My chances at good computer science/engineering program?

College Search & Lists
1

<p>Year: Junior
GPA unweighted: 3.46
GPA Weighted: 4.46
Rank: 33/199
SAT: 730M 620V 600W
Courses from freshmen to junior: All honors
Courses for next year: AP Calc
AP Chem
Honors American Foreign Policy
Honors Java
Honors World Lit
Honors Religion (it was required)
In addition to those courses, I am taking a 1 credit independent study course where I write a 40-90page thesis on basically whatever i want.</p>

<p>Extracurricular: table tennis, environmentalist club, latin club, 4 hours/week volunteering
Work: full-time summer job (last summer only)</p>

<p>Intended Major: computer engineering and/or computer science</p>

<p>What colleges would you recommend? Also, do I have a shot at USC?</p>

2

<p>Carnegie Mellon…It might be a bit of a reach b/c your GPA isn’t incredible, but it does have one of the best comp sci programs in the country.</p>

3

<p>Yeah, I’m considering CMU but it’s definately a reach, but even so I kind of want to go away to college, and CMU is about 2 blocks away from my house. Also, from living near it all my life I realize that CMU is a great school, but I just don’t want to spend my time in college being with a bunch of other computer scientists and engineers; I want to go to a school with people who study more than just technological majors.</p>

<p>Can anyone think of any California schools that would not be such a reach for me?</p>

4

<p>Since you live in PA how about Penn State? Their engineering program is outstanding, and even though Penn State is about 3 hours away the campus and atmosphere are worlds apart from CMU. You would be around a variety of people! You could apply to the Honors program which offers small classes. And since you are in PA you would get resident tuition. Since they offer rolling admissions, you could apply early in the fall and at least have one decision in (and if it is positive that would be a lot of pressure off of you.)</p>

5

<p>Wisconsin, Purdue, Illinois.</p>

6

<p>I second Penn State, and maybe U Pittsburgh</p>

7

<p>for CS…
well, CMU is awesome, of course (I <3 <3 <3 CMU)
RPI, lehigh, Rose-Hulman, etc… are good (provided you don’t mind the one-sided academics)
Harvey Mudd! is great, but also a reach
Rice! easier for you as I assume you are OOS, but hard I think
U of Rochester! open curriculum. cold, though
other good places too… I will think of them.</p>

8

<p>New RPI supercomputer center: </p>

<p><a href=“News | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute”>News | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute;

<p>This will let RPI compete with ANY university for CS.</p>

9

<p>Here’s 10 schools I recommend for you.</p>

<p>Your reaches:
Carnegie Mellon University
Cornell University
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor</p>

<p>Your matches:
Renssellaer Polytechnic Institute
University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign
University of Maryland-College Park
University of Texas-Austin
University of Wisconsin-Madison</p>

<p>Your safeties:
Purdue University-West Lafayette
University of Washington</p>

<p>All 10 of those universities are excellent.</p>