CMU(SCS) vs UCLA(CS in CoE) vs Cal(L & S)

College Search & Selection
1

I have narrowed it down to these three schools for computer science. I like CMU’s CS curriculum the most and is also #1 in CS. It might be a no brainer but it’s very expensive. The difference in costs between UCs and CMU is massive. Due to the cost and weather/location, I am leaning towards UCLA and Cal. If I go to UCLA or Cal rather than CMU for CS, would I be missing out much? I know that the difference between all of them in terms of ranking, prestige, and education isn’t much. I am trying to convince myself that the extra costs are definitely not worth the difference. If you could share some insight into CS at any of these schools and/or help me further narrow it down, it would be great. Thank you!

2

Note that UCB L&S CS requires a 3.3 GPA in the first three CS courses (61A, 61B, 70) to enter the major. About half of the students in these courses earn B+ or higher grades (B+ = 3.3 at UCB).

Being engineering-based, UCLA CS requires more math and physics.

UCLA CS may be the best combination of lower cost and assurance in your major.

3

@ucbalumnus
I am quite confident that I will be able to get a 3.3 GPA in the 3 prerequisite courses, because of my background in math and CS. Do you still think UCLA is a better choice than Cal? By the way, they both cost me exactly the same so finance isn’t a concern. Also, is there much difference between both of them, in terms of academics, curriculum, recruiting, and job/internship prospects? Thank you for your insight.

4

Here are the career survey web sites for UCB and UCLA:

https://career.berkeley.edu/survey/survey
https://www.sairo.ucla.edu/First-Destination-Survey-Data

If you are not considering the risk of the 3.3 GPA minimum at UCB L&S, then you may want to take a look at curricular requirements and upper level CS offerings to see which one may be a better fit for you.

Also, UCB is on the semester system (two 15-week semesters per academic year), and UCLA is on the quarter system (three 10-week quarters per academic year), if that matters to you.

5

@ucbalumnus . . . UCLA’s first-destination survey is pretty pathetic and something it needs to work on and include more detail. Cal’s is pretty good.

I think maybe if they offer gift cards or gift packages, there’d be more who fill out the survey.