Is it over for me? what do I do from here? (low GPA, CS, class of 2027) [OH resident, 3.5 GPA, 33 ACT, 10-20k SAI]

Applying to College
1

My goal was to get to a T20 but not really sure what to do. This is kind of a chance me or trying to get a sense of where I should apply to. I have like no perspective so I could appreciate if someone brings me back to reality.

Demographics:

  • Not first-gen
  • Lower-middle class to middle class (not low enough for QB)
  • Suburban, not a super concentrated area like NY or CA.
  • US Citizen, child of immigrants (if that matters)
  • Aid covers enough so that I don’t need to worry about costs at schools that cover 100% of demonstrated need. SAI 10-20k.

Grades:

7th Grade
Algebra 1 - A
French 1-7 - A

8th Grade
French 1-8 - A
Honors Geometry 8 - A

9th Grade
Honors Algebra 2 - B
AP World History - B
Honors Biology - A
Honors English 9 - B
French II - B
Choir - A

10th Grade
AP Computer Science A - B
AP Physics 1 - B
AP U.S. History - A
Honors Chemistry - A
Honors English 10 - B
French III - A
Honors Pre-Calculus - B

11th Grade
AP Calculus BC - B
AP Chemistry - A
AP Economics (Macroeconomics and Microeconomics) - A
AP Government - A
AP Language - A
C++ - A

Hopefully the upper trend saves me(???)

GPA - 3.5 (I think)/4.15

Test scores

33 on Spring ACT (school-administered). Going all in on summer ACT/SATs. I’m getting around 35/1580 on practices. Roughly equal for English, Reading, and Math.

AP Computer Science A - 4
AP World History - 4
AP U.S. History - 5
AP Physics 1 - 5

Rest of APs - incoming, 4 or 5 based on practice tests.

ECs and Awards

Three internships

  • UX Intern @ startup (real), summer before 10th grade (unpaid)
  • Data Science Intern @ major hospital, summer before 11th grade (paid, selective)
  • AI Intern @ major hospital, summer before 12th grade (return offer)

In addition:

  • Lead instructor for online CS classes at a science summer camp
  • Prev. TA for said classes
  • SciOly 9th-10th grade, was decent not excellent
  • Debate 10th grade onwards, state qualifier
  • Hackathons (some good ones) – one 2nd place
  • Tech lead and cofounder of school club – pretty good attendance
  • Volunteer for like 5 years teaching Turkish students English virtually, an hour a week
  • Piano, didn’t win anything though
  • (likely) club officer for coding club
  • more if I have time (e.g. cold emailing right now for research)

Awards:

Pretty generic stuff. I think I’ll be a National Merit semi-finalist (I would be based on last year’s threshold). Also some graduation seals and PVSA.

Extenuating circumstances

I was dealing with severe OCD and learned to manage it by junior year (somewhat). It’s bad enough that I don’t want to get into it here. Lost hours a day, especially at night. Not sure if it actually helps explain away the grades (I don’t know the norms for the additional information circumstances).

Misc

Other than that, I’m planning on putting a lot of work int SAT/ACT/essays. I can’t get a counselor, but my school’s counselors are pretty good and I have it figured out.

I have a couple teachers and internship mentors I could get a rec letter from.

Right now, I’m thinking

Reach: any top ranked CS school, + NYU (I really like NYU) and USC.

Target: CWRU, OSU (in state)

Safety: UAkron

I have two questions

  1. Should I still apply to T20s given the 3.5? I heard the upward trend can make up for it, but not that much.

  2. What can I do at this point to maximize my chances?

Thanks anyone for your help, not really sure what I’m doing here.

2

almost forgot, major is CS/Econ at any schools that have it, and closest in schools that don’t

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It doesn’t.

You’ll need recommendation letters from high school teachers. Some schools may also accept additional (optional) letters from others, such as internship mentors, but most won’t consider them.

When you say “top 20,” do you mean the U.S. News “Best Colleges in America” rankings, or the top 20 computer science programs (which are ranked separately)? If you’re referring to CS rankings, keep in mind that many of those schools are public flagships that won’t meet your financial need.

As you likely know already, the chances at “T20” schools is low even for top students, so give them your best shot but make sure you have an affordable school where you have a very high likelihood of acceptance.

Good luck!

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Your grades are probably not good enough for T20 schools.

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thanks for responding

for t20 I generally mean the ones on csrankings.org

if tuition ends up being high but less than 60k my family can probably find a way, so the two definite “no”s are berkeley and umich (which i probably wouldn’t get in)

ideally I would go to a very good private school that covers 100% of need but I think that’s rare (but again i’m not sure how bad my chances are)

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so that means there’s no reason to apply pretty much? or is it still like worth trying while knowing i’m probably not going?

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You can apply. I thought you were referring to US News T20 schools.

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does that imply it’s not worth applying to like Vanderbilt too? like is it easier to get in top CS programs at relatively good schools or relatively good CS programs at top schools?

9

I would encourage you to read the criteria behind the US News rankings. From memory 20% on the nationals are a peer survey, and 100% of the major rankings are a survey, too. You will quickly see that a T20 and a T50 are not very different (or meaningful to you). I think you can maybe pull a T50 if that is important to you. It wouldn’t be important to me though.

