Figures:
3.90 UW, Rank 2/560, 30 ACT (33 E, 31 M, 32 R, 25 S), 11 AP Classes, National AP Scholar
Other Stuff:
c/o 2017, founded local green computer company, president of a 4-H Chapter
Plans:
study Computer Science or Fine Arts; I am sort of thinking Berkeley or maybe UI-UC
IDRK how all this stuff works to be honest. Its just confusing. I don’t know where I can apply as a reach, match, safety; my guidance counselors are horrifically ambiguous. All I know is a few big name colleges that sound cool – I guess? I don’t know how good my test score are either 
one counselors say they’re great another says they’re mediocre. Help please :(.
Calculate your UC GPA here: http://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
It’s usually your 10-12 weighted GPA.
Berkeley comp sci could be a high match due to your strong GPA, but somewhat lower test scores.
UIUC I think might be a reach as I heard Comp Sci is super difficult to get in there.
Other good comp sci schools: Georgia Tech, Purdue, U Mich Ann Arbor,
What state do you live in? How much can you afford?
I live in Florida, my family is quite privileged. Right now, I think our annual income is around 125,000.
OH, I have a 4.44 on the UC recalculated 
Unless your parents have saved a lot, I doubt they can pay the $50K per year that most out of state public universities will run you. Berkeley gives no aid to OOS students. You need to talk to your parents about what they can pay. Each college has a net price calculator on their website where you can see what you might need to pay; have your parents help you with them.
I don’t think a 30 ACT is going to get you into a lot of the schools being discussed here (UNC, Michigan). And GA Tech and Purdue may be unaffordable.
You need to look hard at your Florida options. You get a pretty good price on public colleges in Florida – it can be hard to justify going elsewhere if your income makes you close to full pay.
If you can raise your standardized test scores, you might qualify for merit aid from U of Alabama. Do you have plans to try the ACT again or to try the SAT?
The college search is part statistics, part financial, part emotional, and part lottery.
- STATS--Your GPA and test scores allow you to see where others with similar stats have been admitted. If your test score is in the 50% range for a college, you have a chance to be admitted. (If you need merit scholarship money to attend this school, your score needs to be in the 75th percentile or above for that college. And really, you should be aiming to be in the 90% range.)
If your scores put you below 25% of school’s average, you might strike that school off your list. Plenty more to look at. And this is where the safety/match/reach terms come in. It is okay to have 1 or 2 reaches on your list, but you really want to have 1 or 2 safety schools that you are certain you can get admitted to, that you can afford, and that you are happy to attend.
- MONEY--Don't assume your parents can pay $50,000 a year just based on knowing their income. Have the financial talk with them and ask how much they are willing to contribute each year to your education. Better to find out now before you get accepted to Expensive School yet can't attend due to lack of $$. The Net Price Calculator (NPC) is on each school's website. It shows you what that college will cost with your personal data (and parents' income data) keyed in. If there is a self-employed parent, a family business, a farm, or divorce and remarriage, then the NPC will not be very accurate.
- EMOTIONS--Large or small? Close to home or across the country? Urban or rural? Rah rah sports team and Greek Life? Big State U or small LAC? You shouldn't pick a school just on prestige or ranking, but on attributes that actually matter to you. You are looking for a place you can call home for the next 4 years. And to feel at home, you need to be able to connect with your tribe, your people--Artists, nerds, intellectuals, gamers, or jocks. Get your feet on a number of different types of campuses so you can make better judgments of what type of school might fit you best.
- ADMISSIONS LOTTERY--There are thousands of great kids with great stats applying to the same schools as you. There will be too many qualified applicants for the admissions committee to choose from. And a lot of very smart, kind, nice kids will not get accepted. So, you work on your list to include safety/match/reach schools. The parents here on cc can help you with that part of the puzzle.
Google Bright Futures. You should have some scholarship $ available for in-state schools. For some other options with merit aid available (you won’t get any from UIUC or UCB) try here: http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
@powercropper great answer! And oh boy is this true: “The college search is part statistics, part financial, part emotional, and part lottery.”
Yeah, I completely screwed up my ACT science :(. I didn’t prep the first time. Now I’m using the Barron’s 36 book and crack ACT
Ask your parents how much they’ll pay each year.
Ask them if they’ll pay $50k per year for a UC? If they say, no, cross them off your list.
Do your parents own a business?
@mom2collegekids Well, they helped me start little eco-computer business. But it isn’t like something that runs everyday of the year, just during the summer.
@powercropper Generally, I’m like 75-90th percentile GPA 25th-65th percentile ACT. What do I make of that (legitimate chance?), I don’t want to waste money on apps.
@mamaedefamilia Do you think Barron’s 36 will be enough preparation to score higher on the ACT? My only really weak section is science.
If your ACT isn’t in the top 25%ile you will have limited merit aid. Both stats have to be up there.
UCF and UF both have excellent Computer Science programs. The tuition at Florida 4-year universities is approximately $6,400 and COA ~$20K (Bright Futures offers a ~$4K savings), If you want to go to Berkley or UIUC using the savings and go to grad school at either institution.
UAlabama will automatically guarantee you a full tuition scholarship + Honors college + Honors dorm for a 30 ACT for a CS (not all majors get that score/scholarship deal). Apply now.
Ask your parents how much they make and how much they’re able/willing to invest in your college education.
125K is not considered a high income by most private colleges - Stanford considers this low-income enough that you automatically get a full tuition scholarship if you manage to get in (of course, your odds are 95% you won’t even if qualified.) It is too low to be full price at UCB or UIUC, for sure. So, get used to running the NPCs (Net Price Calculator). Remember to do it on each and every college
Apply ASAP to UF, FSU, and either UCF or USF , + NCF if that environment floats your boat
http://www.ncf.edu/academics
http://www.ncf.edu/computational-science
Once you’ve secured these apps, create a list thinking about what you like best:
- interactive classes of 15-20 (about 600 to choose from) and a close-knit community OR very large classes with one smaller section for some, but a dizzying number of possibilities (thousands of classes to choose from)?
- cutoffs and flip-flops or khakis&button down shirt?
- Free wheeling, liberal, conservative, vocal, musical, artsy, crunchy…?
- want Greek life, want NO Greek life, indifferent as long as it’s not preponderant?
Can look into these colleges outside Florida:
- Santa Clara
- St Olaf
- Denison
- Marist
- U Rochester
- Emory
- UMass Amherst
- RPI
- NCSU
Run the NPC on each one. Which are the three or four cheapest for you?
Which ones seem the most appealing and why?
I would suggest you study and take the ACT again. Try to raise that science score to the range of your other sections. I think that will put your ACT score more in line with your GPA.
I wouldn’t apply just yet to any schools where your ACT is only in the 25th percentile, but put them on your LATER list in case your ACT score goes up.
And the real question is How much will your parents contribute to your college education each year? If you can’t afford a college, it doesn’t matter if you can get admitted. And that is where so many students waste their time and money.
Hey! I’ve noticed some concerns about standardized test scores. Have you ever considered test optional schools? Certain schools don’t even want to see your test scores unless you absolutely want to send them! One such school is Marist College. They leave the option up to you. If you think your scores reflect you as a student, then send them but if you don’t, Marist will just look at what else you have to offer and you will not be penalized in anyway. Also, if you are considering Computer Science, Marist is also a great match for you! We have an extensive computer science program with more internship opportunities than students to fill them and a close relationship with IBM.
Good Luck with everything!