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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.