Suggestions/comments On My Final College List Given These Inconsistent Stats

Parents Forum
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<p>COLLEGE LIST
major = computer science

  • no desire/don’t care
    ** would be satisfied
    *** would love to go here</p>

<p>(Average GPA, SAT, Acceptance Rate, Admissions Selectivity) Academic Ranking</p>

<p>SAFETIES/MATCHES</p>

<li>George Mason (3.32, 1100, 70%, 79) 73 *</li>
<li>James Madison (3.6, 1160, 63%, 89) 80 *</li>
<li>Virginia Tech (3.6, 1200, 70%, 88) 75 **</li>
<li>Northeastern (3.5, 1210, 42%, 92) 79 ***</li>
<li>U Washington (3.7, 1220, 70%, 91) 79 **
(Union college?)</li>
</ol>

<p>REACHES</p>

<li>U Maryland (3.8, 1250, 50%, 93) 76 ** //or Lehigh…</li>
<li>William and Mary (4.0, 1330, 35%, 97) 89 ** // Letter of Recommendation specifically for this school from my two bosses at work, who are graduates. Also have a cousin that went there.</li>
<li>U Michigan (3.7, 1300, 60%, 95) 83 *** // USC,Lehigh, or URochester, which is the easiest? Dad is an almunus of USC. I figure a private university?</li>
<li>U Virginia (4.0, 1320, 40%, 97) 87 ***</li>
</ol>

<p>My Stats (VIRGINIA RESIDENT)</p>

<p>Cumulative GPA: 2.9
Yearly GPA: (2.9, 2.2, 3.6, 2.9 first quarter senior/ 3.6 second quarter midterm)
5 AP’s
Factors for poor performance: moving and problems adjusting (implemented in essay)
New SAT: 1930 (690 Math, 670 Writing, 570 Verbal) = 1290 on old 1600 Scale
SAT II Math BC: 700</p>

<p>EC: Web Design Club Founder & President, Habitat for Humanity, Construction CSP, CSP Technical Support, Library Volunteer, JV Basketball Captain
Smithsonian Volunteer, Janmedia/Web Design Company Job
International Experience</p>

<p>Obviously my grades are very low but I think I have average SAT scores and a solid SAT II score. I have some EC’s and have job experience at a respectable computer firm. I’ve taken a summer college course at Mason also as a junior in high school and got a B, which suggests that I can handle college-level courses. I was also taking the course while holding two jobs - Smithsonian and Janmedia.</p>

<p>Performed poorly in early school years but will convery a sense of maturity in my essay and talk about what I’ve learned through my experiences living abroad. Most significant experience is living in a third-world country (Bolivia) and getting a dose of reality, which resulted in an increase in my grades. Was also seperated from my father for a year when he got a job in Baghdad, Iraq.</p>

<p>Anyhow… any comments, suggestions? Also should I add a portfolio of the artwork/websites I’ve made? I won an award for one of the artworks I’ve made.</p>

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<p>Nicholas: On a final note...............don't give up if your first choice for college happens to be a reach. Be determined to finally get there with the hard work and maturity of your freshman year. It is much easier to transfer if you have a solid record of good performance in your freshman year. So when I tell somebody that I go to William and Mary (you can substitue any school here), and they say "wow, you must be smart", I just remember just as long as I'm smart enough to know that any person attending a community college has the same success as me at this point. Don't let your past define you, let it serve you well. High school is just that, "high school". Think of the song Glory Days. Dude, you don't want to peak in high school. You are just beginning and you "get it" now................so go forth with your own plan,not your parents............just be determined. Good luck! Happy Thanksgiving!</p>

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<p>I have some questions. First, what state do you live in? 2nd, is USC the CA or SC? Are any of your AP's Math types? A C+ average can be all C's plus one B, or it can a mix of A's and D's. Is there a pattern to your grades? What computer languages do you know? </p>

<p>I have a son majoring in CS at Caltech. High level CS is primarily math, and it doesn't involve much coding, web design, or systems analysis. If you were to imagine what you would want to be doing in 10 years, what would it be?</p>

