<p>Do many people consider to major Computer Science / Engineering? I know that universities look for diversity in their academic community, so choosing to major in a program that is not chosen by so many people, will this help with my admission?</p>
<p>BTW, by serious lack of finances I mean I really need a full scholarship (but will compensate with working for the university). </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Yes, computer science/engineering is quite a popular major. If you want an unpopular major, try Classics or Medieval Studies. … Kidding aside, you have the best chances with the major that you would be the strongest student in. Colleges would rather fund an outstanding computer science student than a mediocre classicist. </p>
<p>On the downside, there are only few universities with strong computer science/engineering departments and financial aid for international students. Small liberal arts colleges are the most generous with funding, but they generally have very small CS programs with limited resources and opportunities.</p>
<p>thanks for the quick reply. by now i think i have worked on many projects that might impress the admission comitee.
my question is do i still have any chances of getting a full scholaship (at least for the first year)? and should i call the admission staff and discuss my issue over the phone?
thanks.</p>
<p>You do have a chance, but the likelihood depends on where you are applying and on your credentials (grades, scores, etc.)</p>
<p>hi alone!</p>
<p>i am applying to harvard, mit, stanford, dartmouth, yale, princeton, upenn, reed and some more excellent universities and colleges. my school grades are excellent.</p>
<p>What about SATs ?</p>
<p>sat: 1800 (took it again in december and hope to get more than 2000)
math 1-660
math 2-610
physics-660</p>
<p>I am surprised that I am the first one to say that those SAT scores are extremely low for the universities you are applying to. The majority of their applicants have scores in the 700-800 range on every single test.</p>
<p>That being said, there is no harm in applying as long as you have a good backup plan. Good luck!</p>
<p>For those school the median scores are in the 600-700s range, but they DO accept students with lower scores too (although you wouldn’t notice that after spending some time on this board everyone’s like superoverachievers here). Just make sure you have great essays, stellar grades, amazing recs and ECs. Just make sure you stand out. Those schools all approach the apps holistically so you have a shot as long as you give your best and believe in yourself! Good luck! :)</p>
<p>Their median scores are in the 700-800 range across the board. That’s why I expressed concerns. Sure, there are students who get in with lower scores, but those students seem to have non-academic qualifications (e.g. athletes, underrepresented groups). Getting into MIT on academic merits with science scores below 700 is a stretch…</p>
<p>lol yeh for MIT it IS kinda brutal…okay maybe not kinda but like seriously brutal.</p>
<p>You know, I was never that kind of student to put all my efforts into having excellent grades at school. although my total average grade at school (or GPA as you call it) is 9.58 (out of 10) which is excellent, I have always learnt for pleasure and for acquiring knowledge for myself, but not for building a fancy final school diploma.
as for the SATs, I didn’t really get upset on those scores, because I am confident that I know much more than according to the scores I have received. Guess what did I do a month before taking the SATs? No I was not preparing day and night for them. I was working on my projects instead (and added some more features to my lovely project trustler[dot]com). by the way, I am really addicted to developing websites.</p>
<p>While a good part of applying students show off with their perfect SAT scores, I provide to the admission staff brilliant ideas and projects that I am sure will bring nice results and revenue. I wish I could state some of my ideas here, but I can’t. Not before I register my patents. Just how many students own a little business while still in high school?</p>
<p>As for the last post, I don’t think my scores are brutal. I’d call brutal the testing conditions in which I took the SAT 2 in november (almost 15 degrees celsius, with people coughing and sniffing around me).</p>
<p>I know this post sounded a lil bit dramatic, but that’s it…</p>
<p>By the way, the main reason I want to attend university is building relationships. I just can’t wait to form a strong team and start working, developing real products that will bring benefits to the humanity, and to us - nice revenue. Does anyone agree with me, or do you people think that at the university one should learn very well, and then hunt a well paying job as an employee?</p>
<p>The problem is that seats at these top schools are given to applicants with equally interesting profiles, but who also have higher test scores.</p>
<p>I must admit - you SAT’s are very low to consider getting admission into the universities you listed above. I got an SAT score of 2110 and didn’t even apply to any university, preferring to do my bachelor’s in India itself and considering my Master’s in the US.</p>
<p>When I said brutal I was talking exactly about the requirements not your scores, I guess I didn’t say it clear enough I apologize.
and vosson up there is right, you could have the business and all but you still need the good scores too, I mean, kids that earn six figures also apply for schools like that but they also tend to provide scores in the 700-800 range.</p>
<p>If your school grades are excellent and your SAT retake does give you a score of above 2000, then you have a decent chance, though you should broaden your horizons as far as colleges are concerned. Because as vosson said, their are quite a few students who apply to these colleges and quite a few have SAT’s in the range of 2200 and above.</p>