Chance me / Match me: CA resident , Rising Senior [3.78 GPA (3.68/4.05/4.23 for UC), 1500 SAT (1530 super), <$300k total to degree, computer science/engineering or aerospace engineering]

Demographics

  • US domestic (US citizen)
  • State/Location of residency: CA
  • Type of high school : Public HS
  • Other special factors: N/A

Cost Constraints / Budget : $300K over 4 years

Intended Major(s): Comp Sc, Comp Eng, Aerospace Eng

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 3.78
  • UC Unweighted HS GPA: 3.68
  • UC Weighted capped HS GPA: 4.05
  • UC Weighted uncapped HS GPA: 4.23
  • Class Rank: N/A
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 1500 best, 1530 superscore

List your HS coursework

(Indicate advanced level, such as AP, IB, AICE, A-level, or college, courses as well as specifics in each subject)

  • English: English 11 (B, B+), English 12
  • Math: (including highest level course(s) completed) : AP Calculus AB (A+), AP Calculus BC
  • Science: (including which ones, such as biology, chemistry, physics): AP Physics 1 (A), AP Physics C (A), Chem Honors (B, B+)
  • History and social studies: US History (A+), Econ/Govt
  • Language other than English: (including highest level completed): Spanish 3 (A)
  • Visual or performing arts: Architecture 1
  • Other academic courses: AP CSE (A+), Honors Digital Electronics (A, B), AP CS-A Java

From other colleges
(Include college courses taken while in high school if not included above.): Life in Universe (4.0)

Awards

Extracurriculars
(Include leadership, summer activities, competitions, volunteering, and work experience)
Tutoring & Volunteering at local library
Game Development Club at HS for 2 years
CS 50 from Harvard edX
Learning programming, arduino & robotics on own
Participation in various math competitions, but no awards
Taekwondo & Swimming, but no awards

Essays/LORs/Other
(Optionally, guess how strong these are and include any other relevant information or circumstances.)
Essay: Above Average
LORs: Average

Schools
(List of colleges by your initial chance estimate; designate if applying ED/EA/RD; if unsure, leave them unclassified)

Not aiming for a scholarship

  • Assured (100% chance of admission and affordability):
  • Extremely Likely: UCM
  • Likely: UCR, UCSC, Cal Poly Pomona, WPI, UPitt
  • Toss-up: UCD, SJSU, Santa Clara Univ, Purdue, Virginia Tech, UMass, Penn State
  • Lower Probability: UCI, UCSB, Cal Poly SLO, SDSU
  • Low Probability: UCSD, UIUC, UDub, UMD

For your intended majors Purdue is a lower probability, especially from out of state.

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For Santa Clara, apply ED/EA for your best chance.

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I would also suggest applying to Pitt as soon as the applications go live. They have rolling admissions so you will receive a decision rather quickly. You probably will have a decision before the ED and EA deadlines for applications happen.

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Based on Freshman admission by discipline | University of California , your 4.05 weighted-capped GPA suggests that UCM is likely, UCR and UCSC seem to be in the toss-up range, and UCD, UCI, UCSB, and UCSD are lower probability at best. At many of these campuses, computer science and engineering majors are more selective.

Based on Freshmen Impaction Results | Admissions , SJSU is low probability for computer science or computer engineering and likely for aerospace engineering, assuming that your math GPA (added for engineering majors) is 4.0.

Based on CPP Freshmen Student Profile: Multifactor Admission , CPP is lower probability for aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or computer science, but toss-up to likely for computer engineering.

For any of the out-of-state schools with early action, apply early action. Some fill up their class or popular majors in the early round, making the regular round much more selective.

Note that Purdue, Virginia Tech, Penn State, and Washington admit engineering majors to first year undeclared engineering; students then need to go through secondary admission for specific majors. The first three have specific college GPAs that automatically admit, but Washington does not.

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Thanks for the detailed reply.

What do you mean Purdue, Virginia Tech, Penn State have specific college GPAs that automatically admit? Do you mean if the student has a specific eng major in mind, and have a certain GPA; the student will get the major of his choice?