<p>If I were your parent I would want you to identify exactly what you were looking for, then "package" yourself for that niche school where you will bring something to the table and also benefit from what the school offers. If I were your parent I would also be frantic for the last 4 years, but that's beside the point ;).</p>

<p>You also don't mention what your parents think...They know you best, you know, and they love you best too.</p>

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<p>I'm in AP Computer Science at the moment and love it. I'm in AP Calculus too. Basically I got all A's annd B's this last quarter but a C in these two classes (Comp Sci and Calc). I understand the material though but I guess I just choked on the last tests.</p>

<p>I am talking about USC the CA. And I do not want to attend a community college. I'd much rather go to a regular school then transfer. But so far no one has really told me what my realistic chances at any of these schools are. My dad thinks my list is good except he doesn't know any I'm applying to any of the Reach schools. So far he thinks I'm only applying to the 5 safety/match. Anyways, my dad is pretty authoratrian so I guess throughout my high school, hell throughout my life I've always felt hopeless and have always been lackadaisical in both my studies and life in general. But in any case, I doubt colleges want to hear that. </p>

<p>Well anyhow, I'm just worried about my college list. Northeastern is a match/safety school that I would LOVE to go but again I don't really know if it's a match or safety. I've heard a mix of things and basically there are those who've told me my match/safety list is fine while others have said anywhere I apply is really a match/reach because of my incredibly low grades.</p>

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<p>nchung, you might want to consider an extra rec and a sample of your code. Find the emails of CS professors on the web site of the schools you really want to attend and write them about what you have done and what you are eager to study. Take every/any opportunity to push your unique qualifications.</p>

<p>If you don't happen to get into your first, second, or third choice school because of grades, let the temporary setback spur you on to greatness. Think of your first college as a way station - go there determined to excel, and do it! Then if/when you are ready, transfer to a college that offers exactly what you want. </p>

<p>Your posts seem to indicate that you are an individual who is motivated primarily by your own interests and not by extrinsic factors - and if so, then cleave fiercely to what you love, let nothing dissuade you, and the rest will follow, as long as you are willing to put your shoulder to the grindstone.</p>

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<p>Thanks that's a great post, but I don't think I'd excel if I went to a college in the middle of nowhere. I tend to be much more successful when I'm busy, which is why I want to go to a city school. Anyways, would emailing cs professors really help? I doubt they'd even look at my email and discard it before reading it. Also, what are you suggestions about my list? Is it totally off? Should I be applying to Christopher Newport, Old Dominion, Virginia Commonwealth? My counselor tells me that I should be more realistic and that no school is a safety for me.</p>

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<p>Nicholas - </p>

<p>Pay attention to your counselor, who has experience with many, many students and likely knows the schools you are targeting very well. He/she is wrong to say that no schools are safeties for you, but there are no safeties on your list, and George Mason and James Madison are weak matches at best. That does not mean you should not apply to the other schools on your list, but be aware that your reaches truly are reaches.</p>

<p>For a student like yourself who appears to be waking up and coming on strong at the end of his high school career, one strategy is to find the best state college you can and kick butt there for two years, giving yourself the opportunity to transfer to a better-known, or more challenging academic institution should you choose to do so. I don't know the VA/MD state colleges well enough to suggest one, but your counselor should.</p>

<p>One other thought is to ask your counselor if any small liberal arts colleges in your area have strong computer science or computer-related programs. A small-school admissions office will be more receptive to your individual story than a big U, and your solid test scores may mean more in that environment.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>Of all the colleges you have listed, considering the other info you've given, I would concentrate hard on Virginia Tech. It is not a safety for you--you will have to work at it. </p>

<p>It has the advantage of also having merged with Blacksburg State University there, and if they have separate applications you should apply to both. That way if you don't get into Tech, you still can enroll at the State University at Blacksburg, get your math credentials up and transfer.</p>

<p>Good luck :)</p>