CSULB vs. Embry Riddle

<p>I've gotten into two different schools (Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and Cal State University Long Beach), and am waiting for an appeal at UCI. I'm having a lot of trouble picking one. I plan on majoring in computer science, and after that either getting my masters in management information systems or getting a job. I've heard different things about both campuses: I've heard its hard to find a job from a degree from CSULB. It that true? Is it easy to transfer to other private schools, such as USC or other Computer Science Schools? I've also heard the student life at Embry Riddle sucks, as the campus is about 80% male. Is that true? I want to experience some college life as well. I plan on joining a frat, and already had one in mind if I went to CSULB (Zeta Phi Rho), but this frat is not available at Embry Riddle. In addition, I received a type 2 AFROTC scholarship, so should I use it if I go to CSULB? I would definately use it if I went to Embry Riddle, but I don't know if its worth it if the school is only about 6000 a year.</p>

<p>Both schools’ programs are accredited for computer science. I’ve never heard its harder to get a job from a CSULB degree than it is from other school of the same level. To be honest I might say vice versa, because CSULB is heard of, while I’ve never heard of embry riddle before.</p>

<p>But to be honest, getting a job depends more upon you than it does your school. So the choice is really more to your personal appeal, perhaps you should visit both campuses and decide from that which one you would enjoy more.</p>

<p>Embry-Riddle (My friend goes here for flight school / undergrad):</p>

<p>-great school for aeronautics / flight / the likes
-man ranch (yes theere are a ton of guys)
-expensive as fugg
-hot weather
-you like florida?
-what does your financial situation look like
-see what recruiters for CS come on campus, if there are any.
-waht do you like about the location?</p>

<p>CSULB (Been in the area to know a bit, but not academics at LB):
-squeezed between LA / OC (good stuff to do)
-degrees dont bring you jobs, they are the foot in the door
-transferring from CSU –> private might be hard, CC route might be best
-decent program, def. not a top tier UC though
-programming is a language / technical skill … syntax / scripting / coding is pretty much the same when comparing one course to another course at a different school.</p>

<p>^disclaimer: look at the networks offered though (alumni, clubs, professors, accessibility to these projects / internships) An MIT grad will most likely be picked over a CSULB student with equal standing, but the make/break situation might be the one with more relevant experience. pick a school that’ll offer you this… but on the flip side dont choose a school where you’ll end up drowning in loan debt. the experience of living far away might not be worth it JUST YET.</p>

<p>if you definitely are dead set on comp sci –> MIS save your pennies, as it’s easy to say you’ll get one now but what if you’re 26/27, have a kid / wife / mortgage / work a job then a MIS might seem far off. I personally feel that too many students have this ideal of progressing through life (i.e. go to x-school, get y-job, go to masters degree for z-degree) but not alot of them factor in things such as life changes, accidents, etc etc.</p>

<p>Plan for the future but keep it penciled-in.
/end rambling</p>

<p>Personal opinion:
To me accounting is like comp sci … technical and you take courses and are ready to enter the working world after graduation. The prestige from the school in this area I feel isnt too much of a concern. (Unless you’re trying to get into a bank as a programmer or a BIG4 accounting firm etc etc).</p>

<p>I don’t know about Embry so I can not provide a nonbiased response. Although, you strike me as a guy wanting the college experience, and so maybe CSULB would be better for you, based on that alone.</p>