<p>Hi I'm trying to become a software engineer with a B.A in computer science. Should I goto CSU or UC? I know UC's are much better in almost every way but the only con would be that they study theoretically. Since UC's are still better, isn't it better to choose UC over CSU when it comes down to career path? Also I have no chance of getting in UCs like UCLA and UCB</p>
<p>Colleges I'm interested in :</p>
<p>UCI
UCSC
Cal Poly SLO
Cal Poly Pomona
SFSU
SJSU</p>
<p>Oops I meant B.S*</p>
<p>Those are all good for CS, excepting SFSU is likely not as strong. You can do very well going to any of those schools. I’d favor one of those 2 UC’s if cost allows. Usually the CS degree is a B.S. I have not directly compared the course requirements between UC and CSU but usually all decent CS programs will directly require a theory course or more and that’s a good thing for your foundational knowledge. CS theory is used in many areas including cryptography. Why is that a con to you? Are you weak in math?</p>
<p>Oops I meant B.S*</p>
<p>UCSC actually offers a BA and a BS in computer science. The BA allows for greater exploration outside of the sciences, while the BS has a stronger concentration in the physical sciences. UCSC says that they have courses and focus in both practical and theoretical comp sci.</p>
<p>UCI has a whole school of information and computer sciences. They offer majors in computer science, computer science and engineering, informatics, information and computer science, software engineering, and computer game science (all BSs). They obviously have both theoretical and practical foci.</p>
<p>So you can study practical and theoretical at UCs and at CSUs, so I think you should choose whichever school you like the best.</p>
<p>Nope mathematics is one my favorite subject! I’m currently taking AP Statistics and I’m enjoying it. So you’re saying theoretically studying for cs is better than hands on studying strategy in csu which will make you focus more into your career position?</p>
<p>Thanks juillet your information was helpful. But when it comes down to internships, most likely csu has better offer of internships correct?</p>
<p>No brianhckim, the CSU does not necessarily have better internship opportunity at all. Most likely the UC does, but you will get good opportunities at Cal Polys and especially SJSU. I don’t think there is anyway to measure that. </p>
<p>At both institutions you will study pretty much the same thing. I think you are making too much of a distinction between theory and practice here. This is not “code camp”, you are getting a degree in computer science so you are getting some broad foundational knowledge and you can also take some specialty topics in your electives. People use that knowledge to go to work or to go to grad school. You will learn a few programming languages. It is not boot camp for work, you will be prepared not for expertise in a specific language per se, but you will be trained so that you can self teach yourself any language you need to learn and solve problems that you will encounter no matter what language you are working in.</p>
<p>Look at the courses required for the major. Everywhere you will see Data Structures and Algorithms, Computer Architecture, Operating Systems, Programming Languages, Theory. And extra topics like databases, networks, AI.</p>
<p>At the UC’s you might have more access to research projects, but those are also very good for your work resume. You can do internships to prepare for work. You can also do open source projects to build a resume.</p>
<p>My own opinion is that the UC’s are stronger programs, and overall better education. But you will be good to go at the CSU’s and it will very likely be that your job performance will dictate how well you do in your career.</p>
<p>Any decent CS department will offer CS theory courses (algorithms and complexity, theory of computation) as well as various CS topics courses where you do programming assignments and projects (operating systems, compilers, databases, networks, security, etc.).</p>
<p>The UCs give better aid if you qualify.</p>
<p>But, if money is an issue and you won’t qualify for much/any free aid, then commuting to a local CC or UC can be a good deal.</p>
<p>What are your stats? </p>
<p>Do you qualify for Cal Grants and/or the Blue and Gold Promise?</p>
<p>Just thought to add more to address your concerns. The majority of students who study computer science will go to work, not grad school. This doesn’t depend on if theory is taught or not. You seem to think that higher level programs don’t prepare you to get a job and that is just not true. People who study theory know all the things that people who don’t study it know.</p>
<p>For instance, my daughter did take a lot of theory and is in grad school for a PhD. But it didn’t prevent her from getting 2 Google internships in different areas of the company working on completely different topics of CS. And an internship at a start-up that is providing services to Fortune 500 companies. But most of the people in her program went right to work.</p>
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<p>UCs are $10-$15,000/year more than CSUs, so having more aid doesn’t necessarily translate to paying less.</p>
<p>For a high-need California resident student, the net price calculators tend to indicate that the net prices after financial aid grants are:</p>
<p>CSU commuting while living with parents < UC < CSU on-campus</p>
<p>But the OP should run the net price calculators for the OP’s situation.</p>
<p>Money is an issue for me and my grades are not too great my average weighed GPA from 10-11 is only 3.4 and I recently took the ACT and waiting for the results. I know attending CC would be a great idea but I personally want to get out of my house.</p>
<p>There is a significant difference in the depth of the CS (and related courses in math and possibly electronics) programs in the UC system compared to the CSU system. I’m not sure I understand the distinction that you’ve made regarding theoretical versus practical. At the higher levels of computer engineering there is a great need for the practitioners to have a theoretical foundation for their work – in data management, algorithms, languages, programming patterns, etc.</p>
<p>You don’t have UC Davis or UC San Diego on your list. They both have exceptional CS programs, almost as strong as UC Berkeley and UCLA. The CS program at CSU SLO (Cal Poly) is very strong.</p>
<p>All this said, the UCs with the best programs may be a stretch for you because with the 3.4 GPA you are probably not in the top 9% of your class. The CC + transfer-to-UC path might be a good option for you.</p>
<p>The UCs take the to 9% of students in the state, not in one particular high school. With a 3.4 GPA (assuming that’s an a-g UC GPA) then he’d need well over 1800 on his SAT or 28+ on his ACT in order to be eligible to attend a UC. </p>
<p>[University</a> of California - Statewide path](<a href=“http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/freshman/california-residents/admissions-index/]University”>http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/freshman/california-residents/admissions-index/)</p>
<p>Assuming he does well on his ACT, UCSC is a possibility. Average admitted GPA is 3.84, average admitted ACT is 26. In addition to its general BS, UCSC has a BS is in computer game design if that’s of interest to the OP.</p>
<p>The difference between the more theoretically-oriented UCs and the more practical-oriented CSUs will be in the number of labs required overall for the CS major. The CSUs, particularly Cal Poly SLO, Pomona and SJSU, stress hands-on labwork in most of their CS courses while UCs focus more on theory via lectures. Nearly every CS course at Cal Poly is 3 units lecture, 1 unit lab, for example. Some students prefer heavy theory over practice, while others prefer heavy practice over theory. UC students will be well-prepared to go on to graduate school while CSU students will be well-prepared to enter the job market with a BS.</p>
<p>[UCSC</a> Computer Science](<a href=“http://registrar.ucsc.edu/catalog/programs-courses/program-statements/cmps.html]UCSC”>http://registrar.ucsc.edu/catalog/programs-courses/program-statements/cmps.html)</p>
<p>[Computer</a> Science < California Polytechnic State University](<a href=“http://catalog.calpoly.edu/collegesandprograms/collegeofengineering/computerscience/#courseinventory/]Computer”>http://catalog.calpoly.edu/collegesandprograms/collegeofengineering/computerscience/#courseinventory/)</p>
<p>Having said that, the top 3 CSUs for CS (SLO, Pomona and SJSU) will all be reaches for the OP.</p>