Chance me: NJ resident, 3.6 UW GPA, SAT 1310, Hispanic for CS

Demographics
US Citizen
Male Hispanic
Public High School - NJ

Intended Major(s)

Computer Science or related

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Weighted HS GPA (incl. weighting system): 3.81
  • Class Rank: school doesn’t rank
  • ACT/SAT Scores: SAT 1310

Coursework
5 AP’s including AP Comp Sci Principles and AP Comp Sci A (ended with A+ average)
5 Honors (Chemistry, Geometry, Pre-Cal, Humanities, Biology)
Highest level of math; Honors Pre-Calc

Awards
National Hispanic Recognition

Extracurriculars

-9 month mentorship program at Google (CodeNext)

  • Internship at Recruiting agency creating Excel Macros and interacting with database.
  • Lot’s of independent programming projects
  • Lot’s of independent CS learning, fluent in several programming languages and frameworks
    -Club soccer for 10 years, played at highest youth league MLSNext
    -Varsity captain for HS soccer team
  • cashier at Pet Supplies Plus
  • Volunteer at County Food distribution

(Include leadership, summer activities, competitions, volunteering, and work experience)

Essays/LORs/Other
Strong LOR from my AP Comp Sci teacher who also mentored me on TSA coding competition

Cost Constraints / Budget
No Budget constraint

Schools

Lehigh (ED)
Marist (EA)
Fairfield (EA)
Pitt (Rolling)
UConn (RD)
URI (EA)
Umass Amherst (EA)
U Delaware (EA)

Open to suggestions for other schools in the Northeast that could be a good fit for me.

Fine list.

The obvious question - where is Rutgers?

You have acceptances here - so sure you could add schools, but if you like this list, you don’t need to.

I missed that it’s weighted - thanks @Mwfan1921 . Yes need unweighted - but you have URI and Marist, so still a fine list.

Good luck.

Need your unweighted GPA on a 4 pt scale where any A=4, any B=3 and so on, for core courses only (Eng, Sci, Foreign Lang, SS, math.) Calculate it yourself if your school doesn’t.

So no budget constraint means you won’t be applying for financial aid?

Have you visited Lehigh?

Thank you for your response, my unweighted GPA would be 3.6. I visited Lehigh and really liked it. Do you think I have a chance at Lehigh with my stats if I ED?

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Also, I will not be applying to Financial Aid

Lehigh is a reach but you are full pay which “might” be an advantage. Make sure you get Hispanic in somehow - well it’s your award - so they’ll see that. They can’t take the box check anymore.

You’ll need to go test optional - but it’s a reasonable reach in my opinion if and only if you ED.

Have you looked at Lafayette and Union - both a bit smaller…easier admits but not easy and still a reach. For a bigger school (and you have some biggies), Syracuse.

You do have acceptances on your list as is so no worries there as long as you are ok with URI and Marist. I suspect a few more too but those two for sure.

I’ll ask again - why not Rutgers or TCNJ? UMD is probably too much a reach but you asked are you missing any. It’s strong in CS - so might be worth the app. Have you looked at WPI - might be another to consider.

Thanks and good luck.

Lehigh: What they said about funding and need blind/aware:

For the vast majority of applicants we do not consider whether they are applying for financial aid or how much FA they might need to attend Lehigh. For a very small portion those financial considerations may become one factor among many in an admission decision. In all cases our review will remain holistic and in no cases will the ability or inability to pay become the only or primary factor.

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I would add a school like Roger Williams in Rhode Island as a likely. I do not see an admit to UMass but worth a shot. Many other on the list look great.

Your math level may be an issue for the reachier schools. Especially since you’ll be a CS major, they will want you taking calc+ in high school.

That being said, you have a great profile and I can see you getting into Lehigh ED. Not guaranteed- but definitely a shot.

Rutgers should be on your list.

I think you’ll get into every school on your list minus Umass (with Pitt and Lehigh as tossups). Good luck!

Do you have honors per-calc senior year?

What is the average SAT/ACT at your HS? It may make sense to send your test score to Lehigh, what does your HS counselor recommend?

I agree with others that Lehigh is probably a reach, but not applying for FA will help.

Make sure to continue to demonstrate interest at Lehigh, even though you have already visited. Do an interview, do a virtual student panel. You might also ask your AO for guidance on submitting your test score, or not. Also, after applying setup your portal ans soon ans you get the link and check it weekly (Lehigh specifically tracks this activity.)

Thank you for your advice, very helpful. The average SAT at my HS was 1,170. You recommended reaching out to Lehigh AO about my SAT score, should I just straight up ask if a 1310 is an appropriate score to send for CS? I’d be applying for the CS major under Arts and Sciences, not Engineering school, do you think that makes a difference in the requirement?

Thank you, I will be adding Rutgers to my list.

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Thank you very much for all the info. I will be adding Rutgers to my list and will look into UMD, I was looking for another hard target/reach.

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Yes, I would reach out to see if your AO can give you guidance on submitting your score or not. Tell them your HS and the average score.

I don’t know for sure on your second question, but would not be surprised if the average SAT score were lower for Art and Sciences as compared to Eng.

Note that after you click applying to College of Arts and Sciences, the application will ask you to select three majors you are interested in. The school doesn’t really admit by major, you don’t have to declare your major until end of second year.

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Thank you very much!

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Their 25th percentile is 1370. While you are Hispanic and that’s a hook, your score is well off the 25th percentile. So I’m not sure it can help you but it can certainly hurt you. I’d TO to Lehigh.

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UMD is a high reach. But it’s still worth an app if it’s not too far south for you.

If you wanted another public option, James Madison is very solid, if not too far south for you and a likely.

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Also, check out Bucknell and Lafayette if you want a couple schools similar to Lehigh on your list.

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And Union.

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Some strong CS schools that would probably fall into this category for you include:

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic (lower probability)
  • Rochester Institute of Technology (toss-up)
  • Worcester Polytechnic (toss-up)

And one likely admit that you may want to consider is Clarkson.

Tagging @DadOfJerseyGirl who may have additional suggestions and/or insight, particularly with respect odds of CS at Rutgers.

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