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OK, this is going to be a fairly long message, so bear with me.

I am a rising senior from Southern California and am looking at various colleges. The list:

On the visited list:
UC Irvine
UC Berkeley
UCLA
Harvey Mudd College
Vanderbilt
Harvard
MIT
Yale
Columbia

Interested:
Stanford
Carnegie Mellon

Prospective Major:
Computer Science

I'm most likely not going to apply to all of the schools that I've mentioned, but if there are any glaring omissions for my interests/there are any that are way too far out of my reach admissions-wise, let me know so I can avoid wasting my application fee.

My stats are:
SATI 1600
SATII 800 MathIIC 800 Writing 780 Physics
AP (with a score of 5) Computer Science A, AB; Calculus AB; U.S. History; European History; (not yet taken) English; Spanish; Government; Macroeconomics; Calculus BC; Biology
IB (full diploma canidate, 2 tests taken so far: score is out of 7) Physics SL 6, Math Methods SL 7.
GPA: 4.57 weighted, 3.9something unweighted.
Rank: ?/500 (top 1%, exact rank unknown)
ECs: Internship at game development company (great essay/experience)
Community service (>200 hours) with my church, InterACT club (I am the technology chair for it), and Future Business Leaders of America (which I am heavily involved in)
American Computer Science League - 5th place in national finals
USACO stuff...Other stuff I'm too lazy to mention....

So what are my chances, and are there any great schools I'm missing?

By Hockeyduck (Hockeyduck) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 06:49 pm: Edit

Yeah, I think you're pretty much set. I wish I were you.

Respond to "Can I get into these schools? PLEASE RESPOND"

By Amylase (Amylase) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 06:52 pm: Edit

Your stats are awesome.

however in a hackneyed way (since you are in S. california).

Haven't you found that many people here on this board have the same way of excellence as you do?

You must stand out from. Not by your clithe SAT 1600s or SAT II 800s, but other ways

By Bluebaron1616 (Bluebaron1616) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 06:56 pm: Edit

This is what an ordinary student looks like:

1020 SAT
550 SAT IIs

Any EC their poor schools offer for free.

Has to take a job to help support their families.

By Virgo007 (Virgo007) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 07:02 pm: Edit

Bluebaron is close to describing the average student, unlike you, Evil_Robot. Stop trying to show off.

By Evil_Robot (Evil_Robot) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 09:58 pm: Edit

OK, I'm not an ordinary high school student. But compared to some of the posters here, you can easily tell how I feel "just normal". This board promotes that kind of nervousness.

And SAT scores aren't everything, although they help. That's why I put my ECs, my APs, my IBs, and now my college work:
2 semesters of Analytic Geometry & Calculus (Calc I+some II)
1 semester of Multivariable Calculus
1 semester of Intro to Linear Algebra and Differential Equations
2 semester of Discrete Mathematics (required for computer science majors in college)

And for the record, I know of at least 5 people who are definitely better qualified for me for college admissions purposes at my school. 4 of them are Asian though, which I hear hurts your chances. I'm white, for the record.

By Stephenpmi (Stephenpmi) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 10:07 pm: Edit

Are you going to try Early Action/Decision at any of the schools?

If your essay is good, and you have a decent interview, I really think that you are in great shape. (the 1600 helps a bit ;) )

By Evil_Robot (Evil_Robot) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 10:26 pm: Edit

Well I had fairly good interviews at Harvey Mudd and Harvard. Talked their heads off for about an hour which was a little above their "estimated" 20 minutes . I have a true passion for computer science and movie making (another thing that doesn't really fall under an "EC" ;) ). Haven't had my other interviews yet, but I'm fairly personable and not ugly (it helps ). And my essay, well, I'm really not sure about that. But I do have a couple good topics, and a couple "pre-essays" already written, waiting to be condensed and re-drafted .

Now, of all the schools I saw, I liked Yale the most. As of now, the plan is EA there (like everybody else on this message board apparently ;) ). 2nd choice would be MIT, followed by Harvard, and then on down through the list.

