Hello!
As a senior in New York, I am knee-deep in the application process and just wanted to know what my chances are of getting into the colleges on my list. I am applying as a Comp Sci major, but also have interests in architecture, and engineering, and would like to keep my options open.
Here are some stats that may help:
Weighted GPA: 99.86
Unweighted GPA: 96.33
Class Rank: 9 out of 390
ACT Composite: 30
SAT Subject Test in Math II; 650
Extra Curricular’s:
Head Lighting Designer (Member of Drama Club for 4 years)
Secretary of Community Service Club (Member for 4 years)
Secretary of NHS (Member for 2 years)
Hospital Volunteer (Over 150 Hours)
Wind Ensemble (Throughout HS)
Math Team (2 Years)
Quiz Bowl (2 Years)
Here are the colleges I am applying too (ranked by preference):
(1) Northeastern University
(2) Boston University
(3) Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
(4) Stevens Institute of Technology
(5) SUNY Stony Brook
(5) SUNY Binghamton
(5) Manhattan College
(5) CUNY (City College, Queens College, Baruch)
(6) Clarkson University
Additionally, I need help deciding if paying $170 to apply to Cornell is worth it because of the the 2 SAT Subject tests. I have always been attracted to the prestige of such a University, but I know I have a miniscule chance of getting in. My dad give me the option however to apply to UC San Diego, a school I have similarly dreamt of attending and would only cost $70 to apply to. In the end, the decision of which school I should apply to is not one I am looking at “realistically”, rather “idealistically” - not knowing if I would get denied or accepted would forever haunt me.
Thank you for any help!
How much can your parents pay/year? If UCSD’s Net Price Calculator shows the school is unaffordable, it won’t do you any good to apply. If you have an affordable safety, I don’t see anything wrong with using your last app for the school you like best.
So should I go ahead and spend the $170 to apply to Cornell? (My application fees are already around 500.
@ceroca28 Please answer the below Q’s. Then we can answer your Q.
How much will your dad pay for college? If he won’t pay $53k per year for UCSD, then why apply? You have a lot of expensive OOS publics on your list.
If you’re worried about $200 in app fees, then WHAT will be paying for college???
Which schools are your financial safeties? These are schools that you know FOR SURE that you have all costs covered?
@mom2collegekids: Do you mean OOS privates? The OP is from New York, so there is no OOS public on his list (unless you include UC San Diego).
Most of the school on the list does not have an architecture (only CCNY and RPI?). The annual COA varies from a low of ~$20K for CUNY to a high of about $64K for Stevens Institute of Technology.
Have you visited all the schools on the list? Will you be content if you end up at any one of them? You are interested in topics (CS, Engineering, Architecture) that are among the most rigorous offered and that demand very strong math skills. The extent to which you are competitive for schools 1-5 and 6 depends upon whether you have credentials that you have not included here that suggest you have strong math skills or at least aptitude. Your 650 in Math 2 is problematic. It is exactly at the 50%ile. Naturally that is better than taking the Math 1 and scoring in a higher %ile but half those who take that test score better. A 30 ACT is decent but does not reveal how well you did in the math component. Is your ACT Math higher? You list Math League but don’t include information about your achievement within Math League. Did you take the AMC/AIME? I think many of these schools are reaches for you unless you have omitted important information here. You may have done that tho. because your rank seems quite high relative to the information you included. That is true unless your high school is one of those on the state’s list (in other words, unless the school has low levels of achievement).
If you seriously want informed opinions, you should include more information. How far did you go in math and what were your grades in math and the other rigorous classes? Any awards in Math League? Scores for AMC/AIME? Sub-test scores?