Chance Me – Fall 2027 Computer Science [3.9 GPA, 1540 SAT, <$30k, U.S. citizen living abroad]

Chance Me / Match Me
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Hi everyone!

I’m a U.S. citizen and an out of state applicant applying for Fall 2027 for Computer Science.

Budget: Can afford up to $30K/year after financial aid/scholarships.

SAT: 1540 (Math 790), GPA: 3.9/4.0

I’m planning to apply:

  • Rice — ED1

  • WashU

  • RPI

  • RIT

  • WPI

  • Case Western Reserve

  • Lehigh

Could you please chance me for these schools for CS? I’d appreciate an honest assessment of which are reaches, targets, and safeties.

I’m also open to suggestions for other CS schools that might be a good fit, especially if they can come within my budget.

Thanks!

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Your parents should run the net price calculators on each. You can afford to pay X - but what will the school’s say your family can afford to pay. That’s what matters - so google the school and NPC - and have your parents fill out.

You’ve listed all private universities - so your residence status is irrelevant for cost although may be relevant for building a geographically diverse class. In other words, if there’s two identical students, one is from Mass and the other from Wyoming, WPI might choose Wyoming.

You’ve told us nothing about you but a GPA and SAT.

What classes have you taken in English, Math, Foreign Language, Social Science, Lab Science.

What ECs have you had?

You should follow the chance me template.

But when you have a budget, you need to build a list for the budget, not for your desire. Some of your schools don’t portend to meet need so even if you have it, they might not be affordable.

So your in state public - which state do you live - might offer a $30K price? With your stats, assuming you’ve taken the right courses, schools like Alabama, UAH, Miss State, Ole Miss, W Carolina, C MIchigan, WVU and more will meet $30K. You may not love the names but they are sure things - and those are the most important schools - finding those that will meet $30K. There are others.

Here’s a couple NPCs as examples - as these schools state they will meet need - but others like RIT and WPI don’t promise that and you should fill out their templates too.

Back to the chance me, you need to be specific - from where you live to course taken and more - so we can better guide you.

Net Price Calculator | Financial Aid | Case Western Reserve University

Welcome | Net Price Calculator

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How to post a ‘Chance Me / Match Me’ thread – START HERE - Chance Me / Match Me - College Confidential Forums

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Have you and your parents used the net price calculator on each college website, and do the results come up to $30k or less?

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Yes. We ran the net price calculators, and the estimates are coming out around $40K/year. Our budget is around $30K, so if admitted, I may appeal the financial aid package.

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I’ve taken English, Math, Physics, Chemistry, Social Science, and Computer Science in Grades 10–12, with Biology in Grade 10. I also scored a 5 on AP Calculus BC. My extracurriculars are moderate.

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What about AP Computer Science? Any exam scores you’d like to share?

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AP Computer Science: Not taken

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I assume you are taking A and not Principles. What is your state of residence?
Also, can you provide us with some information about your extracurricular activities, any leadership, awards - you can update this in the profile section?

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This isn’t a strategy that you should use.

If an NPC shows $40K, then it’s a school you likely shouldn’t apply to. instead of a Rice, you can take a shot at schools like Vandy and Wash U that have full merit. Rice may have too - but appealing a need award is not a strategy to find an assured program.

You need to find assured and affordable programs. They, not your list, are the most important schools. Companies like goodgle hire kids from places like N Georgia. Oracle hired a friend’s niece from UT Chattanooga. You don’t have to be at a big name.

You have to be at a school you can afford - first and foremost.

So you need to revise your strategy.

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Please fill out the template - so we can see which classes and which levels (besides BC) you’ve taken.

Again:

English - what have you taken and the highest level

Math - we know Calc BC

Social Science - what have you taken and the highest level

Lab Science - what have you taken and the highest level

Foreign Language - what have you taken and the highest level.

Telling me moderate ECs says little. Again, fill out the Chance Me Template in full.

Your info is incomplete - but in general, you have a list of schools you can’t afford. That makes zero sense. Schools that give need aid use formulas - so your appeal is highly unlikely to be successful.

Where do you live - what state?

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I’m not taking AP Computer Science A. Computer Science is part of my regular Grade 11–12 curriculum. I took AP Calculus BC and scored a 5. I’m a U.S. citizen currently living abroad.

My extracurriculars are moderate, including:

  • Founded the Junior Coders Club
  • Sports Tournament Organizer
  • Coded a Python Math-Sprint game for middle schoolers
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If your username is your real name, you may want to change it to protect your privacy. Here’s how.

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OK - so there are colleges that will 100% meet your budget. But I assume you don’t have residency in any state.

Are you 100% coming to the US or you have alternatives abroad?

There are schools that have full rides that are merit based - Vandy, Wash U, Emory, maybe a Rice (you have to check), Washington & Lee, Davidson, and more. Less competitive (more likely) might be an ECU and UNCC.

I listed some above that might hit $30K. U Kansas is another possibility - although I don’t think assured - to hit $30K - as far as a big name flagship.

But your current list, on those you get into, unless you expand your budget, are likely to upset you because you will say, I need you to take $10K off and they’ll say no - and then what’s the point? Are you going to pay the extra $10K?? Or you can’t go.

Don’t forget, there is travel, health insurance and other fees too.

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Thanks for clarifying! You should be able to self-register & take the AP Computer Science A exam next May, at your own expense, if you need the score for a particular college.

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Thank you very much for your guidance. I will look into the other schools as well and run the NPC for them. I am only looking at U.S. schools.

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I’m not aware of any college that requires applicants to submit an AP score as part of their application. Which ones did you have in mind?

It may turn out that no US school is affordable. College costs here are the highest in the world, and the cost of living can be significant too. I strongly recommend having a backup plan that includes schools in the country where you’re currently residing.

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Ram_Kumar may want an AP exam score to pass out an intro CS subject, depending on the college he chooses to attend.

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Do not apply ED to a school where the NPC doesn’t show affordability.

Regarding appealing, if it’s just a need based school, what would you base the appeal on?

If it’s a school that gives both need and merit based aid, and the NPC doesn’t include merit, you might still apply if the NPC is close, and then appeal the FA package. But, just know, the appeal might not be granted or get you to the price you need. Really think about whether you want to be in that position or not…it would be a big bummer to be accepted and not be able to attend because said school is unaffordable.

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The student is American so lots will hit cost with merit aid based on performance.

I put some above in my first post.
There are more. U New Mexico is another. Truman State may.

But there will be plenty of affordable if the OP applies to them. But that will require geographic flexibility - and not achieving the big name.

No doubt all these schools put out very successful grads, especially the flagships like UNM, Alabama, Ole Miss, WVU and Ms State. U Kansas looks like it’d be $33k ish today but there’s inflation. And travel and health insurance. These are just tuition, fees, room and board.