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OP -- go to one of your safety schools. Get a good $$$ package. Do well, finish near the top of the class, and get some good letters of recommendation. As an undergraduate, try to identify a particular specialty within CS that you are interested in. Find a graduate program with a top-notch advisor in that specialty, and get a PhD. Your undergrad degree will not make much difference from that point on.
OP -- go to one of your safety schools. Get a good $$$ package. Do well, finish near the top of the class, and get some good letters of recommendation. As an undergraduate, try to identify a particular specialty within CS that you are interested in. Find a graduate program with a top-notch advisor in that specialty, and get a PhD. Your undergrad degree will not make much difference from that point on.
Honestly, I think with his quals he should try for some of the schools on his list. If he gets in to some of these private schools, he may get a better fin aid package than at a "safety" school.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Katiana
Honestly, I think with his quals he should try for some of the schools on his list. If he gets in to some of these private schools, he may get a better fin aid package than at a "safety" school.
True. They often have great endowments. Having worked at Harvard I can seriously say, that there is no reason not to go to undergrad there due to finances. The aid packages are amazing.
Finance is just one aspect of the decision. Another, perhaps more important, is the student's quality of life and long-term health. At least half the students with OP's qualifications will finish in the bottom half of the graduating class at a top-whatever. This comes as a real shock to many, who have become accustomed to finishing first, every time. In my opinion, some of the most neurotic people I have ever met have Ivy-league undergraduate educations. It seems to me (again, just one person's opinion) that poor OP has been just about frantic trying to collect trophies since birth, and could (could) be in danger of a burnout. Life is a marathon, not a sprint.
In the long run, it will make no difference at all whether someone like OP goes to Harvard or to Ohio State, provided that he does well and goes on to get a good advanced degree, which is quite possible as a graduate of either school. All the huffing and puffing one sees here about top-whatever schools is mostly nonsense, except in the case where the undergraduate degree will be the highest degree ever earned.
What percentage of undergraduates are from out-of-state?
Approximately 23 percent of our incoming freshman are nonresidents. Out-of-state students are evaluated against the same criteria used for in-state students.
Guessed you missed that.
Most competitive public universities have an in-state admissions preference for state residents. Meaning it is easier to get in if you are a state resident. So out of state residents have much higher admissions criteria than in state residents. That isn't true at Illinois.
just keep in mind that at the most competitive schools, there are a lot of applicants just like you. after a certain point they hone in on creating a diverse and interesting class so things like ethnicity, rare talents/accomplishments, life experiences/adversities, residency, early decision commitment, etc. will set you apart. they have to turn down quite a few qualified applicants. something trivial like being a trombone player in a year where not many other applicants play the trombone is important once you meet the initial criteria. based on your stats you should "qualify" at just about any school so its going to be the extra stuff that makes a difference.
This.
You will very likely make the first cut everywhere you apply.
Keep in mind, at that point, there will be enough students with great stats to fill the class 2, 3, 4, 5 times over, depending on the school. Some will have stats a little better than yours, some will have stats a little lower than yours. But all of them will have passed the threshold, so it won't matter as much. At that point the school tries to build an interesting class while keeping an eye on their averages for the rankings. They also look for the qualities that spell success at that school or mean you will fit into their culture.
You have to tell your story in a way that makes it clear you are a unique person with a different point of view that would enhance the atmosphere at that campus. What makes you distinct? Play that up.
What percentage of undergraduates are from out-of-state?
Approximately 23 percent of our incoming freshman are nonresidents. Out-of-state students are evaluated against the same criteria used for in-state students.
Guessed you missed that.
Most competitive public universities have an in-state admissions preference for state residents. Meaning it is easier to get in if you are a state resident. So out of state residents have much higher admissions criteria than in state residents. That isn't true at Illinois.
Finance is just one aspect of the decision. Another, perhaps more important, is the student's quality of life and long-term health. At least half the students with OP's qualifications will finish in the bottom half of the graduating class at a top-whatever. This comes as a real shock to many, who have become accustomed to finishing first, every time. In my opinion, some of the most neurotic people I have ever met have Ivy-league undergraduate educations. It seems to me (again, just one person's opinion) that poor OP has been just about frantic trying to collect trophies since birth, and could (could) be in danger of a burnout. Life is a marathon, not a sprint.
In the long run, it will make no difference at all whether someone like OP goes to Harvard or to Ohio State, provided that he does well and goes on to get a good advanced degree, which is quite possible as a graduate of either school. All the huffing and puffing one sees here about top-whatever schools is mostly nonsense, except in the case where the undergraduate degree will be the highest degree ever earned.
lol i think most intelligent, high-acheiver types tend to be more neurotic than the general population whether they're the top 1% at the state university or bottom half at the ivy.
i agree there are pros and cons to either experience. as far as the grad school thing, that really depends on the op's intended career path. grad school may or may not be important.
Finance is just one aspect of the decision. Another, perhaps more important, is the student's quality of life and long-term health. At least half the students with OP's qualifications will finish in the bottom half of the graduating class at a top-whatever. This comes as a real shock to many, who have become accustomed to finishing first, every time. In my opinion, some of the most neurotic people I have ever met have Ivy-league undergraduate educations. It seems to me (again, just one person's opinion) that poor OP has been just about frantic trying to collect trophies since birth, and could (could) be in danger of a burnout. Life is a marathon, not a sprint.
In the long run, it will make no difference at all whether someone like OP goes to Harvard or to Ohio State, provided that he does well and goes on to get a good advanced degree, which is quite possible as a graduate of either school. All the huffing and puffing one sees here about top-whatever schools is mostly nonsense, except in the case where the undergraduate degree will be the highest degree ever earned.
Another comment on the above:
My spouse went to Caltech. He went on to get a PhD, however, many of his classmates did not. I also know some CMU grads who did not go on. Why not go for the best school you can get into? You'll get a great education.
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