<p>For an in-state student with your stats, Stony Brook should be a safety. Since Stony Brook doesn’t publish its common data set, the only reason that I guess ucbalumnus thinks it considers interest is because of an outside website that says it does (for example, a site called collegedata lists interest as one of the factors that Stony Brook considers). Although I am very skeptical that the school considers interest shown as a factor (I have known several students with very high stats who showed no interest at all and got into Stony Brook), if you wanted to be totally safe, you could request that you be placed on their mailing list (there’s a link on the admissions page) and, since you said you live close by, maybe visit and go to an info session. I think that would be more than sufficient.</p>
<p>Its been about a month, so I figured I’d give you guys an update, cause my list and criteria have changed as I did more research.</p>
<p>Reaches:
Cornell University
Carnegie Mellon University (Computer Science or Carnegie Institute of Tech, probably Comp Sci)
Columbia University (I applied ED)
Tufts University</p>
<p>Match Schools:
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Georgia Tech (Submitted EA)
University of Michigan
UIUC (Applied; missed priority filing due to the hurricane)
WPI </p>
<p>Safety:
Stony Brook University
VaTech (Applying by next week).</p>
<p>I just visited Tufts, and I really liked it. I loved the atmosphere and the vibe of school, along with its emphasis on interdisciplinary learning. I talked to the admissions office and everything, and I’m considering applying ED2, or at least RD. I also visited WPI, and I also liked it’s feel. It seemed very “nerdy” and “intellectual” without being pretentious (like Tufts). I liked it enough to definitely add it to the list and make it one of my top few choices.</p>
<p>I’ve been looking a lot more for schools that emphasize interdisciplinary learning, cause I’m not entirely set on Computer Science. </p>
<p>Now, my top few are: Columbia, GaTech, Tufts and WPI. </p>
<p>I also looked into SBU’s Honor’s College, and if I’m accepted into that, Stony might become a more palatable safety. I’m considering adding Rutgers to the safety list too.</p>
<p>What do you guys think?</p>
<p>I think this is a good list. Your odds for RPI and WPI are very good and you will probably get merit aid at both 
I was interested in your comments on WPI and Tufts. My son had a hard time deciding between those two after he got his acceptances and ruled out all the others. They are very different schools, and each one has its advantages. He ultimately went with WPI, partly because of the nerdier atmosphere, but also the project-focused curriculum. He really loves it there, but I think he would have loved Tufts too 
Oh yeah, the merit scholarship also helped him lean towards WPI. Yes, nothing pretentious about WPI.
If you had any specific questions I could ask him.</p>
<p>So, to offer this thread some closure, I think I’ll post my results. My list changed significantly over the month and a half, but I have several good choices now.</p>
<p>Cornell - waitlisted
Carnegie Mellon - Waitlisted
Columbia - Rejected
Tufts - Waitlisted
Northwestern - Rejected</p>
<p>RPI - Accepted with 20k scholarship.
Georgia Tech - Accepted with Honors Program
UC Berkeley - Accepted
University of Michigan - Accepted
Stony Brook - Accepted with Honors College
WPI - Accepted with 30k scholarship
UCLA - Accepted</p>
<p>Right now, I’m deciding between Georgia Tech and UC Berkeley. I’ll be visiting both this month. I’m happy this process is finally over! :)</p>
<p>Now, if someone could comment on my decision thread too: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1483637-final-decision.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1483637-final-decision.html</a></p>
<p>You would likely get into Cornell if you apply ED.</p>