<p>I am considering transferring schools right now and I got accepted into both Brown and CMU. I want to study Computer Science and Mathematics and I can’t decided where to go. At Brown they have an awesome applied math program but CMU has one of the the best computer science schools in the country. A big problem with CMU is that I didn’t get into SCS but I got into MCS. I don’t think it will be to hard though to get a double major though in CS at CMU, but I don’t really know. The price of both schools is about the same and I also didn’t get any financial aid so money is not really a problem. Where should I go?</p>
<p>But Brown also has a really good CS department. Go on their site, and you’ll know what I mean…</p>
<p>it basically came down to those 2 schools for my son, who is now at Brown with a Math/CS concentration. For him, CMU seemed more intense an atmosphere than he was looking for, and he’s been very happy at Brown. He’s taking 3 math courses this year as a junior and has already taken a couple of grad school level math classes. He’s also always been interested in liberal arts classes too, so has been able to take other classes like philosophy and history and English that he’s enjoyed.</p>
<p>Both are great schools–good luck deciding!</p>
<p>Double check that you can get a CS degree (or double major) if you’re not in the SCS department before you decide. Mellon College of Science offers mathmatics but not computer science.</p>
<p>OP, my son got into CMU’s MCS as well (waitlisted at SCS). After some deliberations, he decided giving up his CMU’s MCS spot. His reason: the uncertainty of that he can transfer into SCS later.
His final two schools were UCB (L&S CS) and Brown CS. Well, many friends and relatives think that it’s a no brainer to choose UCB’s #1 CS program, but my son chose Brown instead. His reason is similar to mom in virginia’s son (post#3); he doesn’t like very intense atmosphere of a school and UCB is just too big to him. IMO, CS’s reputation shouldn’t be the only deciding factor for your decision. Good luck!</p>
<p>Unless things have changed at CMU in the past few years, it’s almost impossible to transfer from the MCS program into SCS, and would be Very unlikely that you could do that as a transfer student. (you usually have to start convincing them as a freshman, and most of the openings go between engineering and CS, not from MCS.) You also will be on the bottom tier of getting into CS courses, so it would be hard to even have a significant portion of your other classes be CS classes of worth. You can do a minor in computational mathematics at CMU, but that is not a computer degree. I think you will find that you can plan your courses to fit your interests better at Brown. (esp with fewer years to do it in as a transfer.)
Also, where do you feel you “fit” better? You want to be happy where you end up! Good luck figuring it out. They are both great schools.</p>
<p>My daughter didn’t choose her major until end of sophmore year, so she didn’t apply to CMU but she did do the math-CS major at Brown. CS at Brown is famous for causing people who take the intro 17/18 sequence to change their majors. She didn’t take the applied math-cs, which is also offered. This is one degree not a double major, but it would likely be no problem to get full double majors in the 2 areas, CS with mathematics or applied math because the open cirriculum will give you that flexibility. </p>
<p>I know it’s not CMU for CS but the program is solid and well respected and, known to grad school and employers. The majority of her class went right to MS or Google right out of school.</p>
<p>Edit to add: I see that you are a transfer student so that may limit your ability to double major. Maybe the open cirric will help you with that. However, there are still the joint majors within the CS dept to take advantage of, and you are invited to both graduations.</p>
<p>You will have ample research opportunities. My daughter didn’t get into CMU for grad school, but she did get into a top 10 phD program and is doing some awesome internships.</p>
<p>Brown is really a privileged and wonderful place to be an undergrad. If you choose it there’s no way you could regret it. If you want to know any more about the kind of research my daughter did, let me know.</p>