<p>I'm a senior and am in the process of applying for colleges! For a while I've been leaning towards engineering, but computer science has started to catch my eye. I had already been looking at Carnegie Mellon for engineering and now I realize they have one of the top computer science schools in the country!</p>
<p>I honestly don't know a whole lot about CMU and the application process by school. Is there a way to indicate first and second choice, so you could be considered for you second choice if you are rejected from your first choice? (Ex. If I say SCS is my 1st and CIT is my second, and I get rejected from SCS could I still be considered for CIT? Or do they not do that?)</p>
<p>I'm from the Midwest and took the ACT and scored a 35 (even subscores) but I did take SAT subject tests once in case I apply to CMU. I got a 790 on chem but only a 760 on math II, which I'm worried could hurt me since the curve is so generous. I got a 35 on the ACT math and a 5 on the AP BC calculus test though, so will that outweigh my SAT subject score?</p>
<p>Also, do I even have a chance for SCS if I don't have any extracurriculars or experiences that indicate an interest in computer science? I have taken a plethora of math and science courses though, if that helps. No comp sci classes though since I haven't really been that interested until recently, and our class schedules are so inflexible.</p>
<p>Is it easy to transfer from CIT into SCS, or are there a lot of requirements?</p>
<p>Sorry this got long, but I'd love any input!</p>
<p>(I am a female, in case that helps me at all!)</p>
<p>You did not mention your grades, or class rank. If they are in line with your ACT score, definitely apply to SCS. They are passionate about increasing the number of female students enrolled, so it is a boost to your application. I believe you can only apply to one school if you apply ED, but for RD, you can rank them. It is difficult, but not impossible, to transfer from CIT to SCS. Less difficult the other way around I’ve heard. It will depend on your grades and available spots in the school.</p>
<p>DS is a freshman at SCS and I have heard the freshman advisor speak twice recently, at orientation and Family Weekend. About 1/3 of this years class are enrolled in the introductory CS class as they did not take AP CS in high school, so lack of previous experience is not a barrier. Be forewarned, however! They love to toss around the phrase “boot camp” to describe the first two years of the program and they’re not kidding. The workload is intense. Advisor stated to parents, “you probably remember your freshman year as being the easiest and the most fun. Not here.” but, he also stated that CMU students will know more by the end of sophomore year than students at other schools will by their senior year. It really is a very special place. You can feel the energy and excitement when you are on the campus.</p>
<p>Thank you for the thorough response jzmom! I hope your son is enjoying CMU so far. I should have posted more info in my first post, it slipped my mind.</p>
<p>UW GPA is currently 4.0 and I assume by the end of the year it will be 3.99 or 4.0.</p>
<p>Rank is 1/~530 (tied with several others) so if I get an A- I’d drop down a few places.</p>
<p>AP classes from junior and senior year are BC calculus (5), chemistry (5), microeconomics, biology, and statistics. I also took a semester of college credit German through my state university (but still in school).</p>
<p>Activities are pretty balanced, a LOT of music and volunteering and LINK crew, NHS, some leadership roles, etc. No science or math related activities though, which I hope won’t hurt me too much.</p>
<p>I’m glad to hear so many students in SCS are taking intro to CS though, since I have no formal experience!</p>
<p>If CMU SCS is your dream, apply ED and otherwise find a way to show intense interest. Find a way to relate your interests to your (from stats) intelligence to SCS. As has been mentioned, SCS is not necessarily just looking for teenagers who have been coding and taking computer classes for years already, but also talented individuals with an interesting upside.</p>
<p>Best of luck with your college applications. I’ll bet you end up somewhere interesting and exciting no matter what happens with your CMU application.</p>