By Apguy (Apguy) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 10:56 pm: Edit

IB Diploma+Good Grades+Good ECs+1600 SAT= Unlimited possibilities.

BTW- How is IB Physics SL? I'm taking that next year...

By Evil_Robot (Evil_Robot) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 11:19 pm: Edit

IB Physics SL is...different. I'd say it's about equivalent to AP Physics B with a little less on specific topics but with more variety (options) and a more open-ended test format (most answers were write-in). I would say that you should study for the exam more than I did (day of the exam studying) and get a 7 easily. I discovered my love of physics this year, so that helped. Physics is truly THE beautiful science and it opens up in many ways. Even if you're not so much into science (as I was before physics), you should be fine.

And thanks for all your positive comments!

By Evil_Robot (Evil_Robot) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 03:22 am: Edit

Just a little babump .

By Gunarm4 (Gunarm4) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 10:57 am: Edit

I took the Math Methods SL and Physics SL this year also (7,7). I found them to be actually quite easy as to what I was expecting. I too have grown to love physics and I am applying Harvard EA this year as a physics major. The AP Physics B has quite a few more topics, such as diffraction grating, mirrors, some relativity. The IB goes much more indepth on optics and lenses, constructing telescopes and microscopes using convex lenses. Overall I found it to be a GREAT class, I also had a GREAT teacher. Good luck to you with everything.

By Evil_Robot (Evil_Robot) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 10:15 pm: Edit

Thanks a lot, IB has sure been an unexpected experience for me (had never heard of it before I was enrolled in it).

By Delfin (Delfin) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 10:53 pm: Edit

i'd say you're one lucky guy. you got to visit all those colleges and you have perfect SATI/II scores. come up with a awesome/unique essay and you'll have it made. i'm so jealous! i totally understand your need to brag -- although i've never been in the position to...

Good luck!

By Evil_Robot (Evil_Robot) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 03:52 am: Edit

Oh, I'm not bragging. I've seen plenty better applications than mine. It's just reassuring to know that people at College Confidential think I have a chance.

By Evil_Robot (Evil_Robot) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 08:20 pm: Edit

bump

By Evil_Robot (Evil_Robot) on Saturday, August 09, 2003 - 03:53 pm: Edit

waslam

By Serene (Serene) on Saturday, August 09, 2003 - 07:13 pm: Edit

just wondering in this case what's your dream school?

By Evil_Robot (Evil_Robot) on Saturday, August 09, 2003 - 08:11 pm: Edit

My dream school is Yale. I know you're going to Harvard, and when I looked at Harvard, I just got a negative vibe from the admissions staff/parts of the campus. I must say, most of it is beautiful. Yale was just more physically impressive, however. And they seemed to put a larger emphasis on the residential college system there - something that's a big plus in my mind. And they look like Hogwarts - big plus :-).

You wanna convince me to try my luck at EA at Harvard? ;-P

Edit: Looking at your stats, they look pretty much identical to mine. Were you accepted EA, and what ECs/APs/IB did you have? It'll put my mind at rest ;).

By Serene (Serene) on Saturday, August 09, 2003 - 08:38 pm: Edit

EA. 5 AP 5's. Very academic ECs.

hehe... I was wondering if you'd do EA Yale first and send out other apps if you get deferred. =)

hmm is Yale strong in CS?

By Kwyjibo86 (Kwyjibo86) on Saturday, August 09, 2003 - 08:52 pm: Edit

ordinary, everyday high school student... ha! God bless you sir.

By Evil_Robot (Evil_Robot) on Saturday, August 09, 2003 - 09:18 pm: Edit

I'm actually not sure. I'm truly not sure where I want to apply EA, because although Yale is a great school as an "experience", I'm not sure how valuable a degree would be from there in my field. That's why I'm also considering Stanford and CMU although I don't know if I can get into those schools. Have any advice? ;)

By Serene (Serene) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 12:05 am: Edit

MIT? =) and its EA is nonbinding too.

