Alright this is gunna be kinda long so bear with me:
I want to get my B.S. in Computer Science. Where should I go?
Here’s my summary:
Reject: Stanford (EA) Berkeley (RD, EECS) USC (RD) MIT (RD) UDub (RD, Direct admit CS)
Waitlisted: CMU (Priority waitlist all schools of engineering including CS)
Accept: UT Austin (RD, CS) Georgia Tech (RD, CS) UCLA/UCSD (RD, CS), UNC (RD, CS), Udub (RD, Pre-science), Portland State (RD, CS, (safety))
Pending: Upenn (Applied to the highly competitive MNT program, straight up honest: expecting a reject based on results so far. Each year about 100 are admitted around the nation, similar to the selectivity of Stanford, MIT, DA to Udub CS, Berkeley, etc. Expect general admission to the school of CS and Engineering (second choice to the MNT program)).
Overall Stats:
Testing:
ACT: 34 (34 E 34 M 32 R 35 S)
SAT II: Chemistry (780), Physics (800), Math II (800)
AP (most schools didn’t ask): Chem (4), Lang (4), Physics B (5), Calc AB (5), Stats (5), Comp Sci A (5) (that’s all the school has offered)
GPA/Coursework:
4.00 UW, 4.41 W
Enrolled as a Reed Scholar and a PSU Link Scholar. Basically I take classes every semester at Reed and PSU in addition to school work. Started PSU as a Junior, Reed this year. Have taken Calc III (essentially AP Calc BC), Calc IV (Multivariable), Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, and Applied Linear Algebra (essentially the sequel to linear Algebra, sounds as fun as it was >.< ) at PSU and just Knot Theory at Reed. Currently taking Analysis at Reed and am done at PSU. I have gotten A’s in all my college classes.
Senior Year Coarseload: AP Env. Science, AP Lit, Econ/International Relations (1st/2nd Semester, Web/Game Design (1st/2nd Semester), Differential Equations/Applied Linear Algebra (1st/2nd semester), Knot Theory/Analysis (1st/2nd semester). Maybe colleges saw this as too little? I’ve seen some people take like 8 or 9 APs their final year lol. I took 4 APs and a college class each semester (so two total) last year. So this year is less—just 2 APs and four total college class (2/semester). Weight-wise that’s one down from last year but honestly not my fault… these were the only APs my school has offered, and that’s the only amount of college classes I could take. The normal college load for college students is three classes… so I mean two + higheschool stuff should be enough but I didn’t bother to write in the comment sections for each college regarding our school’s lack of APs. Whatever man.
Main EC’s/Work Experience/Clubs:
Leader of Computer Club and Basketball Club. Senior Member of Speech and Debate. Internships at Reed, Intel, and Beaverton School District. Leader of app dev team for the Beaverton school district internship (which is ongoing—I got recs from my mentor which should have been great). Independent research project done at Reed College Nuclear Reactor. Volunteer at local hospital.
Awards
Verizon App Challenge (best of State/Region 2014), Speech/Debate Varsity Letters (2014-16), Reed Young Scholar/LINK Scholar designation, 1st in regional science fair 2014-15, 3rd in State science fair 2015, BPA Science Bowl All-Star (2015), that’s basically it, so no main national award. Lack of ISEF was a bummer. Oh well.
College Stuff
Mostly good essays, will honestly share if interested. I worked my ass of for the Upenn essay and it turned out well… other essays were good but didn’t have the “WOW” factor (AKA the “HOLY SHIT” factor) I’ve seen in some essays. But they weren’t bad aka I spent good time on them (RIP winter break 2k15)
Recs honestly may have been the wild card. To most schools I sent my English teacher/Beaverton School District Mentor/Counselor combo. My counselor and the BSD mentor should have written kickass recs, but dunno about my English teacher. I’m a good student and she likes me, but I’m not the best student in lit. I’ve gotten A’s (hence: 4.00 UW) but some came with struggle (yup, the English ones). So maybe she gave me a mediocre one. But again (shrugging emoji). Why I didn’t send math/science teacher: he was more of a risk factor, as I was a great student but I had more of a personal connection with my English teacher. It was the choice I made.
In Summary: the college journey has been a huge pain in the ass but in the end hopefully worth it. Didn’t get into the top-tier schools but got CS at number 6 ant number 8 (GT and Austin respectively). Also the UCLA/UCSD admissions felt sorta good… they help heal the other CA wounds (UCS, Stanford, Cal). The weakest part of my apps must have been testing as a 34 is the lower end of the high end expected of applying students, especially for CS. So I didn’t get lucky in my college journey (stealing one of the top schools) but didn’t get cheap-shot (rejected from GT or Austin CS—that would have sucked). So honestly if you CS guys end up like me don’t repent too much just take it out on your studies at the #6-20 ranked school and kick ass there and work for Google or Microsoft or whatever and make hella bank and fulfill life dreams. Life isn’t always smooth and going to an amazing school like UT Austin isn’t gunna suck that much compared to MIT or Stanford. Would love to answer any individual question by anyone in the comments! Thanks for reading!!
ALSO: Upenn comes out this Thursday. WISH ME LUCK/CHANCE ME PLEASE!! Jerome-Fisher Program of Management and Technology is one of the most selective programs in the country (I probably won’t go to Upenn if I don’t get it tho cuz their CS isn’t as good as UT’s or GT’s or even UCLA’s or UCSD’s).