PeaceandJustice

I am not french actually, but, anyways, I would like someone to help me get a list of perhaps 10-15 colleges I could consider when applying to undergrad-comp sci universities.

SAT: 2260 Combined (770 Reading, 780 Math, 710 Writing)
SAT II : 800 Math II, 800 Physics
GPA: 4.0 UW
AP courses senior year: 4
Rank: 4/300 something (maybe not exactly right)
Ap courses junior year + sophmore year: 3 -> all 5s
Only 2 Foreign Language Courses =(

ECs:

-Novel Writing/Short Story/Whatnot 9,10,11,12 ~18 hr/week
-Philosophy/Ethics Journal 12 President+Founder
-Community Service 12 (make computer programs for city, about 7 hours a week)
-Peer Tutoring 9,10,11,12 <---as I look back, probably my proudest activity
-Computer Programming/Study 9,10,11,12
-Robotics Org. 12 <---program robots
-Cross Country 10,11 <-could not do at 12 since community service interfered timing

Honors:
Honor Roll =)
Calculus Bc award
Pre-Calculus award
Some random distinctions like for writing

I am certified for Visual Basic by Microsoft, and for Oracle 8i by Oracle (it took 5 tests!!!)

So, what universities should I apply to? Do I have a chance at Carnegie or Stanford? Any good safety or match computer science undergrad schools? Is Texas undergrad computer science really good? They dont advertise it in their main site, and that worries me. What about Chapell Hill's comp sci department. I want to peruse extensive research, either in AI or perhaps in how we can use computer programs to help society, meaning solving world problems.

Thanks in advance for all the help

20LEGEND

Amazing stats you've got there.

Think you have a good shot at Stanford et al.

Check out:
MIT
Stanford
CalTech
Princeton
Ivies ..

PeaceandJustice

Do you really think so? From what I see in the forums, it doesn't seem as if I have many extra-circular activities, though I am very passionate and committed to my writing. Also, do u think I need to improve my SAT score. I am trying to raise my writing score, especially as this might incorrectly invalidate my writing accomplishments. None of my novels have been published though.

world changer

You should have a great chance at any of the top schools.

Although if you need a safety, Purdue is one of the best for computers.

PeaceandJustice

Is there any specific part that you think gives me a chance? Is it the certification? If so, I would like to emphasize that more...I'm normally a very optimistic individual, so I am rather shocked at being a little stressed out over this, but hey, thank you, in advance, for helping me out.

world changer

GPA + SAT + Class rank = you should be in at Carnegie, and have a fairly good shot at Stanford.

PeaceandJustice

I see, but isn't Carnegie's SCS program much harder to get into than the school itself generally? Also, do I stand a shot at Berkeley if I am out of state, though I have lived in California for a few years. Thanks for suggesting Purdue, by the way.

Sheed30

think you're definitely a candidate for Harvey Mudd....

PeaceandJustice

But since Harvey Mudd is a liberal arts college, do they have as good research opportunities? What exactly defines Harvey Mudd?

world changer

It's an LAC, but it's also part of a consortium and located in one of the country's biggest metropolitans - you'd definitely be exposed to plenty of opportunity.

greennblue

If I were you I would NOT try to improve the writing score, because practice writing formulaic essays has little or nothing to do with good writing and might actually damage your novel-writing skills. Send your schools a copy of the best chapter of one of your novels instead. Writing novels is an unusual and interesting skill for a computer scientist.

Sheed30

they do have great research opportunities. you should at least research it a little bit.

PeaceandJustice

greennblue, yeah I know it does stymie some of those words that otherwise come; it destroys the beauty of the process, and I would ideally not want to take the SAT again but some of the schools said that they strongly discourage additional info, and Stanford flat-out said that they don't want to read my novel or any part of it, so I am not so sure about that. Except for Carnegie, I think I will send part of my writing to them. I still have to consider though if I am to send a short story which I wrote, in its entirety, or just a chapter from my novel.
I hope to get a combined score of 2320+ though.

As for Harvey Mudd, I don't really know much of the college, honestly. Do they have a strong humanities department as well there, because I would like to take a minor in philosophy or ethics(if that exists).

world changer

I know that one of the frequent posters on the college_help community over on LJ originally went to Harvey Mudd for math, but ended up falling in love with Latin, and even went to grad school for classics.

It's part of a consortium, so you can take classes at Pomona, CMC, Pitzer, and Scripps too, if you want.

PeaceandJustice

true, true, I guess I will give it a shot when I apply. does anyone know about texas or chapel hill though?