<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>This is my first CC post, though I've lurked for quite a while. Most everyone on here seems motivated and helpful towards one another, which I think is great. Anyway, I am going to major in Computer Science and need help deciding where to go. There are many things that I will take into consideration when choosing (location, weather, cost, etc), but what I really need from my fellow CC-ers is an idea of how the computer science programs (as well as undergrad life in general) are at these schools.</p>
<p>Here are the schools that I have applied to. I will dispense with all my facts so as to not bore you with another "Chance me!" thread. I am basing my chances on statistics as well as the acceptances of the class of '08 at my high school. I'm from California.</p>
<p>Stanford - rejected REA (very depressing, I was qualified, but I think I'm over it. ignore this one, obviously!)
UC Davis - very likely acceptance (will probably enter honors program too)
UC Berkeley - likely acceptance
UCLA - likely acceptance
Cal Poly SLO - very likely acceptance
U of Washington Seattle - accepted! (accepted months early. will probably enter honors program too)
Carnegie Mellon - possible to likely acceptance
MIT - possible acceptance (my friend got deferred EA, and I think I have a slightly stronger application than him, so there's hope!)</p>
<p>So: who is majoring in CS at any of these schools? Please tell me your experience. I am especially interested in your take on the CS department of your school as well as undergrad life in general.</p>
<p>Thanks again for all your help!
dylpkls91</p>
<p>I don't think you can go wrong with any of the schools on your list. There will likely be a cost difference between a number of these if that's a concern to you or your parents. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that wherever you go you'll likely be there for 4-5 years so make sure it's a place you'd like to live for that timeframe.</p>
<p>I know I have great choices, it's just that they're all so different-- that's what I need help with.</p>
<p>Check out the specific CS curriculum at each school to get an idea of how they differ and how they're the same. Maybe you've already done this. MIT and CM are both great schools for engineering/CS but how do you feel about living in the east? Also, if finances are a concern you'll need to see what kind of financial aid packages are offered assuming you get accepted.</p>
<p>The UCs have very highly ranked programs for CS. I'm somewhat familiar (once removed) with the two in my moniker.</p>
<p>Maybe if you ask more specific questions or state more specifically what you think you're looking for we can respond more specifically.</p>
<p>Many of your choices have a totally different flavor to them.
You may want to look at USC especially if you want a special combined program.
Now, consider that at many of the UC schools, the classes are large and they flunk out/drop out about 25-50% of the students who end up in other majors. Some of the schools have you do a year or two of prerequisites before you are in the actual CS program.
The one thing my son did was sit in on a calculus class and a programming class at as many schools he was interested in to see the environment, the teacher and the equipment they were using to teach. This was an eye opener at some of the schools-classes taught with over head projectors with grease pencils versus smart boards, teachers you could understand.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies so far. Keep 'em coming!</p>
<p>@ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad: MIT, I think, would be ideal, with a few big if's: IF I get in, IF it is financially possible without being a gigantic burden, and IF I would actually survive the workload. Though I'm a West Coast guy, I really liked the Cambridge/Boston area when I visited last summer. As for CMU, it's pretty low on my mental "appealingness" list, if that makes sense. I really only applied because of its CS reputation, but I am almost positive that I won't be going there.</p>
<p>@futureholds: I didn't apply to USC, so it's out. I never really wanted to, for a variety of reasons, but mainly it just didn't "feel right."</p>
<p>What I'm looking for are things like: Is the major really really difficult or not too bad? Are the teachers nice and good at teaching, or disinterested? How easy was it to get help and find friends in the program? Is the program's spirit competitive or cooperative? etc.</p>
<p>All very good schools. Go wherever you would like to go most. MIT, CM, Berkley, Cal Poly all have very good CS program.</p>