<p>I'm pondering between Computer Engineering and Computer Science with a minor in EE. </p>
<p>On one hand, I am interested in software development, but I'm also very interested in hardware engineering. Currently, I've been spending my free time pondering with a few hardware projects (mainly with the Arduino, but I've also been planning out a few additional projects) and I seem to really enjoy it.</p>
<p>What should I do? </p>
<p>Also, what universities/colleges should I apply to? I have a current unweighed GPA of ~3.8 (school doesn't calculate weighted GPAs) and my best ACT composite is 30, but I recently retook it. I took the SATII MathII and I feel that I did well on that as well. In the Spring, I'm planning on taking Calculus I, Intro to Physics and Intro to Chem(+Lab), so I think I should be rather prepared. </p>
<p>I'm not sure how impressive my ECs are, as I haven't had many opportunities. I've spent quite a bit of time volunteering at my school with their technology, in addition to the "projects" I do in my free time.</p>
<p>Right now, I'm planning on applying to MIT (why not?), Rensselaer (RPI), Wash U., New Mexico Tech (as I'm in-state). One requirement is that the school doesn't have a foreign language requirement, as I've been bitten by that one a few times (and there's no way that I can take 4 semesters of foreign language prior to going) -- I've had to cut several schools off my list as they couldn't work around that.</p>
<p>It sounds like CompEng or ElecEng+CS minor would be more appropriate to you. If you’re interested in hardware, making CS your primary is going to leave you dissatisfied. Also, how are you with abstract (proof based, discrete) math? If you like calculus, CS isn’t going to be much of that, whereas ElecEng would be better.</p>
<p>As far as which school… at the undergrad level, it’s largely a wash. The only advice I can give is to go to the best school you can for which you won’t take on too much debt. How much debt is alright depends on your situation. As far as “best”… that depends on what you decide on majoring in, whether or not you want to go to grad school, where you plan on ending up working, etc.</p>
<p>Yeah, the more research I do, the more I’m leaning towards either CmpE or EE/CS minor. I guess I still have a bit of time to decide on a major :)</p>
<p>Right now, I’m really stuck as far as where to apply to. I don’t know really where to look, and I have nobody else to look to for suggestions. I’m intending on getting a Masters, possibly an accelerated B.S/M.S program.</p>
<p>Any suggestions/opinions would be appreciated.</p>
<p>I don’t know about the foreign language requirements of these schools but here are some to look at</p>
<p>UCLA, USC, UC San Diego, Univ of Texas, Rice, Georgia Tech, Carnegie Mellon, Univ of Illinois, Texas Tech, UC Berkeley, University of Michigan. Purdue. </p>
<p>I retook the exam with the hopes that my score would improve quite a bit. I talked to an admissions officer at Calpoly and they said that they will not enroll someone who doesn’t meet their requirements. </p>
<p>
UMich seemed like it wasn’t a requirement written in stone, as I’ve seen with some other schools.</p>
<p>yeah you just have to take I think 3 humanities courses… but they can be anything. only way you have to do language classes is if you do the international plan:)</p>
<p>I’m currently a Junior Computer Engineer at CSULB. I recently just completed my Minor in Computer Science. The important thing that you should look into is Where the Computer Engineering Department is located. At my school Computer Engineering and Computer Science is the same, similar teachers and programs. This makes it very easy to get a minor (only one class)… and a CS major 1 extra year. Most of the lower division is shared. So you should consider this if you want the COMP ENG major in the CS department or EE. That is my school requires more programming, other’s may not, more hardware. </p>
<p>The thing to think about with Computer Engineering vs EE is Computer Architecture. If you want to learn how to make a processor out of verilog(code) to work and read instructions (assembly), then you probally won’t get this with an EE degree. I feel EE, is more interested into the way devices work with electricity, and external features that need special tricks to get working. </p>
<p>So look into the special topics I suggested. I really like the architecture aspect of Computer Engineering with the program not cheating me out on Software Engineering, and programming skills I need.</p>