Chance me: Bay area kid looking for CS [1560 SAT, 4.0 UW GPA, NMSF, CA]

I’m guessing you are the parent based on the comment - kid is a good writer?

You are full pay - but you are also NMSF and NMF. Is there a desire to take advantage - i.e. get a full ride or near full ride but at names you likely aren’t interested in - Alabama, Tulsa, UT Dallas, and more - thus saving you between $150K + and $400K in costs?

When you have NMF (and you mentioned), it should at least be given consideration - if even for just a second to ensure you know what it brings. So that’s a possible suggestion for addition.

Looking at your list - I like it and think you graded it appropriately.

While the UCs won’t look at the test so I won’t comment there, I’m assuming you’ve researched the various GPAs to see where you fit. If not, others will provide that info but I’m sure you’ll have at a minimum several entries.

If I had worries, it’d be this:

Spanish 3 - at a school like Princeton, which recommends four years, it may keep you out - but you have a varied list for that reason. So it’s not too much a concern.

Your ECs. I’m not saying colleges will see them this way as I’m not an AO and all AOs are different but I see them as - too narrow - although the piano playing is a nice diversifier.

In other words, I see academic stuff but I don’t see band or theater or sports or walking dogs at the shelter or tutoring kids at the Boys & Girls club. Hopefully you can show impact and tenure but I don’t see a kid being a kid. That’s just how I think - it doesn’t mean an AO thinks that way. As far as club President, it depends what the club did and the students impact but I don’t think you needed to do anything related to the major. I think that’s overblown and in this case not relevant.

And taken from another thread earlier in the day on is research seen as real or fake for admissions - in the programs the student participated, it may come down to how it is presented in regards to showing impact or what can be proven, etc. to determine how an AO might weight it. So the description is likely very important, etc.

And at some you won’t declare a major up front (Harvey Mudd).

I like your list though and do think it’s graded appropriately.

But you have enough schools of heft on here that if you don’t get in to some or any of the lower probability and low probability, it’s no big deal.

Fine list - and I wish your student well.

I noted another thread earlier today and I’m posting it for your review. That said, your student is who they are - and I’m sure they’ll do well. The topic isn’t research but it is discussed in the thread.

Best of luck.

Do AOs at top schools see through the whole “nonprofit/club-founder/passion project” bs? - Applying to College - College Confidential Forums

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