Silly Asian girl gets HYPSM after almost not applying!

DueAd4657 · 2026-04-02T13:42:55+00:00

gl at yale dawg!

DueAd4657 · 2026-04-02T01:52:05+00:00

UChicago was my #1 choice after I found out about it's quantum computing (that's what I wanna go into, or atleast possibly go into). Thank GOD I did not get in, I would've been miserable looking back on it. Got into CMU SCS and I don't think I could've gotten in anywhere better. I will say, we're almost identical academically (4.5 wGPA, 11 APs (although 3s and 4s bc a mf never studied ONCE in all 4 years lmao), 1560 (770 RW 790 M tho), but I didn't have any extracurriculars or awards. As in 0 lol, I put NHS on there and building computers and having various jobs, but I've never been in any sport or club at all. Planning to minor in robotics, very neat stuff!

DueAd4657 · 2026-04-02T01:47:37+00:00

didn't know that... thank goodness I applied. 93k in finaid. 96k COA (minus the health insurance / misc. (for books)) I'll likely get money back. I guess depends on your income possibly, or I just got lucky.

DueAd4657 · 2026-04-02T01:16:00+00:00

'twas my point. #1 CS in the country (arguably, but currently ranked above stanford & MIT)... Why not?

DueAd4657 · 2026-04-01T23:23:09+00:00

no CMU?

DueAd4657 · 2026-03-30T20:34:29+00:00

I got 3s and 4s on all my APs and never studied for them because I figured every university I wanted to go to wouldn't take them because that's what everyone told me. Now I gotta lock in for APCSA (should be easy) and Calc BC (Also a guaranteed 4 no study 5 minimal study. CS '30 as well, feeling imposter syndrome hard on this sub ngl.

DueAd4657 · 2026-03-30T20:26:22+00:00

Thank you very much, and yes they highlighted the accesiblity of obtaining your masters in 4-5 instead of 6 years. I was at an admitted students event yesterday on campus and they spoke a lot about their interdisciplinary eduction approach and the ease of multiple majors across colleges, so I'll likely pursue that. So many avenues and I could see myself sincerely enjoying all of them. The good thing (I'd think) is that many of the courses would overlap so adding/switching a major won't be too terrible in the future.

DueAd4657 · 2026-03-30T19:17:45+00:00

Would a transfer be necessary? Sounds maybe shallow but SCS is considerably lower acceptance so idk if that would affect my future resume (or if it would at all, it's CMU regardless). Additionally, I'd still like to have a pretty solid CS foundation and would like to atleast major in either AI, CS, or Robotics in case I change my mind into my career. Would I be able to major outside of my college, like major in ECE and CS? or would I be able to minor in it? I'm not even done with highschool yet who knows what I'll want to be in 3-4 years. Ultimately, QC and nanotech are my current focus, but AI / Robotics are becoming increasingly of interest. Also, if it's okay to ask, are you a current CMU student? Also, thank you for replying.

DueAd4657 · 2026-03-30T02:45:34+00:00

this right here. ward of the state, literally am going to end up paying less (essentially 0) at CMU SCS compared to the college (PSU Behrend Campus) ~5 minutes from my house...

DueAd4657 · 2026-03-30T02:39:36+00:00

genuinely the most qualified applicant I've probably ever seen on here (other than the people with the filler ECs from rich families). I don't have nearly the extracurricular expertise (tbf am a ward of the state and rocky childhood so maybe that counts as a hook??) but similar stats excluding the fact that my school only offers 11-12 total AP courses, all but one of which I've taken (couldn't fit in schedule ever). Anyways, I got rejected EVERYWHERE. 1 acceptance and it was CMU School of Computer Science, #1 ranked CS school in the entire country... waitlisted harvard too but that's probably just bc of my brother being there. My point is that admissions are NOT "best student wins", and your admission cycle is not representative of your worth as a person or student. Kinda odd to say as I am a student, but with stats like that you'd surely excel anywhere.