Yes, the first year undeclared engineering student who takes the specified courses and earns the specified college GPA in them is automatically admitted to the major. Last I checked, the needed college GPA was 3.2 at Purdue, 3.0 at Virginia Tech, and varies by major at Penn State. But check on the schools’ web sites for current information on this matter.

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I like it but I think you may UMass and Va Tech, you might be slightly optimistic. Purdue very optimistic.

Maybe add an Arizona or ASU or Oregon State which has WUE but is in budget regardless. Unless, of course, you are ok with UCM. You could always add these late if needed.

Two things you have going for you.

  1. You can afford to be full pay OOS
  2. INTL students - if they stop coming.

Ps - your stats would get you HUGE automerit, for example, Alabama would be 20k ish after $30,500 off so that’s another ‘safe’ option.

Good luck.

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Just a note that Purdue is direct entry for CS in the College of Science.

If you opt to apply to the College of Engineering for Computer Engineering or Aero, then you are admitted to First Year Engineering and will need a 3.2 GPA in your first year stem courses at Purdue, to be guaranteed admission to your intended major. It’s typically a pretty seamless transition. You can read about their Transition to Major (T2M) process here: Transition to Major - School of Engineering Education - Purdue University

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Am I interpreting this correctly?

  • Arizona, ASU , Oregon State, Alabama are likely.
  • UMass and VaTech are low probability.
  • Purdue is lower probability.

I would say extremely safe - the first three.

I would lean UMass for CS and Va Tech in the reach category, especially UMass and Purdue as unlikely.

Just my opinion.

In the end you need just one. If UCM and CPP will make you happy, then apply where you feel best. The worst the others can say is no but you still have those two. But if you have zero interest in those two, then why have them on the list ?

I mentioned Bama solely because your stats bring you to $30500 a year off so about $20k all in. It’s a great deal - but all your schools, except potentially Santa Clara, will hit budget.

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Seriously consider ED to Santa Clara since your budget is pretty close to their COA. But I understand it is a tough decision. Another option is to wait for EA results in December and then use ED 2 for Santa Clara.

If transferring colleges from exploratory studies is not a concern add colorado. Also RPI.

Only ED if it’s the top choice - and - if you can go over that $300k budget because you’d be binding yourself.

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Where would RPI sit in in terms of probability? I think it will be toss up at best, but judging from the comments here; I feel I need more safety schools.

Also are you talking about univ colorado boulder? I am not familiar with it, and hence not sure about what you mean by transferring colleges from exploratory studies.

$300k you’d be in.

Are you happy with CPP or UCM ? If so you don’t need any more.

You can always apply to the Arizona schools later. Have you looked at Oregon State or UNR?

If aero interested as you note, look at UAH. It’s in the hotbed of aero.

@OP, for your reference. S24 applied Aerospace Engineering to some of the schools on your list. Here was his stats and results. Good Luck.

UWGPA 4.0, UC CAP WGPA 4.3, UC WGPA 4.3

1460 SAT (780 M, 680 E)

Rejected: UCI, UCSB, UCSD, CPSLO, Purdue
Waitlisted and came off: UCD
Accepted: SDSU (Honors), uDub (Merit), CPP, UCR

Other acceptance not on your list: TAMU, tOSU (Merit), Oregon State (Honors & WUE), U of Arizona (Merit)

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Yes. University of Colorado, Boulder. They usually put students in exploratory studies and it is a reasonable effort to change to engineering after first year.
Oregon State would be another school to add as others have suggested.

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On the flip side at holistic schools (for example berkeley), admission is still possible as they look deeper into your coursework, essays and extra curriculars and not just GPA. Your challenge would be to build a list with more such schools.

It’s true that UCB is very holistic, but with the listed UC GPAs, it would be a super reach for the stated CS/engineering majors. The OP would have to make an exceptionally strong case for themselves in their PIQs and ECs.

Typically, CA applicants with stronger SAT than GPA will find greater success at out of state schools that can see the SAT.

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Thanks, is this Ohio State?

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