Hi everyone,
I am a senior applying to colleges for Fall 2019. I am (currently) planning on applying to: Stanford, MIT, UC Berkeley, USC, Cal Tech, UCLA, Harvard, and Duke. I am not worried about my extracurriculars (undergraduate research, started tech club, art, member of multiple HS clubs), and I expect my essays to be great. I have a 5.3 W GPA, and I am going to be retaking the SAT and taking Math II and a science subject test in the coming months. I am shooting for 1550 + on the SAT and 750+ on the subject tests.
Here is the interesting part: I am enrolled in a unique program where I will have 119 college credits after this semester. However, these credits all are towards a business degree (lacking advanced math, science). Do you think the colleges for which I am applying will value the credits and rigorous coursework and effort I put in, or will they see a lack of advanced math/science and see it as a disadvantage?
All of these schools are so hyper-competitive, that you could get all rejections anyway. You’re looking at schools with an acceptance rate of 10% or less. The real problem with this type of school list isn’t getting rejections, it’s getting accepted to a list of schools you can’t afford. It happens on this forum EVERY year like clockwork. It always pains me a little to tell these kids that none of their acceptance options are good. I’m hoping you’re in CA, because Berkley, UCLA, USC, and Cal Tech have tuition rates in the 30-60k range for out of state. Plus the cost of living in CA is the highest in the nation. Can you afford that kind of tuition and living expense? Even if you got the financing co-signed by your parents, the debt would crush you like a grape. I would put some strong affordable safety schools on the list, because chances are…that’s where you’re going.
Those schools aren’t going to accept 119 credits. Most won’t accept any, or only a few. Is this business school accredited?
Just to address, I have the financial situation sorted out and would like advice on the question at hand. Yes, the business university is accredited and I will not be looking to transfer any credits. I am just referring to terms of admission here.
It is pretty common for universities to require that you spend two years on their campus to get a degree. On the whole, I think too many college credits could lean slightly to the negative. Colleges have an experience they want to sell you. There is a difference between having unmet goals but demonstrating the wherewithal to reach them (needing the college’s help to get there, of course) and already being so far down a certain path to the point they wonder if all they can give you is a prestigious label to stick on your resume. You need to make it clear you are somehow not the latter.
If you are not looking to transfer any credits, it might help to tell that to the tippy top schools. Honestly, though, you would be crazy not to transfer those credits. Use all you can. Graduate from a state school in two years and attend a T10 grad school.
I think most people would like to know what math and science courses you have taken. Same with the SAT or any other tests you have taken. I have seen on here I’m shooting for scores and many have never gotten them. As for the business credits towards a business degree I take it you are planning to do something else? As someone pointed out earlier it’s like 10% to get in these even if you have a 1550 SAT. Just my opinion most others know more I’m guessing most schools are going to me more interested in the math and science classes depending on what you are majoring in.
What does “lacking advanced math and science” mean exactly? Did you take some level of bio, chem, and physics? What was the highest level of math your reached. The schools on your list are uber competitive so if you are missing a core requirement that could take you out of the running. You should be able to look up the individual schools and see the specifics of their admissions requirements.
I have taken a level of chemistry, biology, methods of calculus, and statistics. I have not taken calculus, physics etc. I suppose the classes I have taken qualify as dual enrollment, as they were all taken on an accredited university campus. I have taken the SAT and received a 1520 but I plan to retake it. And to make it clear, I have pursued a business degree at this university but I plan on pursuing Computer Science at any school I attend. I also have reliable backups, so no worry there 
Just to clear up my question, I am asking if;
When colleges look at your transcript, are they looking primarily for core math and science classes, or are they looking for intensity of classes and ability to manage college level classes?
I think I am well equipped if it is the latter.
I think your chances at Caltech and MIT are close to nil. http://www.admissions.caltech.edu/content/academic-preparation-requirements and MIT says calc and physics aren’t technically required but strongly recommended. Not sure about the other schools on your list but again, check their admissions requirements.
Glad to hear you have safeties as the reach schools are reaches for everyone.
Thank you for providing some substance. Much appreciated
For UCLA and Berkeley you need to satisfy the general UC a-g requirements, see this page - http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/freshman/requirements/index.html
Also, UC will recalculate your GPA using their own formula - you can plug in your data and see how you come out here: http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/freshman/requirements/gpa-requirement/index.html (bottom line - only count 10th and 11th grade, and only weight up to 8 semesters if they are AP or IB, not just ‘honors’ classes).