I’m happy going to a good Canadian school which is why I don’t have any American safeties or targets on my list
My parents understand the cost difference between the US and Canada and have approved of the schools on my list
Demographics
Canadian, female
Cost Constraints / Budget
Full pay
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
Unweighted HS GPA: 95% for first trimester gr12, 98% gr 9-11
ACT/SAT Scores: 1550
AP Classes:
AP Seminar: 4
AP Calculus AB: 5
AP CSP: 5
AP Chemistry: 5
AP Physics 1 & 2
AP Calculus BC
AP CSA
AP Lit
AP Lang
Awards
USACO Silver
Cayley Award of Distinction
Canadian Senior Maths Contest Award of Distinction
Hypatia Award of Distinction
International Haiku contest winner
Extracurriculars
Unpaid finance internship at a top bank in Canada: Wealth Management (12)
Analyzes stock market trends with Python, building predictive models; writes reports for 15+ clients; increased engagement by 20% through workshops
4 hours/week, 35 weeks/year
Internship at one of the top 3 universities in Canada (11, 12)
Sole high school intern; implemented an account system for 20+ researchers with REST, automated tests, and role-based access; led outreach to students
6 hours/week, 44 weeks/year
Starting the first free library programs for kids in my city (9, 10, 11, 12)
Instructed 400+ students at 4 locations; raised $1K+ for equipment; designed 50+ lesson plans; established a training program for 30+ volunteers
6 hours/week, 42 weeks/year
Manager at a coding academy and Robotics & Coding Instructor (9, 10, 11, 12)
Directs classes for 300+ students weekly; coached 12 robotics teams to provincials; generated $33K+ revenue through scaling and client acquisition
6 hours/week, 38 weeks/year
Venture scout intern for an investment company (9, 10, 11, 12)
Conducts market analysis to identify early-stage companies with high-growth potential; coordinates pilot projects to evaluate product-market fit
2 hours/week, 38 weeks/year
Making a game with Health Canada (11, 12)
1 of 2 in BC advising Health Canada on an educational game; conducted user experience research by organizing a school focus group, presenting insights
2 hours/week, 20 weeks/year
Teaching Coding Online (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
Designed curriculum for neurodivergent students, taught 50+ low-income students for free, developed interactive and engaging coding assessments
1 hours/week, 35 weeks/year
Fencing (Recreational) (9, 10, 11, 12)
Competed in local tournaments, focusing on foil and épée; trained to enhance strategy, agility & precision, focusing on footwork and blade control
3 hours/week, 40 weeks/year
K-Pop dance and hosting events with a dance school (10, 11, 12)
Performed in K-pop dance covers gaining 3k+ views; taught beginners various styles; emceed for 700+ viewers; hosted events gaining 150+ registrations
2 hours/week, 30 weeks/year
Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Training Program (10)
Essays/LORs/Other
Common app: I talk about my experiences with failure as a fashion model, and how it combined with a unique feature of mine contributes to my identity and self-acceptance being Canadian-Chinese.
Schools
Canadian schools (Accepted UBC & Western, waiting on UofT and Waterloo)
Cornell (Rejected ED, CS)
MIT (Rejected EA, Science technology and society)
Berkely & UCLA (EECE and CS)
UMichigan (EA, CS)
UWashington (EA, CS)
USC (EA, CS + BBA)
After these early applications, I realized my profile suits operations research & systems more, hence why all my majors changed. I linked these interests to environmental engineering for certain schools
Princeton (Operations Research and Financial Engineering)
Carnegie Mellon (Business Analytics and Technologies)
Stanford (Management Science & Engineering)
Columbia (Operations Research: Engineering Management Systems)
UPenn (Wharton, specifically focused on information systems)
Harvard (Environmental Science and Engineering)
Yale (Environmental Engineering)
Brown (Design Engineering)
Northwestern (Environmental Engineering)
Dartmouth (Environmental Engineering)
NYU STERN (Operations)
Duke (Environmental Sciences and Policy)
Bowdoin (Economics)
Harvey Mudd (CS)
A lot of Canadian schools as safeties
I’m praying that at least one of these schools will take me. I’d really appreciate it if someone could chance me for the first 10 schools after Princeton, and thank you again in advance!
