Anyone know how good UChicago’s CS department is? I am trying to choose between Cornell and UChicago, and I am leaning towards Cornell because I know its CS department is amazing. How respected is UChicago’s CS program, do graduates get jobs at top tech companies, and are there opportunities for undergrad research? Also, how much time will be spent on Core classes vs classes related to my major?
If you want to specialize early, Cornell is the better choice. If you want to maximize options and pedigree go UChicago.
Several comments from a current UChicago student:
- If you are generally looking for a top tech job (Facebook, Google, Uber), it very much depends on yourself rather than the university. Both Cornell and UChicago are good enough to land you for an internship. We are sending more and more student to top tech companies as more and more students choose to work in the tech industry. I will also argue that UChicago has sort of an edge here, because typically the top students are not going to compete directly with you, since they are more likely to go to grad school or do finance instead. If you are smart, you will get your internships.
- As for the CS department in general, it is getting better and school is actively investing in the CS department! We just grabbed the CS chair from Berkeley to push the department to another level. Check this out: www.chicagomaroon.com/article/2016/11/29/push-world-class-new-direction-computer-science-de/. As far as I know we got fantastic professors in System and Data Science. There are also great professors in machine learning.
- As for research opportunities, there are going to be 5 to 30 annual research opportunities for undergraduates in the College to work with University faculty members as Liew Family College Research Fellows. Check this out: https://news.uchicago.edu/article/2016/04/28/205-million-gifts-support-expansion-initiatives-computer-science.
- As for a math major who take CS for fun, I feel like beside research in CS, professors don't matter that much, so many resources are out there on internet. If you are smart, you can do CS anywhere.
- The best part of UChicago is that it has better departments than Cornell in Economics, Math, Physics, English, etc. UChicago also has some really bright students, who may not be in your CS class, but in you core classes, and the some of the absolutely best professors on this planet.
Some thoughts from current UChicago student who majors in math but has taken some CS classes and met with many CS students:
- If you want CS job offers from top companies (Google, Facebook, Uber, etc.), it depends very much on you rather than the university. You can learn CS anytime, anywhere from the internet. I will argue UChicago has a slight edge in big-tech recruiting and start-up recruiting. Most of the top students in UChicago will not directly competing with you in the CS job market since they are pursuing grad schools and finance jobs. There is not much competition with your peers and those big-tech companies will come to campus and grab some students. As for start-ups, given the location of the Chicago, you will find plenty of start-up jobs.
- After I checked Cornell's CS department website, Cornell has an edge in its general department strength. However, UChicago is actively investing in its computer science department. The department just hired the former CS chair of UC Berkeley Michael Franklin to make some big moves. Check this out: https://www.chicagomaroon.com/article/2016/11/29/push-world-class-new-direction-computer-science-de/
- As for undergrad research in UChicago, there is support for 25 to 30 annual research opportunities for undergraduates in the College to work with University faculty members as Liew Family College Research Fellows. These are all paid positions!
- UChicago has clear advantages in departments including Economics, Math, Physics, English, Sociology, Anthropology, and also those professional schools.. UChicago has some of the best professors on this planet in these departments. Cornell also has its share of great professors, but maybe fewer in the departments mentioned above and its professional schools.
- There are probably more geniuses/ bright kids in UChicago, who might not be in your CS classes, but certainly in your core classes.