<p>Hi--son has sent out a ton of apps, but I'm now having lots of second thoughts that he doesn't have any safeties on the list. We were inclusive as to more reach schools ("why not?") and thought we had a few matches (Rutgers, Stony Brook, maybe Purdue) but I'm now very nervous that we were not as inclusive re: the safeties. </p>
<p>GC was vague and non-commital when I asked her about son's list & the safety issue ("It's a very competitive environment these days...").</p>
<p>Son is an NJ resident. GPA is the weakness (due to bad sophmore year; all As since then & a re-take [with A] of a soph course at local college): 3.01 UW, 4.5 W (almost all honors classes throughout; 4 APs). Hopefully good recommendations, very nice essays, limited ECs but has really written some interesting and moving essays about the ones he has participated in (out-of-school). Has a 34 ACT score & is NM Commended.</p>
<p>Just hoping someone might have a few safety schools for him? He wants to major in comp sci and wants a strong academic program in that; likes co-ops; seeks a decent male/female ratio (if possible) & is flexible as to location (although likes warmer weather & Boston area too).</p>
<p>Some friends of S who were comp sci went to NJIT and RIT. The RIT guy had a spotty GPA, and uneven SATs (no where near your S's ACT). he really likes it. The NJIT kids were mixed; some thrived there, some dropped out. i think both would definitely be safeties for your S.</p>
<p>STevens would be a match, though with that ACT, I think it's closer to a safety.</p>
<p>Edit: just saw the "warmer areas" so maybe RIT would not fly.</p>
<p>My son (potential Comp Sci major) was just accepted to Missouri S&T, but that sounds a bit far away for you. I agree about Stevens - because of their location they really stress the great internship opportunities their students have.</p>
<p>I'm the parent of yet another budding computer science major.... I've never heard of Stevens. Googling I come up with Stevens Institute of Technology in NJ. Is this the school mentioned?</p>
<p>2blue - Yep. In Hoboken, with nice view of NYC!</p>
<p>Jolynne - IMHO, CS is best taught in a strong academic environment. So your S is on point there. With a 34 ACT I think he'll have some good choices. (I assume CM, RPI and UICU are already on the list.)</p>
<p>Fisrt, I think that with ACT=34 your son will be just fine.
Second, I never knew that college name is important in Comp Sci career. I got my first computer job after 2 years in community college. After 30 years of experience and obtaining MBA (state, not any highly ranked school), fully paid by various employers, I cannot say that my job is anyhow different than my first job. The difference that having MBA created for me, was that I had advantage over others looking for a job and getting it. Salary wise it much more depends on location than anything else. Your son will be just fine at any school. Tell him to get higher GPA at college, though.</p>
<p>Stevens Institute of Technology is well known. A 34 ACT is outstanding. Your son does not need to apply to any other schools purely out of fear of rejection from those to which he has already applied.</p>
<p>Thank you all for those great responses! Very helpful. Not sure why son doesn't want to consider NJIT. Maybe I'll ask him to look at it again. He's applied to RIT (likes the strong co-op program) as well as RPI, UIUC & CM (big reach on the last). We'll check out Missouri S&T. Distance is not an issue to son (he says now)--in fact, he's applied to schools in CA, TX and Wash State (I researched strong comp sci programs [at his request] & that's what turned up...he's loving the Cali idea, but USC et. al. are likely too competitive & $$).</p>
<p>Re: Stevens. We looked into that initially, but a kind and helpful CC dad evaluated the comp sci curicula at various colleges for us (I sent him the links) and he said that Stevens was not going in a direction that would bode well for success in the comp sci field of the future. As an Eng/Psych major, I have little frame of reference for these things, so went w/that assessment (plus I think it's pretty pricey). It is a nice location, though & a few friends of mine went there & did quite well in their fields.</p>
<p>Again--thanks for the thoughts & encouragement! Much appreciated.</p>
<p>Possibly the best option for your son is the Univ. of Alabama Honors College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Computer Based Honors Program is the best in the nation and will give your son, most likely, a very substantial merit scholarship. Cleanest campus this side of the US Air Force Academy, best honors dorm (apartments really) in the country. Beautiful women, great football & atletic facilities and hours from some of the world's best beaches. But you must apply ASAP!</p>
<p>Wow! Didn't know that. Son has sent recs & ACT to U of AL, but not transcript (heard about the party school thing...). Will check it out, not much to lose...</p>
<p>Then I expect that you will be pleasantly surprised. Yes, they do party & tailgate. But there are a few thousand that don't drink or party much. It really is up to the individual, however.
