Is It More Competitive to Gain Admission as a Computer Science Major?

Move over biology - computer science is the hot new major!

The numbers are staggering. From 2011 to 2021, The University of Washington’s Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering saw a 400% increase in interest in studying computer science. At the University of Wisconsin — Madison? 800%!

Naturally, admission rates reflect this popularity. Last year, out-of-state students applying directly to CS at the University of Washington faced a 3% acceptance rate. At Carnegie Mellon, the admit rate to CS was 5%.

Once on campus, it’s still competitive. A recent article in the New York Times, “The Hard Part of Computer Science? Getting into Class,” highlights the issues many computer science majors have getting the classes they need to graduate. “It’s a cutthroat race to register for classes,” one comp sci student shared.

So what should you do if you want to pursue computer science in college?

• Diversify your list. We always tell computer science applicants to ensure that they have plenty of safety schools on their list. And dig deeper into the admission rates for computer science versus the overall admission rate to make sure that your “safety” school isn’t actually a reach.

• Consider alternative majors. Plenty of students land lucrative tech jobs with alternate majors such as Applied and Computational Mathematics, Data Science, or Digital Arts and Media. Others choose to minor in computer science, pairing it with majors such as economics, physics, or engineering.

• Work to develop your “CS Fingerprint.” Successful CS applicants tend to have robust resumes and diverse experiences outside of the classroom. Yes, they can code, but they have already begun to use their skills to make an impact: developing apps for local non-profits, assisting businesses with website maintenance or database development, and participating in hack-a-thons, robotics tournaments, and science fair competitions.

Our Response to the "Varsity Blues" Scandal

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Recently, the “Varsity Blues” scandal has resurfaced in the news as Netflix promotes its docudrama about the college admissions scandal that resulted in over 50 arrests.  All of us at College Matters are keenly aware of how this scandal has further tainted college admissions and how it highlights the competition and anxiety surrounding admission to highly selective institutions.

We would like to reassure our clients and prospective clients that we adhere to the strictest ethical standards and best practices within our profession.  All four independent educational consultants at College Matters are members in good standing of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), one of the most well-respected national organizations that work to uphold these standards. 

Below is a link to the statement published by IECA in response to the new Netflix program, “Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal.”  We urge you to read this statement to gain insight into our longstanding commitment to address each student and family’s needs and goals and to identify the student’s authentic talents, abilities, and interests to guide them to colleges where they will thrive.  We are committed to IECA’s Principles of Good Practice which bring professionalism, expertise, and competence to the process. 

https://www.iecaonline.com/ieca-responds-to-netflix-varsity-blues-docudrama-and-anxiety-permeating-the-college-admissions-process/

We are the Real College Matters

There’s no copying the real thing!!

Yes, there is another company using our name — calling themselves the Real College Matters.

Make no mistakes. We have been in the business of educational consulting for over a decade and have guided thousands of students through the college and graduate school process.

And in this time of COVID, we understand that the landscape of higher education is changing. So whether students are on a real college campus or not, we’re prepared to give them the sound advice and guidance that they are craving.

We are College Matters. The first — and the only! But, hey, imitation is the best form of flattery!!

IECA Statement on Standardized Testing: Enough is Enough

Our College Matters counselors are proud members of IECA. This past week, IECA’s Board of Directors (of which Betsy Morgan is a Vice President) made a statement on standardized testing:

CALLING ON COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO PERMANENTLY ADOPT TEST OPTIONAL ADMISSIONS POLICIES

We support congratulate IECA for taking a strong stand in support of all students and families.

Here is a snippet:

“Enough is enough.

IECA is calling on colleges and universities to embrace this opportunity to become more equitable and reduce barriers by becoming test-optional on a permanent basis for admissions consideration and in the awarding of merit aid, thereby increasing fair and equal access to higher education for all students. IECA is further calling on colleges and universities to allow self-reporting of test scores in order to reduce the financial burden on students.  

