned that one with a nephew who got 2300 ended up going to Santa Clara University. Another with a daughter whose ACT is 35 or 36 also ended up at Santa Clara. She was rejected from USC. It will be a waste of money to apply to these unrealistic reaches.

15

Most “actual colleges” are heavy with commuters. It is only the more selective ones that are primarily residential.

At SJSU 56% of frosh live in the dorms. Since this is required for frosh who did not graduate from a high school within 30 miles of SJSU and are not non-traditional students (married, veteran, older, etc.), this implies that 44% are commuters or non-traditional students, which is higher than for many predominantly residential colleges. In contrast, CPSLO has 98% of frosh living in the dorms, though its relatively isolated location means that few students are in reasonable commuting range.

It is true that some employers, particularly in finance and consulting, are more school-prestige-conscious than others.

That said, UCSD is too risky to be designated as a “safety”, unless the OP is willing to use starting at a community college as the actual safety.

16

Both of my cousins graduated from SJSU and they are still employed as a CS or CE related jobs in the Bay Area. I think that kind of disparaging statement does not reflect reality. Sure it’s not UCB but it still very much depends on the individual.

17

http://cse.ucsd.edu/node/2510

Freshman class is limited to 200 in this article for CS. Classroom size dictates the logistic, I believe.

18

I would think going to school for CS in the Bay Area would be invaluable because of the connections you make. SJSU has a stellar rep (it’s one of the top feeder schools to Bay Area tech companies) along with SCU, UCSD, and the usual suspects of Stanford and UCB.

Look at this graphic. It’s been helping me with a preliminary college list: http://mic.com/articles/89847/stanford-is-no-longer-the-feeder-school-into-apple-facebook-or-microsoft

19

" It will be a waste of money to apply to these unrealistic reaches. "

It will be just as unrealistic to discourage a potential candidate from applying.
Someone’s experience does not have to be his or her reality.
I don’t want to be rude but I think “being too afraid to apply” is a trait that most losers have. No. Take risks I say. Better to take risks than always play safe. I never understood this part anyways.
Playing safe almost always don’t get you anywhere. If I played safe, I wouldn’t be anywhere close to Columbia university since “non-legacies should not apply unless he hits a 2400 with a 4.0 mindset” (pretty unrealistic in my opinion)

Have you not read the op’s academic credentials?
“GPA: 3.85
Weighted: 4.075
UC GPA: 4.17
SAT: 2260 (Math:730, CR: 730, Writing:800)”
With LOTS of extracurriculars (look at the hours, not the list). And some of those extra-curriculars include being a research assistant AT Stanford University (not just any university mind you).

If his/her UC GPA is indeed 4.17 then it implies many things:

  • His/Her freshman year might not have been strong but since then, his/her GPA has been solid.
    (very little chance but possible) + His/Her school practices relative grade deflation. My school did. A 94 was considered a B+. But on any UC system, I’m sure a 94 is an A.

Anyways, if it is indeed true that his/her GPA has been strong in both 10th and 11th, then yes, he/she does indeed have a shot at those schools. In fact, as long as he/she is a superb writer, he has a chance on ANY of the most competitive schools in the States. Universities in the States are “holistic”. They do not go purely by numbers. Not every school is CalTech. Most schools would rather take someone interesting over “just high scores and nothing else”.

(just fyi)
The average SAT M/CR in UCSD is 1362.
OP’s average SAT M/CR is 1460. If my math is not too far off, with OP’s UC GPA already above average of the UCSD UC GPA and standardized test scores above average of UCSD UC GPA and much above average extracurriculars (cause let’s be real, who actually has a chance to have connections to do research at Stanford (?)), OP technically is academically superior to the average incoming freshman of UCSD.

That said, yes, you should have 2-3 safeties. I just personally think that UCSD can somewhat be considered a “safety” for the OP. I highly doubt with OP’s writing score of 800, he/she would write an atrocious essay for the UC apps.
Since the UC systems are pretty much the same (it’s just 1 app !), in my personal opinion, treat UCB, UCLA, UCSD, UCI as 1 school and apply.
Add in 1 more safety which the people in this thread mentioned like SJSU or CPSLO.
And the rest, take risks in applying to places you want to be in. (just make sure the net calculator -almost always an overestimate- fits with your family. The last thing you do is be in debt by 1/3 of a million dollars with interest (making it closer to like 1/2 of a million dollars.) )

And hey, if all goes bad, don’t be scared about community college for a year (transferring out after). It would still be an experience. I mean I highly doubt with your academic credential such event would occur and if it does, think of it as, “oh, I’m saving a bunch of money for 1 year before attending a much better school”.

20

By the way, there are advantages attending a super top school like Stanford.
(though I don’t want to be rude, OP has an extremely extremely low chance getting accepted here but hey, no one knows right?)
In general (there are exceptions ofc), the very top students at Stanford will have much better offers than a very top student at SJSU (btw, I respect this school but let’s be real in this comparison here).

I am not a Stanford student so I do not know but:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/business_insider/2015/04/02/stanford_graduates_get_fought_over_by_tech_companies_like_snapchat_and_have.html

Not only do the average Stanford student have better opportunities, but the very top has a premium that most schools do not get.
Being the top 30% in schools like Stanford for CS opens doors (literally). You have extremely lucrative job offers AND the potential to attend a top grad school. <and grad=“” schools=“” are=“” usually=“” funded=“” which=“” means,=“” a=“” chance=“” to=“” avoid=“” the=“” working=“” world=“” once=“” again!=“”>

And also, you go to college to learn. Not for a “direct career to facebook, google, and microsoft”. Sure I respect that idea too but you should always realize that there are other things. And working in those companies aren’t even that fun. I hate to admit but working in itself is pretty boring. At the end of the day, it’s just another “big company”.

I’m not saying you cannot succeed in other places. I’m just saying why not try applying into the big pond? They say
“birds of the feather, flock together”. Being around talented students is an enormous contribution to your academic experience that usually cannot be substituted by simple teaching. And before anyone disputes this argument, there has been many experiments that have proven again and again that your environment plays a notable role on your future.

That said, do take in mind to be practical about what you can afford or not.
Places like Stanford are technically a luxury.
If you are going to have to take loans of over 20k$ in the 4 years, then I hate to break it to you but please consider your state options then.
You live in California. The advantages of attending a super top private diminishes due to location. Last thing you would ever want is debt. Anyways, ya, that’s my piece of share.