NJ AI Ethics Geek chances at Yale REA?

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Guidelines

Demographics

  • US domestic
  • State/Location of residency: NJ
  • Type of high school (or current college for transfers): Public
  • Other special factors: N/A

Cost Constraints / Budget
N/A

Intended Major(s) Sociology and Computer Science (Double Major)

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 3.90
  • Weighted HS GPA: 4.37/4.0
  • Class Rank: N/A
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 1560

List your HS coursework

  • English: English I, Honors English II, AP Language, AP Literature
  • Math: Advanced Algebra II, Honors Precalculus, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, Multivariable Calculus & Linear Algebra
  • Science: AP Physics 1, Advanced Chemistry, Honors Biology, AP Physics C Mechanics, AP Physics C E&M, Quantum Physics
  • History and social studies: Honors American Government, AP US History, Honors World History, AP Psychology
  • Language other than English: Honors Latin (2 years)
  • Visual or performing arts: Chorus
  • Other academic courses: Introduction to Computer Science, AP CSA, Dual-Enrollment Mobile Application Development, Virtual Reality Game Building, Game Design, Data Structures, Independent Studies into Computer Science

Awards

  1. National Merit Semifinalist
  2. Mock Trial 1st Place in the County (1st time in school’s history)
  3. National Latin Exam Magna Cum Laude
  4. Online Judicial Competition 4th Nationally
  5. Various school honors (honor roll, honors societies, etc.)

Extracurriculars

  1. Research at Yale Digital Ethics Center (only HS in the world working on projects with PHDs, writing my own paper on satellites, visited the building for meetings, it’s really fun)
  2. Research at my state school’s AI Ethics Department (international research team)
  3. Mock Trial school captain
  4. Director of a student led NPO sponsered by Penn Med, partnered with orgs like Rutgers Cancer, etc.
  5. Research at a student-led think tank for AI Ethics/Regulation @ UVA
  6. Policy paper writer for a student-led organization for digital safety
  7. Work part time as a coding tutor
  8. Independant developer (apps, image detection models, etc.)
  9. Foreign language teacher
  10. On Executive Board for school’s GWC club & FBLA Club
  11. Started an initiative to interview local artists and sell their art and lead art workshops at local public libraries to raise awareness about minority artists in NJ

Essays/LORs/Other
Counselor: 8/10 I talk to her a lot but have no idea what she thinks about me LOL
Physics Teacher: 9/10 had him for 2 years and I was like the only student participating in there and I loved that class and we talk all the time
Government Teacher: 9/10 my mock trial advisor talk to her 24/7 literally best friend
Common App Essay: no way of gauging this lol maybe like 7-8/10? about my passion for junk journaling and how different objects in my journal connect to different anecdotes about me helping others/my values

Schools
(List of colleges by your initial chance estimate; designate if applying ED/EA/RD; if unsure, leave them unclassified)

  • Extremely Likely: NJIT
  • Likely: UPitt, Rutgers
  • Toss-up: Stevens Institute of Technology
  • Lower Probability: UVA, UMD
  • Low Probability: Harvard, Princeton, Yale REA, Stanford, Brown, Dartmouth, UPenn, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Georgia Tech, Carnegie Mellon, Barnard, Columbia,Cornell

I really do love NJIT which is why I’m applying to so many reaches. In the (high) probability I get into none of them, I’d be really happy at NJIT - love the campus and all the programs and the community there.

Thank you so much!

4 Likes
2

So no budget constraints as you mark N/A ? Just so you know U of Tulsa would be a full ride (potentially saving you near $400k) and if you become a Finalist, Alabama, similar but packaged at 5 years tuition, 4 years housing and $4k per year - which would cover most of food.

As for your chancing, I like it - I’d say UVA belongs in the next category but that’s quibbling. They cost a lot of $$ for a public - you might consider Purdue instead - likely an easier get and better reputation.

I think you’ve done a fine job, with a solid strategy and realistic chancing.

Good luck.

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I am very impressed by your profile. You are definitely a contender. My guess…you will get into at least 2 of the Low probability (+ UVA) group. Which ones? Who knows.

4

Congrats on your achievements! You’re a competitive candidate.

My take is that Stevens is a likely, and UVA and UMD are toss-ups.

Of your low-probability list, I think your chances at Barnard and JHU are better than at the others. Maybe at CMU too (but make sure that school would be a good fit).

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5

Great and well varied list. I love that you love your sure thing for acceptance.

Looking forward to hearing your final acceptance results, and matriculation decision!

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6

I note you don’t seem to have any Likely/Foundation or Target/Match colleges similar in format to most of your Reaches. Some such colleges might also offer merit to applicants with your profile.

Of course if you have looked into such colleges but prefer your current Likely/Foundation and Target/Match options, that is fine. But if you would like some suggestions to consider, we could help with that.

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I would love some help with that! Preferably within ~5 hour drive of NJ

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Since you mentioned Barnard, I would definitely check out Bryn Mawr. Seems like a potentially great fit for your interests. Great for Sociology, and then there is a joint faculty in CS with Haverford.

Sarah Lawrence would be another to consider. Again good for Sociology, and then they have an interesting AI-centric approach to CS you might find appealing:

You could also consider Jesuit colleges, which in general are in alignment with your sort of interests. Fordham, for example, might be well worth considering:

https://www.fordham.edu/academics/departments/sociology-and-anthropology/

https://www.fordham.edu/undergraduate-admission/majors-and-minors/computer-science/

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