The time is now to remove barriers, not just for the high school Class of 2021, but for all future college applicants.”

Students Still Want the Real College Experience

There is so much uncertainty in the time of COVID-19 and news outlets are proclaiming the end of college as we know it. But the reality is that most families are still committed to the traditional college experience for their students. They understand the benefits of on-campus learning: the connections you make, the confidence you gain, the learning that takes place outside of the classroom.

So don’t panic! Things will return to normalcy. There may very well be some corrections (less money spent on lazy rivers and climbing walls would be OK with me), but corrections can be a good thing.

Online college is OK. But real college still matters!

The Peril of Asking a 16 or 17-year old: What do you want to do with the rest of your life?

What do you want to do with the rest of your life? Counselors, teachers, parents, and friends often ask this question of high school students as they begin to think about post-high school graduation plans, and it makes sense: we want goals to inform planning.  However, it is essential to recognize that many kids this age don’t know what they want to do… or be.  They may be more drawn to STEM classes or love literature and writing, but their goals may still be quite vague.  And they may not have identified a major or area of interest for college.

In the wake of the prolonged recession that started in 2008 that resulted in a rising number of unemployed college graduates, we have found that families want their kids to identify careers earlier and make that a key criterion of the college search and match process.  The students we work with are feeling the pressure, increasing anxiety for some. 

“Let’s stop stressing out our kids with career choice pressure” an op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer by the psychologist, speaker, and author, Janet Sasson Edgette reminds us that forcing our children to decide on a career before they are ready can lead to false starts and unintended consequences.  She also makes a case for raising children who are adaptive — who value education for the opportunity to explore and discover as they will be better prepared for futures where they will have to change as the career landscape changes. Parenting our children to seek a balance between security and what brings them joy is a goal worth promoting.

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An Unexpected Reason to Take Standardized Tests Multiple Times

Another reason to take standardized tests multiple times...

When student scores were released for the June SAT, the internet lit up with reactions of frustration and confusion.  Students who expected the June test to be their final try but who saw their score fall were dismayed. Something very unexpected had happened:  the test itself was an anomaly.  It turns out, the June test was much easier than most SATs and therefore had a far steeper grading curve.  Because of this, students could miss fewer problems to receive the same score as previous tests.  Experts warn that variability on standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT is not uncommon and that the variance on the June SAT is not as unusual as it may seem.  Test creation is a complicated endeavor as the writers have to estimate the difficulty of content for the cohort of students taking the exam.  If they miscalculate, it affects the curve proportionally.  The takeaway:  plan to take standardized tests 2 or 3 times, if possible.  That way, if you happen to get caught up in a test like the June SAT, you will still have a fallback option or two. 

ACT Announces Free Test Prep Resources

The testing company ACT recently launched "ACT Academy," a free online test prep and learning tool for students who want to improve their ACT scores.  The service is similar to College Board's partnership with Kahn Academy for SAT test prep and aims to close the gap regarding equity, opportunity, and achievement for all students interested in test prep, including those who may not have the means or desire to pay for test preparation services.  The content is personalized for each student and uses instructional videos, practice questions, full-length practice tests, and games for learning.  The personalized approach is shaped by the student's previous ACT or preACT scores, which are entered by the student manually, as well as platform diagnostics.  ACT reports that the ACT Academy tool was developed in partnership with Khan Academy, NASA, PBS, and other organizations.  Making it even more user-friendly, ACT Academy is compatible with all devices and is available anywhere that a student has internet access.

College Board Announces New AP Prep Program

College Board will be launching a Pre-AP program starting this fall.  According to  College Board, "The Pre-AP program will offer consistent, high standards in focused courses that help build, strengthen, and reinforce students’ content knowledge and skills. Pre-AP courses will get students ready for AP and other college-level coursework."  Similar to AP, each individual high school will determine whether they want to include Pre-AP as part of their academic offerings to students.  Currently, Pre-AP is available in Algebra I, Biology, English I, World History and Geography, and Visual and Performing Arts.