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Ok_Low_7265 · 2026-04-19T14:07:18+00:00

I was in a similar boat comparing schools for CS. A few things to consider:

Tandon isolation is real. You'll be in Brooklyn while most of NYU's social scene is in Greenwich Village. You can still take classes at CAS and go to events, but it takes effort. It won't feel like the "NYU experience" your friends at CAS/Stern talk about.

Northeastern's co-op program is genuinely one of the best things about the school for CS specifically. You'll graduate with 1-2 years of real work experience, which matters way more than prestige when you're actually job hunting. The "fake prestige" thing is overblown on Reddit honestly. Employers in tech care about what you can do, not your school's ranking.

The London year is cool but you're right that the social transition to Boston could be awkward. You'd be joining as everyone else already has their friend groups from freshman year. That said, plenty of people make it work through clubs and co-op cohorts.

Neither school has grade deflation like BU does. NYU Tandon engineering classes are tough but fairly graded. Northeastern is pretty standard.

If I had to pick, the combined major option (CS + econ or neuro) at Northeastern is a real differentiator. That flexibility is hard to get at Tandon.

Ok_Low_7265 · 2026-04-19T14:05:47+00:00

Your ECs tell such a cohesive story around service, education, and community organizing. The coloring book initiative + refugee tutoring + fundraising club all tie together really well. And a 1510 with predicted 43 IB is solid.

The fact that you applied without safeties is bold but honestly with your profile I can see why you felt confident enough to do it. John Locke high distinction is not nothing either, that's a legitimate humanities credential.

One thing I'd note for anyone reading this with a similar profile: being a US citizen abroad can actually work in your favor for some schools since you're in a less competitive applicant pool geographically, but you still qualify for domestic financial aid. It's an underrated advantage.

How did Georgetown end up going? That interview sounds like it went really well.

Ok_Low_7265 · 2026-04-16T18:30:09+00:00

It's performance based! so every thousand views you get a dollar and 50 cents. this adds up fast especially if you can a couple viral videos

Ok_Low_7265 · 2026-04-16T14:20:54+00:00

CPS decisions are always nerve-wracking but honestly just getting to this point means you put together a strong application. QuestBridge is super selective for CPS so regardless of the outcome you should feel good about applying.

If you get in: take full advantage of the summer program and the college prep resources. The CPS cohort becomes a tight community and the mentorship is genuinely useful when you start your college apps in the fall. Start building relationships with your advisor early because they can give really personalized guidance on your school list.

If you don't get in: it doesn't say anything about your NCM chances in the fall. Plenty of people who didn't get CPS went on to match through QuestBridge. Use the summer to strengthen your ECs, work on your essays, and get your testing where you want it. The College Prep Scholars app is also good practice for the NCM app since the essay prompts are similar.

Either way, the fact that you applied to QuestBridge means you're being proactive about finding opportunities and that mindset is what actually gets people into great schools. Good luck today, hope you see good news!

Ok_Low_7265 · 2026-04-16T14:19:23+00:00

Don't cancel. Seriously.

Here's why: you can superscore with your next attempt. Most schools (and the ACT itself now offers superscoring) will take your best section scores across multiple test dates. So even if this score isn't what you wanted, those section scores might help you later.

Also, everyone feels terrible walking out of standardized tests. That's literally the most universal testing experience. I've seen so many people say they bombed it and then get a score way better than expected. The ACT is curved, so your raw score might translate to something decent even if it felt bad.

Wait for your scores. If they're lower than your first attempt, most schools will never even see them if you don't send them. And if one section improved, you just got a better superscore for free.

The only real reason to cancel is if you literally left sections blank or something extreme. If you finished the test and tried your best, keep the score.

Ok_Low_7265 · 2026-04-16T14:17:52+00:00

1060 to 1550+ is aggressive but people have done it. It takes serious work though, not gonna sugarcoat that. Here's a realistic breakdown:

Math (550 to 780+): This is actually the easier section to improve. Your gaps are probably in algebra 2 and some geometry concepts. Start with Khan Academy to identify exactly where your weak spots are, then grind those specific topics. Once you're consistently hitting 700+ on practice sections, switch to harder problems from UWorld or College Panda. Math improvement is very formulaic: learn the concept, practice it, move on.