Students in the Computer Based Honors Program work directly with a professor one-on-one for up to three years, in addition to regular classes. CBHP is a really big deal. Although, if your son is allergic to fun, then look elsewhere.</p>
<p>I'm certainly not a Comp Sci expert, but I can say that friends of D and S who graduated from Stevens in CS got outstanding jobs in the past--I wish I made the kind of money they do. If things are really changing, though, that's different.</p>
<p>Just keep Steven's price in mind. My plumber sent his son there. It was very tough for him to afford it, but he had no trouble with jobs. </p>
<p>I know a CS major who graduated from Hofstra. I am not saying this is the best program, but worked for him, and it is a safety for your son. I think that he would have a great chance at one of their top merit awards, and be offered a spot in their honors college (if he were interested).</p>
<p>Your son sounds like a fine kid. He will get into some of the schools you listed. But if you are looking for more schools, here are some, in my opinion, that are good in CS and very likely to accept him. Did he ever consider these?
UMass, SUNY Buffalo, Polytechnic U of NY, Northeastern, Iowa State, Arizona State, UVM.</p>
<p>Jolynne, I thought of NEU too. It is a very nice school and in Boston, but it is expensive, even after merit aid. If you like the idea of coops, you might look into Drexel and compare if that would cost less after merit aid. I do not know. The neighborhood is certainly not Boston, but I know a junior there now (maybe he is a sophomore with coops) and he likes it a lot. My son has visited a few times, and said that there is so much security that he felt very safe at Drexel. UVM for out of state is also very expensive. I am not sure about COA at the other state schools listed by nefr.</p>
<p>Jolynne, I had the same palpitations as you, back in the day, over lack of a true safety. Here's hoping yours will end up the same as mine - super safety wasn't needed. His safe matches and matches worked out fine.</p>
<p>We did consider Hofstra and Fairleigh Dickinson as quite safe (not sure about their CS, we were looking at ECE).</p>
<p>Since he likes warm weather - what about Santa Clara University in Silicon Valley? Your son's stats are quite nice, they have wanted to improve their M/F ratio... my S got merit $ from them. I wonder if yours wouldn't also. I would NOT call this a safety school for a lot of students, but with the gender and geography in your favor... I think it could be for him. We had visited and S received one of those streamline apps from them (I'm assuming because of the visit) - no essay, no muss, no fuss... quick acceptance and eventually the merit $$. Maybe there is another way to get that streamline app.</p>
<p>Believe it or not, San Jose State (cheap tuition by comparison) has one of the best computer science programs in the country. It was highly rated last year in one of the college magazines (Was it U.S. News Report?). It is close to the Silicon Valley where there are tons of high tech companies. However, the area I read, is not the greatest (which is true for many fine universities). Also, look into Drexel in Philadelphia (if you don't mind the city atmosphere) and RIT (which has co-operative programs).</p>
<p>Yup -- just made the trip to RIT a week ago. S is also interested in comp sci and related fields. He has also looked at Northeastern. Both have coop programs, which is a big attraction. For quality of life, S likes Boston better than Rochester -- and, for us, Boston is much easier travel-wise. S is very easy going, takes most things in stride, etc. But, he was somewhat turned off at RIT because they don't allow microwaves in the dorm rooms. (Fridges, yes, but that's it.)</p>
<p>Second Drexel as a safety, - very good for computer science, and in addition to the opportunity to earn money through coop, your son will most likely be eligible for and receive significant merit aid. Another plus is that it's rolling admission - he'd hear in a short amount of time.</p>