By Evil_Robot (Evil_Robot) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 11:24 am: Edit

What, so I can be dorky too? =P

By Uciant (Uciant) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 12:43 pm: Edit

how is that an ordinary student... are u just looking for praise or something

By Bft (Bft) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 02:55 pm: Edit

clearly he was joking.

By Evil_Robot (Evil_Robot) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 04:52 pm: Edit

Well, somewhat joking =P

By Evil_Robot (Evil_Robot) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 04:25 am: Edit

bump

By Roosh (Roosh) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 04:41 am: Edit

I say you'll get into all of those schools for sure, except Harvard and Yale of course. Those you have an awesome shot at as well. Just so you should know though Harvard has the best Physics program in the nation, followed by Princeton, MIT, Berkeley, and CalTech, in that order.

By Serene (Serene) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 01:52 pm: Edit

*begins MIT ad* MIT is so nice. It's one of the best schools in the US. great environment (duh? it's in Cambridge!). Two T stops from Harvard and very nice if you want to cross-register. Best business program. And students are very very cool too... not dorky at all. I love MIT. =) *ends MIT ad*

By Digmedia (Digmedia) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 03:04 pm: Edit

ER - stats look great, almost too good. What part of CompSci are you interested in? Robotics (the non-engineering aspects, like vision, speech, etc), AI, Languages, Parallel Processing, ...

At the places you are thinking of applying, check the faculty CVs and see what kinds of research is going on. Also remember that much of that research will be more applicable at the graduate level, but does have influence on the undergrad program.

At many places (I know CMU is one, and I think MIT might be another), you might actually get a part time job working with one of the professors.

Stanford rejected 65% of the SATI-1600 applicants last year (so one of the posts here claimed), so for some of the schools, I think that it IS definitely worth applying, but don't feel bad if a rejection appears. You WILL get accepted to one or more (or many) of your choices, especially if you can specifically target what you want from that school. Last year CMU had over 2000 applications for the 133 slots in undergrad CS.

A year or two back, one of your schools had an essay question of their app which asked "Describe a science activity or project you participated in OUTSIDE of school?" Showing PASSION for something the school specializes in can help.

For example, you mentioned an internship in game development. That would perfectly fit the question above. Are you more interested in the tool development side, or in the tool usage side. Remember that some of the CS programs you're looking at at really targeted toward those who will be heading toward graduate school, not necessarily toward somewone who'll be getting out after four years to join the work force.

Entrepeneurship (which I pick up from your post above) is also valued, if what you want to do is stretch the state of the art into a great business idea.

Anyway, specialize (for these schools), and let them know that YOU know where you're going and what you'll use their school for in advancing you towards your goal.

By Alimshk (Alimshk) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 03:22 pm: Edit

Referring to Serene's M.I.T ad . . . umm, the Sloan School at MIT is for people who aren't very good at science or math. It's not just a rumor, I know two people who go there. I took a tour of MIT, (believe it or not), and the tour guide even mentioned that. The Sloan graduate program is very demanding and excellent though. MIT does have a nice campus and location. My friends say the atsmosphere is too competetive and stressful though.

By John (John) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 03:23 pm: Edit

Don't waste your time with Harvard, Columbia or Yale if you want a good computer science program.

By Evil_Robot (Evil_Robot) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 06:15 pm: Edit

Wow, Digmedia, you don't know how much of a coincidence it is that my mother today gave me pretty much exactly that advice :-D. Thanks a lot! And John - as far as I'm concerned, the undergrad level of your major matters a lot less than the grad program I go to. And I loved the way Yale felt, so I'm still considering that option.

By Evil_Robot (Evil_Robot) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 11:18 pm: Edit

up

By Evil_Robot (Evil_Robot) on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 06:52 pm: Edit

last time up

By Evil_Robot (Evil_Robot) on Saturday, August 16, 2003 - 06:56 pm: Edit

Anyone out there?