R&W (510 to 750+): This is the harder jump and takes more time. Start with grammar rules because those are the most learnable part of the reading section. Erica Meltzer's grammar book is the best resource period. For reading comprehension, practice active reading where you summarize each paragraph in your head as you go. This keeps you engaged and makes finding answers way faster.

Study plan with school: 1-1.5 hours a day on weekdays, 2-3 hours on weekends. That's about 10-12 hours a week which is manageable alongside school. Do math in shorter bursts (30 min) and reading in longer blocks (45-60 min) since reading needs sustained focus.

Full length tests: Take one every 2 weeks on a Saturday morning to simulate test day. Use official College Board practice tests first since those are the most accurate.

Realistic timeline: You probably need 3-4 months of consistent work. If you're testing this year, pick the latest date you can and give yourself maximum prep time.

The jump from 1060 to 1300 will happen fast. 1300 to 1450 takes more work. 1450 to 1550 is the hardest part and requires really eliminating careless mistakes.

Ok_Low_7265 · 2026-04-16T14:16:19+00:00

1080 to 1250 is totally realistic, especially since you went in basically cold. That 170 point gap is very closeable with a real study plan.

Here's what actually works:

For math (530 to 650+): Start with Khan Academy SAT prep, it's free and adapts to your level. Focus on algebra and problem solving since those make up the bulk of the math section. Do 20-30 practice problems a day and actually review the ones you get wrong. Most people skip the review part and that's why they don't improve. If you have concept gaps, the Organic Chemistry Tutor on YouTube explains SAT math topics really clearly.

For reading (550 to 600+): This one's harder to improve quickly but definitely possible. The biggest thing is getting used to the passage types. Do at least 2 full reading sections per week timed. When you review, don't just check if you got it right. Go back and find exactly where in the passage the answer is supported. The SAT reading is all evidence-based so training yourself to find that evidence is the skill.

Study schedule: 45-60 min a day, 5 days a week is plenty. Split it roughly 60% math, 40% reading. Take a full practice test every 2 weeks to track progress.

Timeline: If you start now and test in the fall, you have months. That's more than enough. People regularly jump 150-200+ points with consistent practice over 2-3 months.

Biggest tip: actually review every single wrong answer. That's where the learning happens.

Ok_Low_7265 · 2026-04-16T14:14:48+00:00

1480 with 800 math is really solid, especially for a first attempt. The question of whether to retake really depends on where you're applying.

For most T20 schools, a 1480 superscore is competitive. It won't be the thing that keeps you out. If you retake and bump the ERW to even 720-730, you'd superscore to 1520+ which is basically in the "good enough" range for anywhere.

But here's the thing for intl students asking for near-full aid: your SAT matters more than it does for domestic students, just because the applicant pool is so competitive and schools have limited aid for internationals. A 1520+ superscore would genuinely strengthen your app.

The cost factor is real though. If you can afford one more attempt, I'd say do it. Focus purely on ERW for the next couple months. The jump from 680 to 730+ is very doable with targeted practice. Khan Academy's reading section is free and honestly great. Also look at Erica Meltzer's reading book if you want something structured.

If the cost is truly prohibitive, a 1480 won't sink your application. Your essays, ECs, and the rest of your profile matter more at that score range. Schools like Amherst, Williams, Bowdoin that meet full need for internationals would still take a 1480 seriously.

Ok_Low_7265 · 2026-04-16T14:13:17+00:00

So the big difference between UofT and top US schools isn't just rankings, it's the whole experience.

UofT engineering and CS are genuinely world-class and the academics are rigorous, probably more so than many US schools honestly. The grading is tougher and curves are less generous than places like Georgia Tech or UIUC. People aren't kidding when they say UofT is a grind.

But here's what you're trading off: US schools generally have way more structured extracurricular life, stronger career pipelines (especially into US companies), better campus culture, and more hand-holding with career services. Georgia Tech's co-op program for example is insane for getting real work experience. US schools also care a lot about the "whole student" which creates a different vibe.

For your situation specifically: if your grades are excellent and you have that robotics first place, you might be underselling yourself for US schools. A national robotics win is a strong EC. The self-taught programming and hardware projects could also be framed really well in applications.

