Not sure how the early cycle will go for my child but he is interested in studying computer science. He prefers a smaller school setting but we have applied to a few public universities to keep his options open. We are working our regular decisions list and would like recommendations for some good universities in reach and zone for him. He has applied to WPI, Case, Purdue, UCLA, UCB, GTech, Rose-Hulman, UIUC, MIT.
For folks to know what are likely reaches, matches, and safeties, it would be help if you posted your child’s HS GPA/standardized stats so they have more information to help you.
Sure. Totally agree. Here are his stats–3.9 UW;4.36 W; ACT 34/35(superscore)/SAT II Math-800,Chem 800
If he is willing to be flexible with size:
Carnegie Mellon
Cornell
University of Texas- Austin
Thanks so much. He is certainly interested in CMU and Cornell. What is your opinion on Vanderbilt, RTI, Purdue. More interested how students place --internships and jobs/MS after their education. Need which schools are best for CS in that respect.
Harvey Mudd is a good option in a smaller school, and of course Cal Tech.
Yes, thanks!
Your S may also want to look at UW-Seattle, UCSD, UMich, Tufts, URochester, NYU*, SUNY-Stonybrook, Princeton, Columbia (Offered in both Arts & Sciences & Engineering schools).
Out of curiosity, is your son willing to consider pursuing it in an engineering school or Arts & Sciences?
- If one's not put off by the high price tag, stingy FA, and merit awards which have Ivy/peer elite entry requirements and necessitate maintaining a minimum of a 3.5+ GPA to keep. Not easy in a major like CS where the average CS major GPA in some schools could be as low as the mid-high 2.x.
We found a little known school ( about 2000 students) that is fantastic. Check out Champlain College in Burlington Vermont. Great college town too.
You mentioned some schools in NY. RPI is a great tech school.
Northeastern University in Boston. With your student’s stats there would likely be merit aid if that is a factor. Excellent coop program.
These stats can get your student to a lot of places. What kind of CompSci is he interested in? How big of a program? grad school? minor? outside interests? possibility of taking some engineering courses just to get to play with hardware? co-op? shooting for the stars (Google / Facebook type career) ???
If you are the parent, the biggest question is:
Do you have a good handle on the financial aspects of sending the student to college? I.e. have you checked the cost of each school (using the net price calculator to get a financial aid estimate)?
You and the student need to know now that his applications are to affordable schools (especially the safeties), or that some schools may only be affordable if a large enough merit scholarship (not merely admission) is gotten. Do not let April be the let-down month where he has to discard numerous (or even all) admission offers due to only realizing then that they are too expensive.
A list of smaller schools and their more advanced CS offerings can be found at http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/18966522/#Comment_18966522
I can’t rave about Harvey Mudd enough. My brother went there as a computer science major and absolutely loved it. At graduation, he had multiple offers from both well-known companies and start-ups, and now has a great job with an incredible salary.
If your son has a theoretical bent (i.e., not only interested in notching his belt with programming languages), I think that Yale’s CS program is much stronger than its reputation.
I can’t disagree with the praise for Harvey Mudd. One alum says that to avoid the “what did you say?” response of people who haven’t heard of it (there are fewer of those all the time), he learned to pronounce the name so that it sounded like “Harvard Med” when asked where he went to school. :))
My son had a fabulous experience at Carnegie Mellon, the alumni network is amazing. He really found his tribe there and was challenged. I second the RPI recommendation with his stats merit money is a definite possibility. Ditto at WPI. My brother’s company (in Boston) hires a lot of CS grads from WPI.
Penn has a very strong CS program with excellent opportunities, internships, placement and salaries. Could also check out the NETS program to see if he is interested. Competitive to get in, but he has good stats and would have a shot.
Look at UT- Dallas. He would get merit aid.
I would add UMD, College Park, if student can be flexible about size, and oos cost is no issue.
OP asked about results. Here is a list by avg starting salary. In my experience these programs tend to be difficult and extensive, he will definitely be challenged.