Start senior year off strong and go for what you want!

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You are a solid B student with great test scores, above average number of AP classes and impressive internships. If you play this right (meaning don’t get sucked into the T20 baloney) and apply to schools that are appropriate targets, you can do very will with merit. In other words, don’t waste you time chasing T20. And, I would probably be saying the same thing to you even if you were an A student.

If ranking weren’t involved, what type of school would you be looking for?

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i don’t care about anything other than career outcomes and location

cs job market is hard especially for people perceived as average

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I am concerned with your math grades and finishing a CS degree. You likely weren’t ready for the levels you took. You need to master math - because it gets harder and harder but constant Bs likely means you advanced too quickly - BC in 11th.

As long as you have one affordable and assured safety, you can apply wherever you want.

You’re unlikely to get into any top 20 on that list. But guess what, Google hires from N Georgia and Oracle from UT Chattanooga. Life isn’t linear, like students at top rated schools always do better than those at lower rated.

And most those schools are public and expensive. They don’t give aid to OOS. So you need to learn how to build a list - not by rank but affordability. Talk to mom/dad about what they can afford and come back here and ask for ideas or do a match me - and yes you’ll have to disclose your state. If you can’t afford $60k for UIUC OR UMD or $80k plus for Michigan, why would you even consider them ?

Thanks

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The CS top 20 are hard admits too — check the list OP pointed to.

My advice to @hazy is to target somewhat lower-ranked schools. They’re all still quite solid.

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are CWRU and OSU targets?

and do you think NYU is a reasonable reach or ED? it’s below OSU in terms of cs but generally a more prestigious school so i have no idea

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I feel like I understood the concepts just didn’t pour enough time into studying for tests. Did pretty good on a times BC practice test despite the grades.

Financially, I can do under 30k (as well as any school that covers need) but I’m really not sure about the 30-50k range, and neither are my parents (variable financial circumstances).

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You got B’s in all your math classes since 9th grade and a B in AP Comp Sci.

IMO, schools are going to look at your grades and wonder if you can handle the college level work for a CS degree. As you said, CS is hyper competitive.

Instead of focusing on prestige, find a school that will help you develop your math skills.

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First and foremost…you need to identify TWO colleges you really like, that you have a good chance of being accepted, and that are affordable. Then build your list UP from there. It’s easy to find reaches…but that shouldn’t be your first job. Find that sure thing you like that is affordable…first.

I’m going to link below a thread I would encourage you to read…all of it. This is an older thread, and college admissions have become even more competitive. This student was a top student, NMF, excellent GPA, excellent ECs, excellent LOR, and great essays. No one expected him to be denied acceptance everywhere he applied as a HS senior, but that’s what happened. He really didn’t have a sure thing on his application list.

This student did land well on his feet after a well crafted gap year after he graduated from high school. But his senior year was not a happy time. You don’t want to be in the same situation. Again…this kid was a superior student. All the way through high school.

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Ohio State would be a target, but I’d also add University of Cincinnati. While it’s not as highly ranked for CS, it’s still in the top 10%, plus has an internship component and leads to good outcomes.

Cincinnati will come in cheaper than OSU, however, it’s 5 years vs. 4. But, you’ll make money during your co-ops. While OSU may beat out UC for name recognition, it’s likely your internship will lead to a first job. Once you get your first job, no one cares about name recognition. UC is career/ outcome oriented while OSU’s reputation is that it is more theoretical.

At OSU, you will be a small fish in a big pond competing for internships, and it’s very competitive. At UC, you are required to do multiple internships. Securing your first internship may be pretty tough and not exactly what you want, but they (should) get easier each year once you have experience under your belt.

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You aren’t even sure about schools that cover need. Your SAI doesn’t matter. They use CSS. Have your family fill this out.

tOSU is a reasonable reach.

$30k is what you need to target, not prestige. You need an undergrad unweighted - don’t think it’s a 3.5. Find out. Take all your classes from 9-11th first semester minus PE. Give a 4 for an A, 3 for a B, 2 for a C. Add up and divide by the # of courses.

If you have a 3.5 (not 3.49) with a 33, Alabama will be low 20s. UAH, Miss State, Ole Miss and more will be in the 20s. Central Michigan is another. These all reward GPAs/SATS with $$

Again, you need assured and affordable. Prestige is not relevant. Affording college is. If you bust tail you’ll have the same opportunities. Many ‘top’ schools have kids that can’t find jobs.

But you have to look at any school’s net price calculator (private) to see what they’ll charge. Don’t assume you can afford them. And you have to find schools you know you can get in and afford - Ohio U, Miami etc. Those are your safety valves - ie your worst case. They are the most important schools on your list.

I do think your math is a problem - not the grades but the mastery. You may get crushed in college. You should seek tutoring. What is your math plan next year ?

Whatever you do, retake calc in college. Yep do it again.

But when you have a budget, you need to build your list to it, not to desire or prestige. But talk to mom and dad. Make sure they are willing and able to pay $30k a year. Don’t sssume.

Good luck

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I used the NPC. I talked to my parents already. Thanks for the help.