<p>Hey guys,</p>
<p>I was admitted priority on December 13, and since then, I STILL haven't decided between CS and ECE.</p>
<p>Is there anyone that can help me weigh the pros and cons at UIUC specifically?</p>
<p>My room-mate was CS and I was ECE, so I’m more knowledgeable about ECE, but can try and help with both. The two overlap to some degree.</p>
<p>Computer Science is almost exclusively programming. Mostly higher level languages starting with Java, but you also touch on machine languages and binary programming. Expect to spend most of your homework time in front a computer screen staring at code and wondering why it isn’t working. A lot of math is necessary (matrices, linear algebra, recursion). You’re also given a taste of lower level computer topics that would normally be associated with ECE (there’s an intro to circuit logic class you need to take or instance).</p>
<p>ECE is actually two degrees; Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering. For the first 2 years, the two are almost identical. The focus is heavily on circuit design and binary logic. You learn how to take transistors and diodes and make them represent 1s and 0s in a computing system. You’re also given a comprehensive grasp on programming, though from the ground up this time, starting with binary and machine languages, eventually culminating in C. It’s also not nearly as in-depth as what CS will teach you. I’d describe ECE as more “problem solving” oriented. Homework is usually book problems, and involve looking at a circuit and finding unknown values. Resistors and Voltages will become your friend very fast.</p>
<p>What it comes down to is how abstract do you want to be. Electrical Engineering is as physical as it gets, working with wires to make basic components (you make all the parts to an AM radio in your third ECE class). Computer Engineering takes those components and makes bigger systems, and Computer Science uses those systems and programs on them.</p>
<p>Computer Science seems to have newer buildings and equipment, but ECE seems more structured and well taught.</p>
<p>Bit of a cross-post:</p>
<p>I’m sure I want to major in computer science. I also got accepted at Duke and Rice, with Cornell and Brown likely. They’re not as well-regarded as UIUC for CS, but are very prestigious schools nonetheless.</p>
<p>What should I do? Any advice? How should I go about making a decision? I’m an international student (Indian); how would that affect my experience here and at those other schools?</p>
<p>Thanks for your replies!</p>
<p>Thanks Alan.</p>
<p>My issue is that I really like both the high and low end. I took a Logic/Hardware class (my high school is one of the few in the nation that offers a class like that) and I absolutely ADORED it…K-maps are a good time. Ahhhh.</p>
<p>I’m tempted to do ECE and take CS technical electives.</p>
<p>Go for CompE, it seems better fit for you. A lot of 400 level CS/ECE classes overlap, such as Distributed Systems.</p>
<p>I’m so torn, gahhh. I know this probably shouldn’t be an issue, but what’s the difference in earning potential?</p>
<p>Yeah sang, I looked at courses and noticed the overlap…that sounds good to me!</p>
<p>If I decide to switch, how do I go about that? I’m probably going to take UIUC’s acceptance tonight.</p>
<p>Switching between CS and ECE is pretty easy during the first 3 semesters or so since a lot of material overlaps. You just need to meet with your advisor and they’ll take care of everything.</p>
<p>Earning potential…I’m not sure. There’s surely more CS majors out in the world than ECE, but there’s probably a higher demand for them as well.</p>
<p>I would suggest as others have, do ECE.</p>
<p>if you go the CompE route, you can take CS classes as electives, most of them count as ECE electives</p>
<p>if you go the EE route, you can do the computer concentration, and you can take a lot of CS classes in your technical electives section. For the ECE technical electives, there are many that are CS-related, and many are cross listed with CS. </p>
<p>overall i would suggest ECE over CS, and EE over CompE. Being an EE i am a tad biased, but i think that engineers tend to have a better time finding jobs (i have 5 cousins who did CS, only one has a job)</p>
<p>Is double majoring a possibility? I’ve been looking into these two fields studies for a while and want do both. Would it be hard to pull off even with all the overlaps? Also, would double majoring not leave much room for electives?</p>
<p>yes you can do a dual degree in CS and either EE or CompE, though most EE’s will do a CS minor</p>