SOS! Alternate majors to Computer Science / Chances at IVY Leagues. top tier schools

Chance Me / Match Me!
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Applying for first choice major as CS and applied to only Public Universities in first round (Early Action/Decision but not binding) ( Reach: UCs, UW Seattle, UW Madison, UIUC, Georgia Tech, UT Austin,
Target: UMD, Purdue Safety: UW Bothell).

What are her chances for Stanford, CMU, UChicago, Cornell and USC? Also, are there any other Target, Safety schools we could try for CS.

Given CS is so competitive, do you folks recommend any other majors we can try at these schools that could more less competitive? Also interested in Applied Math or Physics.

Stats:

UW GPA 3.919 / 4 - School does not weigh GPA.

ACT: 34 (she took only once back in Feb but couldnt retest due to Covid cancellations)

STEM Courses: 11 APs (AP CompSc A (5) AP Bio(5), AP Calc AB(5), AP Phyc(5) AP Env(5), AP Engish(4) AP Chem(3). Senior Yr APS - AP Physics Mechanics and AP Physics Electro, AP Stats, AP Calc BC)

Also took all Honors courses school has to offer

ECs:
Classical Vocal(13 years), Piano (13 years, ABRSM), Choir (since 1st grade)
Internship with local Software firm
HOSA Club, WSSEF, MUN, FBLA and Robotics clubs
Volunteer as tutor and 3D Printing workshops for kids

Awards:
HOSA State 1st, WSSEF State 3rd and several awards at FBLA regional level.

What are my chances? Any advise is much appreciated, thanks!

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This is a reach heavy list. CS has gotten very competitive. Unless she’d be perfectly happy at her safety, I’d add a few more match schools just in case.

Schools like RPI would be a match and she would see merit to bring cost down to an OOS public level.

If she wants to major in CS, apply for that major. It can be very difficult at many schools to switch into CS if you don’t start in the program.

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thank you, just to confirm, RPI = Rensselaer Polytechnic?

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Yep.

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Thank you!

6

Assuming UW Bothell as a safety means that you’re WA residents. There are other potential safeties that are very affordable with WUE reciprocity and merit - notably U of Utah and both U of Nevada campuses… also Portland State (which has a strong CS program).

Have you considered Harvey Mudd? How about Rice?

URochester could be a good high-match school - in addition to strong CS and STEM generally, the music opportunities there are terrific, and they love STEM majors who are musicians. The flexible curriculum makes it easy to combine one’s strongest interests and avoid arbitrary GE’s.

For schools that admit by major, CS can bump up the competitiveness considerably, so it’s good to have a range of choices that you like.

Did she apply to UCSB? If she did, and if she hasn’t yet applied to the College for Creative Studies, she still can - the priority deadline is 12/28: Computing | UCSB College of Creative Studies

(sorry, replied to a reply rather than the main post - not used to this new system yet!)

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Thank you!

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I agree with others who say that this is a pretty reach heavy school, especially considering your interest is in Computer Science. In my experience, my essays went a long way with getting me accepted into an ivy league. That said, I was applying for a social sciences major. For Computer Science, which is math/science heavy, I’d assume that things like research experience would maybe outweigh the essays in this case