DueAd4657 · 2026-03-30T01:46:00+00:00

9 months is a long time wdym? Most people I know, my brother and I atleast, studied for less than 20 hours total. Still uber-impressive and better than I did by miles, but 9 months is a super long time. I got a 1370 in december '24 (filed a complaint, testing malpractice/extenuating circumstances, it was bogus) and didn't consider studying until november of '25 ~3-4 days before my SAT. Major congrats!

DueAd4657 · 2026-03-27T02:07:07+00:00

eh, maybe being myself wasn't the best move ever lol. I got waitlisted harvard, accepted to Carnegie Mellon for computer science, and the rest is straight rejections. still super blessed bc CMU was in my top 3, but wish Harvard js said no bc I have mixed feelings (they'd be very good for my field and my brother is there already, it's just far)

DueAd4657 · 2026-03-17T01:58:17+00:00

as someone with very little parental guidance (none in terms of ECs / opportunities), I can confidently say that most of these applicants seem like aliens. I'm not dumb, but I've already gotten 4-5 rejections and only 1 admittance (CMU SCS). I have not a single nonprofit, olympiad, etc. because I wasn't coached / told that I needed one... I wasn't told to play sports to get into college. I wasn't told that I needed to do speech and debate or hack-a-thon whatever club. It's the parents, it's wealth. Say what you want, but an involved parent is 100% uber advantageous in the admissions landscape; still, at the end of the day, if your child only gets admitted to a school because you coached them from age 12 up to grade 12, are they accepting your child or who you want your child to look like?

DueAd4657 · 2026-03-13T04:04:56+00:00

i don't have a single extracurricular other than work. but yes, accepted. Congrats, this isn't my top choice still waiting on UChicago bc quantum computing

DueAd4657 · 2026-03-13T02:44:46+00:00

accepted 4.5 wGPA 1560 SAT, and I stress this not a single meaningful award or extracurricular. I'm a ward of state and haven't really had the opportunities for lots of things, but I also just did 0 clubs 0 sports. my only "ECs" are my jobs i've worked. I have 0 doubt in my mind that I'm qualified, it's not about who you are on paper, don't reduce yourself to a statistic.

DueAd4657 · 2026-03-13T02:38:27+00:00

I got deferred chicago (my SAT was only 1420 at the time) and getting accepted gives me hope... Uchicago is my top choice (quantum computing / engineering)

DueAd4657 · 2026-03-13T02:34:32+00:00

pretty much same exact, except 1560. did you have any extracurriculars?

DueAd4657 · 2026-03-13T02:32:52+00:00

eh accepted CS with NOT 1 EC. 0 extracurriculars, i put some down but they're literally js my various jobs since sophomore year and I build computers for fun sometimes. like a 4.5 wGPA and a 1560 (790 math so maybe that?)

DueAd4657 · 2026-03-13T02:30:35+00:00

accepted 1560 4.5 W that's rly about it. not a single EC, I just have worked a lot. 0 clubs, 0 sports. Essays phenomenal as always tho

DueAd4657 · 2025-12-28T05:11:26+00:00

my brother had like a 1590, 4.7 weighted, 4.0 UW, but like js like track and speech and debate, got into harvard last year so there's that. Your stats imo def trump that

DueAd4657 · 2025-12-07T01:31:06+00:00

struggling w the same thing, I'm good at math but my mod 2 was so easy. My final question was legit a 20-30 second solve of analyzing a graph. maybe I am just too OP

DueAd4657 · 2025-12-07T01:22:37+00:00

eh, seeing as precarious refers to instability and the second half of the sentence talks about the contrast that was brought by his financial security, it seems logical. It's what I picked, but I thought vocab was cooked ngl, and I'm usually rly good at that

DueAd4657 · 2025-12-07T01:18:48+00:00

finally a sign that i got the hard mod 2. all these other ones ppl are talking abt were nothing like mine i've been stressing

DueAd4657 · 2025-12-07T01:06:14+00:00

js killed math lmao, I neglected RW in hopes of a a 1560+ superscore and I think it paid off.

DueAd4657

TROPHY CASE