Spare a helping hand?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey guys! To keep the story short, i’m a senior in Chicago (senior year starts in a month) and I go to the 2nd largest high school in Illinois (Lane Tech.). For a while now, ever since early childhood, I’ve had an uncanny fascination with computers, technology, and the Internet. After living life up to this point, I’ve decided that the career I want to pursue will be in Computer Engineering (with some programming on the side). My peers, and teachers, will often tell anyone that my skills in terms of technology are rather advanced. The problem with all of this is the fact that I’ve reached the age where it is time to decide what college/universitys I want to apply to.</p>

<p>Below is a list of critical information:
GPA: 3.47 (weighted)

ACT: 31 Composite (I'm going to retake because this one didn't include writing but I should do just as well or better)

SAT: Havn’t taken it yet.

ECs: African Club, Science Olympiad (attended state twice), Science Fair (represented Chicago @ the state fair twice so far, hopefully once more once school begins), NAACP ACTSO, Model UN, 300+ service hours, Think Tank (a phony club created by my principle to give us Alpha kids more ECs, but colleges need not know)

Age: 17

Race: African-American (1st Gen.)

Misc: Ask anyone and they’ll tell you I’m a very social guy (not in a distracting way, often described as a people person and smooth talker, able to make friends with literally almost anyone, very deep and noticeable voice, the word shy isn’t in my vocabulary.


&lt;p&gt;With all of this said, I'm asking a kind stranger out there to help me pick some colleges that I would have a chance of being admitted in to. In Chicago, the big name in computer engineering is UIUC and I plan on applying there but am not sure what my chances look like. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;I'm looking at the following colleges:
UIUC
Georgia Tech
USC (wishful thinking?)
Purdue (any thoughts?)
UIC&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;And I'm also open to suggestions to colleges that are not the best in the nation type colleges but are good in Engineering and are not total no-name/bad colleges, basically college in the middle and that my stats look good for.
Some of you may be wondering why I'm not attempting really good colleges like Caltech, MIT, etc. and the answer is: my GPA. The valedictorian last year had a weighted GPA of ~5.4 and I stand at a 3.47 before senior year. Also, my ACT is on the low end of high (o_o ). 
I would really appreciate any help guys, I'm in a tough spot and really need to start getting my college plans in order, thanks for the help!
Thanks,
2

<p>Help would be greatly appreciated! -Bump-</p>

3

<p>Please help? Bump!</p>

4

<p>Your ACT score is really good and colleges will like that you’re African American and 1st gen. Your GPA is low but if you raise it up 1st semester of senior year and then apply regular decision, I’d think you’d make it in the schools on your list! I’m not very familiar with Georgia Tech, and USC has gotten very competitive over the last few years, but it wouldn’t hurt to apply. Even if you wanted to apply early without improving the GPA first, I’d still say you have a pretty good shot. Make sure your recs/essays are great! </p>

<p>Just remember that no one can really predict your chances on here, and to not pay too much attention to these posts anyway :slight_smile: Try talking to your counselor about what are good choices for you.Good luck!</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the reply but i believe that 1st quarter/semester grades don’t go out until AFTER application time at my school which really sucks…I thought I could send them my grades at the time even though they havnt been officially issued but that sounds kind of…shady. What do you think?</p>

6

<p>Bumpppppp!!!</p>

7

<p>My guess is your GPA is going to hurt you. If you have less then a 3.5 weighted when you should probably have a 3.5 unweighted to be safe. Your ACT will help you, if you took harder classes (honors/AP) that will help as well and like already said being a URM will help. What are your EC’s?</p>

8

<p>Yea im talking all honors/AP and have been doing so since freshman year =D. And my EC’s are listed in the post. Still open!</p>

9

<p>Jump, still openn</p>

10

<p>Still looking for advice.</p>

11

<p>bumppppppp</p>

12

<p>Please people? I though maybe I’d apply to USC and UCLA as well…any thoughts?</p>

13

<p>Bumptiy bumpbump!</p>

14

<p>Im imploring some kind stranger, please help?</p>

15

<p>How about RIT?</p>

<p>[Finest</a> Facilities](<a href=“http://www.rit.edu/emcs/admissions/academics/facilities]Finest”>http://www.rit.edu/emcs/admissions/academics/facilities)</p>

16

<p>Is RIT @ all renowned for computer engineering?</p>