Hi all,
Wondering about my chances. Any opinions greatly appreciated. I know that a new Bill and Melinda Gates CSE building is underway at UW, and I’ve seen news reports predicting a major expansion of the program, so hoping that means they can accept more CSE applicants. I’m a white male from CA, 35 ACT, 3.98W (8 APs including Comp Sci, Physics, Chem, Bio, Calc, English, Econ and APES, plus Honors Organic Chem, Engineeing, and Robotics Programming.) A’s in all math and science courses. Good essays. Lots of EC including 3 varsity sports, community service, and Robotics 4 years. My main weakness is that although I’m very involved in a lot of activities, I’m a fairly low-key kind of person, so I’m not team captain, class president, etc and I’m afraid I don’t look like enough of a “leader.” Anyway I visited UW and I really loved it. Very nervous about chances, especially being OOS. Deferred from U Mich and accepted at Purdue. Grateful for any thoughts.
I’m OOS as well(and deferred from Mich lol), and I was told that direct admit is pretty much impossible and only for in-state. So we would have to go the typical route of applying while at UW.
@Calima, you will probably be accepted to a few top UCs – UCB, UCLA, UCSD, etc. Why UW? Will you actually pay $20,000 per year more than a UC to study in UW?
The new Direct to College system guarantees a slot in the College of Engineering, though not your particular major. When students apply to the engineering majors, the Direct to College students are at the front of the line – but it’s a new system so hard to say how things will shake out for kids who don’t get it.
Direct to major is indeed extremely selective and focused on in-state students. If you don’t even get Direct to College it would be hard to justify paying OOS tuition.
Re #3: Excerpts from UW website:
“At the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, the Direct to College admission option will be available to students pursuing bachelors’ degrees in computer engineering, which are awarded through the College of Engineering. The Allen School’s computer science degree, which is awarded through the College of Arts & Sciences, will not be a part of the new Direct to College program. Instead, the Allen School will continue to offer its existing Direct Admission program, through which roughly 20% of new computer science majors are enrolled as freshmen each year.”
“If you were not offered Direct Admission, it is not an indication of your ability to excel in this discipline. Instead, it is an indication of the small number of students to whom we offer Direct Admission. For 2017, fewer than 3% of UW freshman applicants who listed Computer Science or Computer Engineering as their first-choice major were offered Direct Admission; these students had an average unweighted GPA of 3.97; average test scores of ACT 34, SAT Math 764, and SAT Verbal 758; took a rigorous high school curriculum; provided evidence of meaningful extracurricular activities; submitted strong personal statements; and were mostly Washington residents.”
“Students who are not directly admitted to one of our majors as freshmen can complete the prerequisites and apply through our regular admission program. This takes most students approximately one year to complete and includes three academic quarters of calculus, our introductory programming courses, English composition, and an approved science course. Our regular admission acceptance rate in the most recent year was 40%. Regular admission candidates are evaluated based on a combination of college grades and personal statements; Washington state residency may also be a factor in admissions as we strive to fulfill our mission as the state’s flagship public university.”
Re #2: “Anyway, I visited UW and really loved it.” 
Outstanding ACT, ECs and course rigor. How they view your unweighted GPA (presumably in the 3.5 range) in relation to these other factors may be key to admission at each of the schools mentioned above.
Good luck!
Oh, I missed the part that 3.98 is weighted GPA.
OP, did you put “Computer Engineering” or “Computer Science” as your first choice major? That will determine if you go the Direct to College route or Direct to Major route.
Thanks for all this input. Computer Engineering is my first choice. I’m waiting on many schools including some UCs but yes, I’d pay OOS tuition to attend the place that feels like the best fit. Will be grateful to anyplace that gives me the opportunity.
ps- and even for a CA resident, UC Berk and LA are almost impossible to get into, so I do not have high hopes for those. And I’m from SD so although I love it here I’m not thrilled at the prospect of going to college in my hometown.
OK, since you listed Computer Engineering as first choice, you’ll be Direct to College, which is much easier than Direct to Major. I would say you have a great chance of being admitted, and probably with the $5,000 OOS purple and gold scholarship. Now tell your parents to prepare for the tuition and a good raincoat.
Thanks, hope so! The awesome Seattle food makes up for the weather