US domestic (US citizen or permanent resident): Citizen
State/Location of residency: California
Type of high school : Public High School
Gender/Race/Ethnicity: South Asian Male
Other special factors: First-Generation
Intended Major(s): Computer Science or Economics (I’d love to do both)
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
Unweighted HS GPA: 4.00
Weighted HS GPA: 4.38 (5 points for AP Classes)
Class Rank: Not Available
ACT/SAT Scores: 1580 SAT
Coursework 9th Grade:
8 classes. Notable: AP Human Geo, Pre Calc, Honors English, Honors Biology 10th Grade:
8 classes. Notable: AP Calc AB, AP Calc BC, AP World, AP Chemistry, Honors English 11th Grade:
8 HS Classes. Notable: AP CSP, AP CSA, AP Lang, AP Stats
DE at Local CC: Machine Learning, Algorithms, Macro/Micro Economics Mechanics of Solids and Fluids, Calculus 3 12th Grade (Planned):
8 HS Classes. Notable: AP Physics 1, AP Env.Sci. , AP Gov, AP Lit, AP Bio, AP Pysch, Python Programming
DE: Object-Oriented Programming, Data Structures, Stats for Economics
Note: I will have completed 4 years of foreign language by my senior year. Awards
1st Place Congressional App Challenge
Top 5 National Economics Challenge
National History Day Qualifier
CyberPatriot Platnium State Finalist Striving to win more awards this year Extracurriculars
President of Econ Club (3 years)
Sent teams to state/national level competition
President of CS Club (1 year)
Organized Competitions and Volunteer Efforts
Varsity Sport (4 years)
Piano and Certificate of Merit Level 10 (4 years)
VITA Volunteer (2 years)
Organized and Trained 50+ Students to prepare taxes for low-income families
Web Development Intern (Paid) at a Union (1 year)
Salesforce Developer Intern (Paid) at Political Org (1 year)
Automated operations with salesforce flow and Apex
Web and Mobile App Development (2 years)
Developed an app that involves AI and Finance. Hope to get more users.
Coding Instructor at a Coding School (1 year)
Teach Python, Javascript, and Java
Web Development (Free) for Local Businesses (2 years)
Essays/LORs/Other
Essays: I will put a lot of effort into my essays.
LOR: I have 3 teachers who know me well that I hope to ask.
Cost Constraints / Budget
None
Schools
I am looking for schools with good CS programs that I could realistically get into. I understand CS is a very competitive major even at many in-state schools. I’d love to know if there are schools that offer a degree in both CS and Economics! Also, let me know if I’m a more qualified economics applicant. I truly just love both of these fields and would love to study both.
NYU might be worth checking out for that combination.
I think you will find that a lot of top CS schools will have great Econ as well, but you might want to check out the curriculum and ease of double majoring or minoring in one or the other.
Northeastern has a combined degree as well, if their co-op approach would appeal. Their combined majors tend to front-load the CS core, to get students a strong skill-set before their first co-op. Computer Science and Economics, BS | Northeastern University Academic Catalog (To Merc81’s point, they have Data Science + Econ also.)
Also look at schools with more open curricula or LAC’s with strong CS, that encourage double-majors. URochester, Tufts, Wesleyan, Grinnell, and Pomona would be a few examples. USC is also very cross-disciplinary-friendly.
Are the UC and CSU GPAs the only GPAs used in their admission process? My GPA seems to be capped by a limited number of advanced courses you can earn credit for.
I think you will get into a ton of schools for CS - but what do you want?
UCs are big and bureacratic.
At many schools you can double major or minor. Schools like Case Western encourage it.
Rather than say, where can I get in (anywhere) - I’d ask - what do I want in a school - size, weather, greek life, sports, environment (rural, urban suburban, region of country, etc.).
When you say this: I am looking for schools with good CS programs that I could realistically get into.
That might actually be any school in the country - so rather than throw out names, I’d like to throw out names that you’re looking for - and you haven’t really provided any direction for that.
I understand. The only thing I’m really looking for in a school is good career opportunities during and after college. Would an urban setting, Greek life, or other factors increase that?
The only thing I’m really looking for in a school is good career opportunities during and after college
Another generic statement - it’s CS.
Now there are a few - Carnegie Melon, MIT, Ga Tech, etc. that might enhance that.
But you can go to name your flagship or private and be fine.
Would urban and greek life enhance this? Not necessarily.
But if you’d be happiest in an urban setting and you want to participate in Greek life and it would make your experience and studies better - than sure.
Stop trying to game - because you will be somewhere four years, day after day after day.
Figure the right school.
My son’s friend is in CS at UTK - had zero issue getting an internship last summer and is headed to an OUSTANDING one in Kansas City this summer.
Find the right school - and while cost isn’t an issue - they range for someone with your stats from $20K to $90K+.
Tell us what you want - and define it clearly - and I want to know what you want - not what you think society wants!!