<p>ECs:
-Tons of community service hours
-Member of a variety of clubs, VP of one of them (very involved), the usual.
-Taught myself C/C++, HTML/CSS, PHP, SQL, Python. I've invested a lot of my personal time in learning programming.
-Paid work experience at a software development company for two months, 40 hours a week.</p>
<p>Should I bother applying? SCS admission chances look extremely low, and I'm sure my weak sophomore GPA will greatly hurt my chances.</p>
<p>I’m also a prospective SCS admit(chances are very low though, seeing as my scores are lower than yours) and you seem to be at par with the admission criteria(the soph grade shouldn’t make or break you). You seem like a likely admit, esp coz of the CS related ECs that you have. Good Luck.</p>
<p>if(mazorak.admited()&&rndusr.admited())
{
System.out.print(“See you at Carnegie!”);
}</p>
<p>@Mazorak, you are just like my son. He has self-studied programming languages since elementary school. He is applying too. His GPA is higher than yours, but with a bit lower SATI score.
You should definitely apply. CMU will surely recognize your passion and that’s a plus.</p>
<p>Still, with a 10% admitted rate in SCS, it’s a reach for any one. Good luck!</p>
<p>You never know with SCS-- so there’s no harm other than the $70 and your time.</p>
<p>The problem with statements about “self taught C, C++, Java etc.” is this is unfortunately a subjective unverifiable statement. What is more helpful to an Adcom is to hear what you are doing with this knowledge? Are you working somewhere, - paid or unpaid using these skills? This demonstrates that acquired knowledge was in fact real.</p>
<p>"What is more helpful to an Adcom is to hear what you are doing with this knowledge? Are you working somewhere, - paid or unpaid using these skills? This demonstrates that acquired knowledge was in fact real. "
–>Totally agree.</p>
<p>OP has paid work experience at a software development company, and as my son, who has internship in developing software program, I think both young men has demonstrated their skills in programming. :)</p>
<p>How in the world did you land yourself a job? By work experience you mean as a software engineer and not janitor. I have a fairly extensive experience with programming, but yet all the jobs I’ve seen require a bachelors and at least a few years of experience in industry. Somehow, I do not believe you have held a job, at least, not a significant one. (Only two months you say…)</p>
<p>@davidthefat: To be clear, it was an internship during the summer, but I was paid the same amount that a regular employee of the company was, and had pretty much the same workload. I worked with a team of about 5 interns, and we were paid upon the successful completion of our assigned project (which took two months).</p>
<p>@younglookingmom: I think I’ve decided that I’m going to apply, just have to write this “Why CMU” essay!</p>
<p>@rnduser: See you there as well, if we’re lucky!</p>
<p>The thing that I’m worried about is that aside from this specific experience, I don’t really have any thing else ‘concrete’ enough to show my programming knowledge. Does CMU accept employer recommendations?</p>
<p>@Mazorak They do accept employer recommendations, as my employer for a company that I interned for mailed mine. I gave my employer the address to send the company letterhead to, and he mailed it there. It was on “Where am I in the process?”</p>
<p>@Mazorak
Apply, you aren’t perfect, but you aren’t a bad contender too. Your work experience will def. help you as well. Just make sure to do well your senior year. I would also advise getting a alumni interview or visiting</p>
<p>(I honestly think my Alumni interview is why I got in, my gpa is no where as perfect as my peers, however my school was more difficult, and I don’t think anyone had a 4.0)</p>