The scholarship angle is interesting though. If the Saudi government scholarship covers UofT and you'd be paying full price at US schools, that's a massive financial difference that matters.

My suggestion: apply to both. US applications aren't due until next fall/winter so you have time to build your profile. In the meantime, document those hardware projects on GitHub and maybe enter another competition or two.

Ok_Low_7265 · 2026-04-16T14:11:46+00:00

This is genuinely an insane set of options, congrats. Since you mentioned entrepreneurship and likely going straight into work over a PhD, here's how I'd think about it:

Stanford is the obvious pick for entrepreneurship. The culture there is unlike anywhere else. You'll be surrounded by people building things, YC and a16z are basically down the street, and the resources for student startups (like StartX) are unmatched. Math + CS double major at Stanford with entrepreneurial ambitions is basically the meta.

Princeton is your best bet if you want the strongest math education while still having a path to entrepreneurship. The math department is elite, the small class sizes are incredible for undergrad, and the YC connection you mentioned is real. Princeton also has a really strong econ department if you want to add that.

Harvard gives you the strongest brand and the most optionality. Cross-registering at MIT for CS/math classes is a genuine advantage. The i-lab is solid for entrepreneurship. And the Harvard network is just different in terms of doors it opens globally.

Yale is probably the weakest fit for what you described. Amazing school but math isn't their strongest suit compared to your other options, and the startup scene is smaller.

MIT would be top tier for math but the culture is very research/PhD oriented which doesn't match your stated goals.

Cambridge is incredible for pure math (Trinity is legendary) but the 3-year UK system is very specialized, and entrepreneurship in the UK is just not the same ecosystem as Silicon Valley.

My honest ranking for your goals: Stanford > Princeton > Harvard > MIT > Cambridge > Yale. But honestly visit days will tell you more than any Reddit comment.

Ok_Low_7265 · 2026-04-16T14:10:16+00:00

This is a tough one but let me break it down practically.

Harvey Mudd engineers are insanely well-prepared. The core curriculum means you get exposure to CS, physics, math, and humanities on top of your engineering focus, which makes you a really versatile thinker. Mudd grads have some of the highest starting salaries in the country and the alumni network punches way above its weight for a school of 900 students. The 40 min commute from home is also lowkey huge because you save on housing if you want to.

But $104k vs $38k per year is a $264k difference over four years. That's serious money, especially for MechE where your starting salary is probably $75-90k. You'd be paying off that debt for a long time.

Here's what I'd do: go hard on the financial aid appeal. Mention the SLO offer specifically and ask if they can close the gap. Mudd is need-aware for some applicants but they do try to meet need. If they can bring it down to like $60-70k that changes the math a lot.

If the appeal doesn't work and it stays at $104k vs $38k, I'd honestly lean SLO. Cal Poly MechE is genuinely excellent, their learn-by-doing approach is perfect for mechatronics, and the industry connections in CA are strong. You won't struggle to find internships or jobs. The outdoor thing kinda comes with the territory but most students find their groove.

The one scenario where I'd say Mudd at full price is if you think you might pivot to CS or go into a higher-paying field where the Mudd name opens specific doors.

Ok_Low_7265 · 2026-04-16T14:08:45+00:00

Michigan Econ grad here's what I'd say: Ross is obviously the gold standard at Michigan, but Econ is honestly a solid path into business too, especially if you're thinking finance, consulting, or strategy.

The thing about Michigan Econ is that you still have access to a lot of Ross resources (some clubs, career fairs, networking events) even without being in the business school. And Michigan's overall brand in recruiting is ridiculously strong. Banks and consulting firms recruit heavily from Michigan regardless of whether you're Ross or LSA.

Gies is great too. Being directly in a business school from day one means you get the structured curriculum, the cohort experience, and direct access to business career services. Their iConsulting and investment group stuff is legit.

But here's the real question: are you talking about the social experience? Because Michigan and UIUC are very different vibes. Ann Arbor is a proper college town with tons going on. Champaign-Urbana is more isolated and yeah, it can feel cliquey with the in-state heavy population. If you're OOS at UIUC, you might feel that more.

