<p>Hi guys. First post here... so if I'm posting in the wrong forum please let me know. I wasn't really sure where to put this. Anyway, I got into a few colleges and am wondering which would be the best choice for my interests and major. </p>
<p>I plan to major in computer science, in which my interests are programming, ethical hacking/computer security, and artificial intelligence. I could do well in software/web/app dev as well. I am not into hardware, electronics, or robots, though I wouldn't mind a required course in it as it is not bad to know.
I may double major in either linguistics or cognitive neuroscience.
Other interests include poetry, digital art (gimp/photoshop), and playing oboe. </p>
<p>The colleges I am considering are:
Carnegie Mellon
University of Illinois
Cornell
Have not gotten admitted yet but would like to know how these compare:
University of Pennsylvania
Princeton
UC Berkeley</p>
<p>I would appreciate any insight into which college would best suit my interests and dreams. thank you!</p>
<p>How much of a concern is net price (cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships (not loans))? How much debt, if any, would be required at each?</p>
<p>You may want to check the course and curriculum requirements at each; a CS major within an engineering division may have more requirements and fewer free electives than a CS major in an arts and science division (CMU CS is in its own division, the School of Computer Science, while Berkeley offers CS either as EECS in the College of Engineering or as CS in the College of Letters and Science).</p>
<p>Cost is not a concern (I am very lucky). I think I will check out the requirements as you suggest although I am also looking for insights as to the quality of education and experience in each subject </p>
<p>I have heard that Berkeley is more hardware oriented than CMU, for instance, I wonder how the other schools compare…</p>
<p>At Berkeley, neither EECS nor L&S CS specifically requires an upper division hardware course (digital systems, computer architecture and engineering, embedded systems, or EE courses). Both allow a great deal of choice in upper division courses that the student can select.</p>
<p>You probably can’t go wrong with any of the schools on your list; however, I’m a fan of CMU, as well as the city of Pittsburgh (where I formerly lived, although am now in Colorado). CMU is unique in its combination of technology/engineering and the fine arts. I know a professional e-flat and bass clarinet player who’s a CMU alum and has had a long career in a symphony, plus, of course, CMU has developed many actors, directors and writers. In computer science and software development, it’s first rate. Plus, Google, Yahoo and others are right on campus or next door. But the culture can be intense.</p>
<p>You really cannot go wrong with CS at any of those three. To my taste, CMU probably offers the best combination of stellar, world-class CS offerings and a fun urban location.</p>
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