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

016
Loading comments…