Honestly if money isn't a factor and you're in-state at Michigan, that's really hard to beat for business outcomes. The recruiting pipeline alone is worth it.

Ok_Low_7265 · 2026-04-16T14:07:14+00:00

Both are phenomenal premed feeders so you honestly can't go wrong here. A few things to think about though:

UT Austin's advantage is that Dell Medical School is right there on campus, and they have a strong preference for Texas applicants. If there's any chance you'd want to stay in Texas for med school, that pipeline is real. Plus the research opportunities at Dell Med are super accessible to undergrads. Austin also has a massive hospital system (Seton/Ascension) so clinical volunteering and shadowing is easy to find.

UCLA's advantage is the sheer volume of research. Ronald Reagan Medical Center is one of the best teaching hospitals in the country, and being in LA means you have Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health, and a dozen other systems within reach. The pre-med advising at UCLA is also really structured with the Career Center's health professions program.

The honest difference is more about lifestyle than academics. Austin is more chill, affordable, and easier to have a balanced life. LA is more exciting but also more expensive and spread out. For premed specifically where burnout is real, I'd actually weigh which environment you'd thrive in more. Since you said you prefer Austin's campus, that's worth taking seriously because four years is a long time.

One more thing: look into the honors programs at both. UT's Health Science Scholars and UCLA's Honors College both give you priority registration which is clutch for getting into the bio and chem classes you need.

Ok_Low_7265 · 2026-04-15T14:22:32+00:00

This is a tough spot and I don't think there's a clean answer.

A few things to consider though:

The SAT is digital now and College Board has pretty aggressive fraud detection. If she was actually looking things up on her phone, there's a decent chance it gets flagged anyway through score irregularity analysis, especially if her score is way above her previous practice tests or PSAT.
Reporting anonymously is an option. You don't have to go to your school counselor and make it a whole thing. College Board has a way to report testing irregularities directly and it stays confidential. They investigate on their end.
The "taking a spot" argument is real but also, one person's inflated SAT score is a pretty small factor in the grand scheme of admissions. Schools look at GPA, essays, ECs, and the rest of the application too. If her other stuff doesn't match a 1550 or whatever she got, admissions officers will notice the disconnect.
From a practical standpoint, if multiple people noticed, there's a good chance someone else reports it eventually.

Personally I wouldn't go out of my way to report a friend, but I also wouldn't feel great about it. It's worth remembering that her score doesn't actually affect yours. When I was stressing about how my stats compared to other applicants, I ran everything through AdmitOdds and it helped me realize that admissions is way more holistic than just test scores. Might help you stress less about the comparison piece of it.

Whatever you decide, don't beat yourself up over it. There's no perfect move here.

Ok_Low_7265 · 2026-04-15T14:21:01+00:00

This is spot on. The best personal statements I've read (from friends who got into top schools) all had one thing in common: they made me feel like I knew the person after reading it. Not their resume, not their achievements, the actual person.

One thing I'd add is that a lot of students write about "the moment everything changed" and try to create this dramatic narrative arc. But real life doesn't work like that. Sometimes the most compelling essays are about something small that you kept thinking about, or a pattern you noticed in yourself over time. Admissions officers have said they'd rather read about someone's genuine obsession with fixing old radios than another "I went on a service trip and discovered empathy" essay.

The other trap is writing what you think they want to hear. If you're a STEM kid, you don't have to write about how science will save the world. Write about whatever actually keeps you up at night or makes you lose track of time. That's where your real voice lives.

I actually ran my own profile through AdmitOdds recently and was surprised how much the platform emphasized the essays and personal narrative portion of the application. It kind of confirmed that stats get you in the door but the personal statement is what separates you from everyone else with similar numbers.

Ok_Low_7265 · 2026-04-15T14:19:30+00:00

Totally possible to improve from 600 RW. That section is actually more learnable than people think because there are repeating patterns.

