Struggling with college list. Looking for some help. 35 ACT, 3.79 UW GPA, weak ECs.
Hello Redditors,
Trying to build out a solid college list and would really appreciate some input.
Stats:
- ACT: 35
- Unweighted GPA: 3.792
- Weighted GPA: 4.272
- Residency: North Carolina (in-state), but open to schools anywhere in the US
Intended majors (any of these, still narrowing down):
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Applied Mathematics
- Statistics
- Information Science
Extracurriculars (this is my biggest weak spot):
- Self-initiated data engineering projects using Databricks, Python, and SQL
- Built a PC and helped a friend build theirs
- Volunteer at a pay-what-you-can community restaurant
- Tutor younger students in math
My ECs are quite obviously thin. So I'm trying to be realistic about where I land in the safety/target/reach spectrum. I've already looked at CDS for a bunch of schools, but would love to get some suggestions from this sub.
I also have some additional questions as listed below:
- Are there any schools the above stats are good for CS/DS/Stats programs?
- Any programs in Applied Math / Information Science I might be missing?
- Are there other good public colleges, with good in-state-equivalent value or strong merit aid for these majors?
Truly appreciate any advice.
Posted Jul 11, 2026, 9:00 PM UTC
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