Brown for Computer Science--Please give me reviews!

<ol>
<li><p>How are the internships opportunity? For example, Cornell gives people a chance to work in a Co-Op program to take a semester off and work for a company. Does Brown give this?</p></li>
<li><p>How is research? Will I have tons of opportunity? </p></li>
<li><p>How close is the interactions between professors and how small are the classes, and will I get good recommendations?</p></li>
<li><p>Is Brown prestigious in the eyes of a graduate school for computer science? I know its not Stanford/MIT/CMU, but is it still really good? </p></li>
<li><p>Brown is ranked #20 overall in computer science. Why?</p></li>
<li><p>Is there a lot of recruiting from companies like Microsoft, Intel, etc, and is it hard to get a job after graduating?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Please, I have to make decision soon. Thanks!</p>

<p>Please, I need to make a decision</p>

<p>Hopefully you used a search function. Brown is EXCELLENT at Computer Science. It is definitely one of their very best academic programs, and also one of the best undergrad CS programs in the country. The Andy in Toy Story is based on a Brown prof, because a ton of ex-Brown CS students work at Pixar, Disney, etc. It is very well respected because not only do you get a solid technical foundation but Brown is especially good at visual/AI, and particularly great at training ‘creative’ engineers.</p>

<p>For example, you could google and read
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/brown-university/491722-computer-science-brown-yale.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/brown-university/491722-computer-science-brown-yale.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I believe that Brown is lower ranked for CS than it ‘should’ be because most rankings are based on grad programs and research. Brown does not have any very substantial grad programs, and focuses less on research than other universities. However, it would be a solid undergrad CS program.</p>

<p>I still don’t understand why it is ranked “only” 20. From what I’ve seen from these forums, it seems like Brown CS is top-notch, with great opportunities. Why is this? Everyone I’ve PMed says it’s REALLY good.</p>

<p>Stonesn, why the urgency? You have some time to make this decision. Call Brown CS department and ask them questions, ask to talk to profs or students or alumni. </p>

<p>I think anon gave you a pretty good answer to your questions. Ditto everything s/he said. To be a little more specific:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>How are the internships opportunity? For example, Cornell gives people a chance to work in a Co-Op program to take a semester off and work for a company. Does Brown give this?
I don’t know, but I’m sure the website and the CS department addresses this. I know that CS majors are heavily recruited for summer internships and get some great jobs.</p></li>
<li><p>How is research? Will I have tons of opportunity? Yes.</p></li>
<li><p>How close is the interactions between professors and how small are the classes, and will I get good recommendations? I know several CS majors, and they all seem to be very close to at least one prof. You will get good recommendations if you make the effort. I know that undergrads are asked to TA intro classes, so if you do that, that’s another way to get a good rec. I don’t know the size of the classes.</p></li>
<li><p>Is Brown prestigious in the eyes of a graduate school for computer science? I know its not Stanford/MIT/CMU, but is it still really good? Look into Randy Pausch, (and also what Andy van Damm did for him to get him into CM grad school.) Grad schools look at a lot more than just the prestige of the UG school. Plenty of kids who go to state schools get into great grad programs. Put another way, prestige is not the only factor at play in grad school admissions. </p></li>
<li><p>Brown is ranked #20 overall in computer science. Why? Is that #20 ranking for undergrad or grad? Brown has a small grad department, and that could easily affect its ranking.</p></li>
<li><p>Is there a lot of recruiting from companies like Microsoft, Intel, etc, and is it hard to get a job after graduating? Microsoft, Google, Facebook, etc., all recruit at Brown. Humanities majors complain that too many of the recruiters at the on-campus job fairs are looking for CS majors. Unless something drastic happens, you will get a job. A good one that pays a lot of money.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>It seems to me that you are much too focused on ranking and prestige. What other schools did you get into? What are your other choices? </p>

<p>Here’s another thought – call the HR department at Facebook/Google/Pixar/Microsoft, and ask them about Brown CS.</p>

<p>I will give you some insight based on my daughter’s experience. The part I know of at least.</p>

<ol>
<li>How are the internships opportunity? For example, Cornell gives people a chance to work in a Co-Op program to take a semester off and work for a company. Does Brown give this?</li>
</ol>

<p>I don’t know, either, not heard of it at Brown. But are you talking about CS or C Engineering? Usually when I hear of co-ops it has to do with Engineering programs and I think Brown is new in this area. I just know of the CS program.</p>

<ol>
<li>How is research? Will I have tons of opportunity? </li>
</ol>

<p>Yes. Undergraduate research is well offered, partially because the grad school is so small they actually need you, but mostly because it is the college and department philosoply to offer it. They also will fund you and it isn’t that hard to get that funding for summer or even the school year. My daughter did work for professors begining 2nd semester first year and continued through to post-grad, in high profile projects.</p>

<ol>
<li>How close is the interactions between professors and how small are the classes, and will I get good recommendations? </li>
</ol>

<p>The early classes are larger and have small labs run by grad or undergrad TA’s. The TA’s are handpicked and it is an honor and they are looked up to. My daughter TA’s 4 semesters, paid. She said it is an extremely well run department. It is also not a bad thing for your resume, esp your grad school resume if you do it. Despite the larger classes for the CS17/18 sequence, many students credited it with changing their major, at department graduation. So the intro sequence for majors is something special.</p>

<p>For Upper Division it is different. She had one seminar with only 3 students and one grad student. She TA’d that the course the next year and signed up 12.</p>

<p>It is usual to connect with a particular prof or two and you ask to assist on research or get a recco for such. This is better than DWIC (Did well in class) recco’s. They can already see on your transcript that you got A, B or C. You will get good recommendations if you make the effort to engage and research. </p>

<ol>
<li>Is Brown prestigious in the eyes of a graduate school for computer science? I know its not Stanford/MIT/CMU, but is it still really good? </li>
</ol>

<p>A CS grad from Brown is attractive to all grad schools. Depending on your CV, you can go anywhere. Your undergrad college is not as important as a lot of other factors, such as your demonstrated abilities. And especially your fit with particular professors at the schools and departments you are looking at. </p>

<p>My daughter focused on research, not internships, because she was interested in grad school. So she was accepted to funded PhD track programs at a (supposed) top 10 grad schoosl for CS. </p>

<ol>
<li>Brown is ranked #20 overall in computer science. Why? </li>
</ol>

<p>Who says so and who cares? Don’t go to Brown unless you care about other things than that. You might be unhappy, it isn’t the culture there. It is a special place with integrated aspects to related departments that sets the tone for the academic and social community. If you were accepted to a higher (ranked by who??) dept, just take that if that is your own priority.</p>

<ol>
<li>Is there a lot of recruiting from companies like Microsoft, Intel, etc, and is it hard to get a job after graduating? </li>
</ol>

<p>No prob. 3/4 of her graduating class went to those companies as BS’s. She and the other 1/4 went to research and grad school, pretty much. She’s interned at google and startup’s since in grad school.</p>

<p>By the way, she grew up in SF and went to HS in LA so was happy to try out another coast.</p>

<p>Sorry if I gave you a sense that I really cared about rankings. I really don’t. I was just curious, and from what I’ve seen from these threads, and from PMs, it seems like Brown is really top-notch…</p>