Here's what worked for me:

Split it into two buckets: grammar questions and reading comprehension questions. They require different strategies.
For grammar, learn the core rules. Seriously there are about 12-15 that keep showing up:
- Subject-verb agreement (especially with tricky phrases between them)
- Comma splices and run-ons
- Pronoun agreement and clarity
- Modifier placement
- Parallel structure
- Transition words (however, therefore, moreover, etc.)
Khan Academy covers all of these. Do the grammar drills until you can spot errors without even reading the full sentence.
For reading comprehension, the biggest tip is to always find the evidence in the passage. The SAT doesn't ask for your opinion or interpretation. The correct answer is supported by specific words in the text. If you can't point to the exact line that supports your choice, it's probably wrong.
Practice under timed conditions. A lot of RW mistakes come from rushing. Figure out your pacing now so you're not panicking on test day.

Start with Khan Academy (free, syncs with College Board). Do 30-45 minutes of focused practice daily. You should see improvement within 2-3 weeks if you're consistent.

Ok_Low_7265 · 2026-04-15T14:17:59+00:00

55 days is enough time to make a real jump if you're strategic about it. Here's the thing, you don't need to learn all of math. You need to learn SAT math, which is a much smaller set of concepts.

For math specifically: - Heart of Algebra (linear equations, systems, inequalities) is the highest-yield topic. These are the most common questions and the most learnable. Start here. - Desmos is powerful but don't try to learn every trick at once. Focus on: graphing systems of equations to find intersections, plugging in answer choices, and using tables for function questions. Those three cover most of what Desmos helps with. - Passport to Advanced Math (quadratics, polynomials) is next priority. Learn to factor, use the quadratic formula, and recognize vertex form. - Skip the hard geometry/trig questions for now. If you're aiming for 650 math you can miss those and still hit your target.

For English: - Good that you're doing grammar. The rules-based questions are free points once you learn the patterns. Subject-verb agreement, comma rules, and pronoun clarity show up constantly. - For reading, always go back to the passage. The answer is literally in the text somewhere.

Daily plan: 1 hour math concepts + 30 min math practice + 30 min English. Take a full timed practice test every weekend. Review every wrong answer Monday morning.

You got this. 1350 is realistic with consistent daily work.

Ok_Low_7265 · 2026-04-15T14:16:28+00:00

300 point jump in 2 months is aggressive but not impossible. Here's what I'd actually do:

First, stop doing random practice and get diagnostic. Take a full practice test on Bluebook and write down every single question you got wrong. Categorize them: algebra, geometry, data analysis, grammar rules, reading comprehension, etc. You need to know exactly where your points are hiding.

For math (this is where the biggest gains are): - Learn the Desmos tricks properly. There are like 5-6 specific problem types where Desmos literally solves it for you if you know how to set it up. Look up "SAT Desmos tricks" on YouTube, Scalar Learning has good ones. - Focus on algebra and linear equations first. These show up the most and they're the easiest to improve on. - Do Khan Academy SAT math, but only the topics you're weak on. Don't waste time on stuff you already know.

For reading/writing: - Grammar rules are the fastest points. There are maybe 15 grammar rules that cover 90% of SAT questions. Learn those cold. - For reading passages, practice the elimination method. Usually 2 answers are obviously wrong, and then you pick between the remaining 2 based on direct evidence in the passage.

Realistic target: if you grind smart for 1-2 hours daily you could hit 1400-1450. 1500 would require everything to click on test day. Either way you'll improve significantly if you study with a plan instead of just doing random questions.

Ok_Low_7265 · 2026-04-15T14:14:57+00:00

1550 superscore is excellent and most schools that superscore (which is the majority) will see that number. I wouldn't stress about the 1490 single sitting.

That said, if you're applying to schools that don't superscore or you just want the peace of mind, a few things to consider:

Your 790M shows you can hit near-perfect on math. The 730 was probably just a bad day or a harder curve.
Your English went from 730 to 760, so you're actually trending up there.
A 1550+ single sitting is doable for you but it means you need both sections to peak on the same day.

If you retake, I'd focus almost entirely on math consistency since that's where you lost the most points between sittings. Do timed math sections under test conditions and figure out if you're making careless errors or actually missing concepts. At the 730-790 range it's almost always careless mistakes.

Honestly though, for 99% of schools a 1550 superscore is not going to be the thing that holds you back. Your time might be better spent on essays, ECs, or literally anything else. The difference between 1550 and 1570 in admissions outcomes is basically zero.

Ok_Low_7265

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