I made a chance me junior year before this one to get some feedback on what I should do to maximize my chances at good colleges (I actually found the thread really helpful and got a lot out of the advice there), and another thread a few months ago to help me figure out my college list. I’m now pretty much done with everything (and some things have changed a bit), so I’d like to know my realistic shots at a lot of these places.
Demographic:
Middle income Asian
Scores:
3.95 GPA/4.77 WGPA
- B’s in both semesters of BC Calc, one semester of Physics
- BC Class was really hard and the exam comparatively felt really easy, 5 on exam and AB subscore
35 ACT (35W/35M/33R/35S), 12 Writing
790 Math II, 720 Physics
APs: Government, US History, Computer Science Principles, Computer Science Java A, English Language, Spanish Language, Physics C, Calculus BC
Senior Year Classes: MVC, AP Stat, AP Lit, AP Chem, Phys Ed, Weighted Tech Elective (required for the school’s tech program)
Honors/Distinctions:
- NMSC Commendation (Missed cutoff by 10 points)
- National AP Scholar
- Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish
Activities:
National Honor Society, Math Honor Society
Programming Competition Team Member
- Placed in Top 3 in several large regional competitions
- Organized Practices during breaks
Cybersecurity Club Presdient
- Created and presented instructional materials to the club
- Maintained a website with the instructional materials
- Placed in top 3 in several large regional competitions
Varsity Track & Field, Cross Country for 4 years
CS + Math Research
- Wrote a 30 page paper, may or may not end up being published (could be after I apply)
Volunteered at a Retirement Home
- 250+ Hours over the span of high school
Recommendations:
Programming Teacher
- Will be a strong recommendation. I put 100% into the class, demonstrated a lot of interest outside of class, and was one of the best students. Teacher was also there at programming competitions.
English Teacher
- Teacher scanned several of my essays and handed them out to the whole class, and I contributed something to class discussions every day.
Essay:
Common app essay was proofread by teacher and another student, both thought it was one of the strongest they’ve read
College List:
Super Reaches - MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, UPenn
Reaches - Georgia Tech, Harvey Mudd, Cornell
Targets - UIUC, UMichigan
Safeties - UMD-CP (In-state), Northeastern
If your intended major is CS, move UIUC to the reach category for the CS major, though you may be admitted to the school but not the CS major, it would be difficult to change into the CS major if you enroll as an undeclared student.
https://cs.illinois.edu/admissions/undergraduate/transfer-students
Have you checked cost and financial aid (net price calculator) at each school?
UMDCP CS is now a limited-enrollment-program major, so it will be more competitive than the school overall, and changing into it after enrolling as a non-CS major requires another admission process.
https://cmns.umd.edu/undergraduate/admissions/new-faqs-computer-science-limited-enrollment
Northeastern curricula are built around co-ops. Is that desirable for you?
Your targets are reaches and your safeties targets. CS is much more competitive than the schools as a whole. You need some true safeties.
And OP, if possible I would advise you to change your CC username. It could be construed as racist. Not a good idea to mix ‘dreamer’ with ‘beaner.’ Don’t know where what state you’re from but ‘beaner’ is a racist term referring to a significant minority on the West Coast and Southwest. Combine it with dreamer/Dream Act/DACA and most people should be able to figure it out.