This is the reachiest school on your list. But you’re competitive at several other schools and if you’re happy with your Canadian choices then you’re going to be fine.
Congratulations on your achievements. I can’t chance you, all you can do is wait for decisions at this point.
I don’t really understand your application strategy, but once you have decisions in, you can make a decision about whether you want UBC (and maybe UofT and Waterloo) vs a US school where
you can’t major in what you want to major in (like bowdoin/engineering, although they do have CS)
you are locked out of the engineering or CS major that you might really want (UCs)
transferring to engineering is possible but may require an extra semester or two (maybe CMU, Duke, and a few others)
Congrats on your acceptances! If you want to shoot for reach schools and cost isn’t a factor, go for it!! As many say, half the students apply undecided and the other half change their major You are fine to try. Don’t worry about nay-sayers. Keep us posted.
Sorry I should’ve mentioned that operations research is more suited towards what I want to do. I realized that I’d rather study something that combines both business and technology instead of pure CS, but also for a lot of those schools they don’t admit by major so I can still switch if needed
For the UCs I applied to the CS/engineering majors I want since it’s really hard to switch and for the schools where I need to lock in on a major I made sure that I’d be happy with the major if I decide to go for the school.
I think I realized that I don’t necessarily want to study pure CS, I think Operations Research or something that also incorporates finance suits the sort of fin-tech career I want in the future. For CMU I plan to study Computational Finance and at Wharton I plan to study their informations systems track so I can still have some CS in my studies.
That I get - if you have safeties / accepts you are happy with, the where you apply doesn’t matter.
I can see you getting in at some but also none at all. I think USC is the best odds IMHO UW has a 2% non resident acceptance in CS. The UCs and UW (in almost every case) are test blind. Surprised at the Cornell rejection but it may be telling - there’s no way to know. You are fantastic but there are many fantastic kids.
Take a look at Lehigh and Purdue. Of course apps time may have passed. Forget the names - which are both outstanding btw - do either of these types of programs I linked below fit what you seek educationally ?
Thank you for the recommendation! Yes, those are definitely what I’m looking for. A combination in tech+business would be my ideal major at any university.
Regarding Cornell, a student who graduated last year encouraged me to apply and was the reason why I fell in love with the school, but she failed to inform me that she had broken the ED contract that year. Our school was blacklisted and everyone was rejected. She didn’t tell anyone until after we applied
BTW, I’m not sure if I mentioned this anywhere else, but if you’re already in at UBC and you don’t end up going to an American institution, you can still apply for UBC’s direct exchange program with the UC system and study for a full year in California (paying UBC tuition):
All of the US schools on your list should be considered a reach for any unhooked applicant. You have a chance, but nobody can reasonably say if you will get in to some or any of the schools you have applied to. Much will depend on things that cannot and should not be shared on a pubic forum such as essays, LORs, etc. I will add that with so many applications, I do hope you spent the time and energy to develop meaningful and thoughtful supplemental essays for each school.
Sounds like you have excellent options in Canada so all you can do is wait and see.
Speaking as the parent of a Ivy student (Penn/Wharton), they and many of those other comparable schools are very difficult to get an acceptance. Most are in the mid to low single digits of acceptance, and when you’re talking Wharton and other comparable programs you’re looking at percentage points.
Everyone applying has the scores, has the requisite impressive ECs. Some of it is luck, but for the most part all of them told us that they could fill a class tenfold with qualified candidates. Scores and GPA get your foot in the door for consideration.
What they’re most looking for is a hook. What makes you different, what makes you special? They’re looking for people who will make a meaningful impact in their industries and change the world.
You have an impressive resume and I’ve no doubt you will thrive wherever you land. Best of luck!
one of them works out for you!
You are fine to try. Don’t worry about nay-sayers. Keep us posted.