<p>Is it a detriment to go to a college that has no engineering school when you intend to major in CS?</p>
<p>Son is deciding between W&M (no engineering) with no merit aid, and U of S Carolina's Honors College (has an engineering school) with significant financial aid and OOS tuition waiver.</p>
<p>I have noticed that the CS major is usually within the engineering school at the colleges that have an engineering school.</p>
<p>There is an overlap between comp sci and electrical/computer engineering. I think there is an advantage at a school with engineering. I don't think there is enough advantage to pass up a great school like Wm and Mary for U South Carolina.</p>
<p>Thanks, plus W&M is only 45 minutes away. USC is 7 hours. That $20-25,000scholarship is a factor though.</p>
<p>Let me ask you this though: If he plans to go to grad school anyway, is it as big a factor that he graduates W&M vs USC, all other things such as GPA, and GRE scores being equal?</p>
<p>It is hard to say whether W&M will be advantageous when it comes time to apply to grad school. There are a lot of unknown factors at this point: GRE scores, which grad schools, gpa, research experience, work experience. It might be a distinct advantage at UVA. But, I think W&M carries some weight among knowledgeable graduate admissions staff everywhere.</p>
<p>I feel certain that the 4 years he spends at W&M will be a better experience.</p>
<p>keep in mind that the dropout rates for engineering and computer science programs is quite high, 50% or more at most schools. Will your S keep his scholarship at USC if he decided to switch?</p>
<p>As for choosing between schools, I think fit is quite important. This means the advising system that you want, class sizes you are comfortable with, students of the type you can get along with, etc. Has your son had a chance to visit both schools or take other steps to make sure they're right for him?</p>
<p>Thanks Mikemac!</p>
<p>Son will get 4,000 per year plus instate tuition for 4 years, regardless of his major. The CS dept is giving him 2,000 per year for 2 years, then pretty much guaranteeing him internship in the dept for the last 2 years, which supposedly will earn him at least 2,000 per year in wages for not much work.</p>
<p>He has visited USC twice, but not on his own. He has been to W&M only once, same deal, just a tour.</p>
<p>We are encouraging him to go in a couple of weeks (during his H.S. Spring Break)on his own to stay with someone and go to classes, meet profs, etc.</p>
<p>He really likes both schools and is torn between them.</p>
<p>If your S is truly torn between them and has no other way to decide, flip a coin! Seriously. It does seem a weakness of our culture and approach to life that we assume there has to be ONE right or best choice instead of allowing that several may be equally good insofar as is humanly possible to tell. </p>
<p>For college choices that are close enough, in the end satisfaction will be raised or lowered by things than can't possibly be predicted in advance -- who your roomates are, the profs teaching the classes the semester you take them, whether you happen to "click" with the interviewer for internships or jobs, even whether you twist your ankle walking back from class one day. Could one college have turned out better than the other, after all? Sure, but we can never know.</p>
<p>Sometimes, though, there is a subconscious preference for one or the other, and here is a trick that can help reveal it. When the deadline for choosing is near and S still doesn't know, have him flip the coin. Then that evening have him fill out the acceptance paperwork, enclose the deposit check, seal the envelope and put a stamp on it. But don't mail it. Sleep on it. If he wakes up in the morning happy the decision is over, off to the post office to mail the letter (proof of delivery, of course!). If he wakes up with his stomach in knots and wants that letter back, it's right there on the top of the dresser.</p>
<p>wow mikemac - I really like your style! I think you have made some great points.</p>