Good matches for me?

flyingpopat
Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:02:54 +0000

I’m going into my senior year and am applying for computer science. This is my current list:

MIT
Carnegie Mellon (I’ve been told to consider this as a safety by numerous people, some of whom attend currently)
Princeton
Cornell
Stanford
CalTech
Berkeley
Rutgers (Safety)


I am from NJ and would like to stay within a day’s driving distance, so I’m not exactly sure why I have those CA colleges on there, but in my head I’m thinking “If I get into one of those 3 and the choice is CA or Rutgers, I’ll go to CA”.

As you can see, all my schools are either reach or safety - I don’t really have match. I was wondering if I could get some suggestions for matches for me.

Here is some info to help (nothing from senior year):

SAT1:
Math: 790
CR: 750
Writing: 680

SAT2:
Math 2C: 800
Chem: 790
Physics: 760
Lit: 650

GPA: 95.67 unweighted, 100-pt scale

I go to High Technology High School in NJ, which was ranked #7 in the nation recently by US News. We’re a pre-engineering public vocational school and have a good record with prestigious colleges.

Extracirriculars:
In School:
• Computer Club Founder & President – 9th Grade
• Biology I Science League – 9th Grade
• Robotics Club – 9th-10th Grade
• Math League – 9th-11th Grade
• Investment Club – 9th-11th Grade
• Computer Club President – 10th Grade
• Physics I Science League – 10th Grade
• Experimental Research Group – 10th-11th Grade
• Computer Club Co-President – 11th Grade
• Chemistry I Science League – 11th Grade
• National Honor Society – 11th Grade (Treasurer of next year)

Out of School:
• Kanzen Gojuryu Karate (Black belt – Training for 11 years)
• Piano (Played for 10 years)
• Violin (Played for 5)

Honors/Awards:
Freshman Year:
• 3rd Place RoboRocks Robotics Regional Competition
• NJ Math League
• American Scholastic Mathematics Association
• NJ Science League (Biology I)

Sophomore Year:
• NJ Math League
• American Scholastic Mathematics Association
• NJ Science League (Physics I)

Junior Year:
• NJ Math League
• American Scholastic Mathematics Association
• NJ Science League (Chemistry I)
• National Honor Society Member

Research Awards (Project Title: Utilization of Silica Nanoparticles in Shear Thickening Fluid as Liquid Ballistic Protection):
• 2nd Place Jersey Shore Science Fair (Engineering, JSSF)
• 1st Place Delaware Valley Science Fair (Engineering, DVSF)
• 1st Place New Jersey Academy of Science (Physics/Engineering, NJAS)
• Most Outstanding Exhibit in Materials Science (From: ASM Materials Education Foundation – Special Award at DVSF)
• Most Outstanding 11th Grade Exhibit in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, or Chemistry (From: Yale Science & Engineering Association, Inc. – Special Award at DVSF)
• Outstanding Science Project (From: US Army – Special Award at DVSF)
• 2nd Place Special Award (From: Society of Women Engineers – Special Award at DVSF)
• NANO/BIO Interface Center Award (From: NANO/BIO Interface Center – Special Award at DVSF)
• Philadelphia Society for Coatings Technology Award (From: Philadelphia Society for Coatings Technology – Special Award at DVSF)
• University of Sciences in Philadelphia Merit Scholarship (DVSF Sponsor Partial Scholarship)
• Drexel University Merit Scholarship (DVSF Sponsor Partial Scholarship)

Could I please get some suggestions on good matches for me that are prestigious in computer science and preferably like a day’s driving distance from NJ?

Thanks a lot.