CS @ UMass, Purdue, UIUC, UCSC, UDub

As I’m sure all of you know, college decisions for the class of 2016 are pretty much done! What a year…
Here is a list of the specifics of the schools I’m considering for CS, any help/tips/pros/cons would be greatly appreciated in choosing one.

UMass: Admitted to college of engineering, but apparently its pretty easy to transfer into CS. 12k per year Chancellors scholarship

Purdue:College of Science, on my letter my major is CS, anyone know if its direct admit?

UIUC: LAS for cs+stats. Probably the most “prestigious” for CS of my schools. My parents work in the tech industry and tell me that cs at UIUC is very well known, so it’s easy to get internships/jobs, but are worried about it being a party school.

UCSC: School of engineering, Major: CS. Cheapest considering I’m in state, but CS seems mediocre there and people at school tell me it has a drug culture?

Udub: Pre-science @ CAS. My dream school along with UCSB (which I got waitlisted from but still crossing my fingers), however friends tell me it’s REALLY competitive to get into CAS CS if not a direct admit, so now I’m wondering if it’s worth the risk.

I will be visiting Purdue and UIUC tomorrow, so I’ll be updating this with some additional thoughts soon!

Money is not a big problem, what’s more important to me is the student body environment balanced out with challenging, yet not hair-tearingly stressful(which is why I am worried about the CS classes at UIUC) academics.

If your parents think UIUC is a party school don’t let them find out about UCSB, haha. You can’t go wrong with any of those schools, but I’d choose UIUC for its fantastic CS program. Top silicon valley companies recruit there regularly.

I back from the visit, any other help would be very much appreciated!