<p>Can anyone comment on the CS program at W&M? I am looking for info on the quality of professors, class size and the overall quality of the program.</p>
<p>bump. hopefully someone can help. Decision time is coming.</p>
<p>Anyone???</p>
<p>I attended their presentation on Saturday with my son, but not being a CS person myself, I didn’t pay that much attention. I know that they said you can not test out of any of the classes except for having AP credit will get you out of the first one, CS 141, Computational problem solving.</p>
<p>My son remembers that the intro classes have a cap of 40 students and the upper levels have around 17. They had a white board with employment info for the class of 2012 and it was impressive both in the list of companies and the average and median salaries.</p>
<p>We met two professors and both were personable and easy to understand. One was Greek. My son said the other was Russian but I did not notice an accent (and wasn’t in the room when she introduced herself). </p>
<p>We have a friend in the graduate program there and he has had great things to say about it, even urging my son to turn down a full tuition offer in an engineering program for this instead, which is what my son is doing. The friend had job offers last fall even though he won’t graduate until next month.</p>
<p>Also, in case you haven’t visited, the CS building is one of the newest (possibly THE newest) academic buildings on campus. Nice facility tucked into old campus but built in a style that blends in with the much older buildings around it.</p>
<p>Thanks for that information TJ mom. </p>
<p>I have read the computer science program at W&M is a difficult major. I’m wondering how difficult the program might be for an average kid without a strong math & computer science background like the kids from TJ.</p>
<p>Do a lot of TJ students attend William & Mary’s computer science program? </p>
<p>Did you get a feeling it was a competitive or collaborative atmosphere?</p>
<p>My son doesn’t attend TJ but a base school in Fairfax County. I have the screen name from years ago when my older son went there.</p>
<p>While there are a number of TJ kids who go to W&M, the CS kids tend to stick to engineering programs , particularly VA Tech if they are staying instate.</p>
<p>I will admit to being a little biased (husband and I both are W&M grads) but I think overall, the W&M atmosphere is one of collaboration vs competition with the exception of the more hyper pre-med kids. Our older son (the TJ grad) is in law school there now and he says its is surprisingly collaborative even though all grading is on a curve.</p>
<p>You will not declare a major at W&M for a while. I believe you need a minimum of 39 hours to declare so while you could take some CS classes the first two years, most would be getting the general Ed requirements.</p>
<p>Don’t sell yourself short- W&M is a tough school to get into. If admissions let you in, you should be able to handle the work.</p>
<p>That is so good to hear!<br>
Thank you for encouragement and helpful information TJ Mom.</p>