I know there are a lot of posts like this, but like many others, I could definitely use some help. I’m a high school senior looking for schools with great computer science/software engineering programs that have good reputations amongst companies and whose degrees are actually of value (I guess the two go hand in hand anyways). I attend a private college predatory school and have a 31 ACT composite and a 34 if superscored but have not taken the SAT nor any subject tests. My UW GPA is 3.69 as of the end of junior year and a 4.78 weighted. I have only taken honors courses or above (i.e. AP or advanced honors math), and hold a 3 on the APUSH exam and 5s on both the Art History (before they revised the test) and English Lang. and Composition tests. However, in conjunction with the latter two, I also took AP Physics I and AP Computer Science A my junior year, but felt unprepared for both tests so I didn’t feel it was right to spend money only to have a high risk of a failing score. Additionally, I overloaded junior year and ended up with a few low 80s which equate to Cs at my school (in math and physics), mostly Bs and a couple of As. I can give more information about ECs on request or other details of my school career, but based off these factors alone, where should I be looking?
(Also: I’m currently in AP Chinese with 3 years of Honors Chinese under my belt. Does this set me apart and help my admissions chances or is it just another language?)
What is your family budget? Home state?
Specifics on school type: Large/Small, LAC/Private/Public. Specific geographic location. Grrek life, sports etc…
A few comments:
–Try using the supermatch tool to the left (under find a college).
–Get your hands on some good college guide books (ex. Fiske, Princeton Review, Insiders Guide) and start reading. These books can often be found in the guidance dept. or a library.
–Talk to your parents and see if they have any limitations (ex. financial, geographic, anything else).
–Think about what you want in a college (ex. size, location, big time sports, Greek Life, etc.)
–Since you are in a private college prep school your guidance counselor should be able to give you good suggestions and he/she would have the best sense of what types of schools students with your academic profile have been accepted to in the past.
Regarding Gumbymom…
My parents still have not given me a set number but they have hinted they can afford around 15-20 k each year. I think they are just trying to see how much aid I will get before they’ll tell me how much they are willing to commit.
My homestate is Kentucky, born and raised.
As for school type, I have no preference really. I’ve looked into everything from UIUC to RHIT to Cal Poly.
I’d prefer to be on a coast, and not in the southeast, but school merit of course trumps this factor.
Greek life would be nice but it’s not a huge factor to me.
I’m not a native speaker, no, but I wasn’t sure if mandarin was a common course taught at many schools.
Sports are similar to Greek life for me. School > most everything. (I myself am not an athelete, if that’s what you’re asking)
A few details…
I do volunteer, have around 200 hours on record
Am a video game fanatic. Have founded a competitive league within my school, HOPEFULLY expanding this year
Have received several school awards, including an academic achievement award every year and the school spirit award freshman year
Diagnosed with ADHD at the start junior year, did not get extra time on ACT nor AP tests though
Have struggled with depression since sophomore year (diagnosed summer going into senior year). Currently looking into medication, but still learning to cope.
Some other ECs I’ve enjoyed during my time at school: Guitar club (1 year), Y-Club (mock UN meetings, mock state level governmental meetings, bill author, 3 years), Future Physicians of America, (4 years), NHS (1 year), VP of Video Gaming Club (3 years)
Member of National Chinese Honors Society
AP AB Calc
AP Chinese
AP Computer Science Principles
AP English Literature and Composition
H. Creative Writing
Study Hall
Sacraments/World Religions (1st/2nd semesters)
