Hi people of collegeconfidential! I’m entering my senior year of high school, deciding where to apply.
What are some undergrad colleges with very intense CS programs?
The focus is on intensity. Really quality classes. I care less about how alumni perform in job market, etc…
I’ve taken a couple CS classes at Western Kentucky University through my high school, but they were pretty unimpressive and I do much more on my own.
I’ve seen the rankings, but I’m not sure how close these are to what I’m actually trying to measure.
So where should I apply? What are some places to start looking?
You can stop reading now. If you want more information, see below.
NARROWING IT DOWN:
Aside from that, here are some things I like in a college. Note that these are lower priority
near Kentucky
atmosphere of pranks and whacky projects (e.g. MIT)
less than $10k median final (after scolarships) yearly tuition
big cities are nice
something I could probably get into with my stats
MY STATS
80 or so volunteer hours total. maybe 40 from during high school
GPA: unweighted-3.6 weighted-4.1
ACT: 31 (math-35, reading-28, science-29) this might improve later on
PSAT: 195 (math-70, reading-63, writing-62)
AP:
Physics C Mechanics-5
Physics C Electricity & Magnetism-4
Calc BC-4
Stats-5
My junior year I took 13 classes (around 35 credit hours) at Western Kentucky University. I’ll take about 13 more over my senior year. About half A’s, half B’s so far.
Hobbies include mostly programming and harmonica. Some outdoorsy stuff.
Check out Rose Hulman. Close to you, and a strong CS school. Due to its location and speciality, you should have no problem getting in and getting scholarships of some sort, financial aid if relevant.
You can find the average financial aid amounts in each school’s Common Data Set, section H. http://www.rose-hulman.edu/media/1153164/cds_2013_2014.pdf
Rose Hulman’s average need-based grant was about $24K/year in 2013-14.
The average merit award was about $10,600/year.
In general, public schools do not give very good need-based aid to out-of-state students.
Some of them do make merit scholarships available to OOS students.
Alabama seems to be the highest-ranked university that guarantees big merit scholarships for specific stats.
In general, the more selective private schools give the most generous n-b aid (but also have the highest sticker prices, and tend to award less merit money).
My junior year I took 13 classes (around 35 credit hours) at Western Kentucky University. I’ll take about 13 more over my senior year. About half A’s, half B’s so far.
I’m curious when you find the time to take 13 College level courses during your Junior year at Western Kentucky University? Are you participating in a (full-time) Dual Enrollment Program (Middle College or an Early College or Dual Credit)? Were all these courses taken at Western Kentucky University or were some of these courses taken at your High School/Online?
If you complete 13 additional courses during your senior year, you will probably have close to 70+ College credits, which could potentially place you as a Junior in College (transfer student) by the time you graduate High School. Not sure how this would affect your scholarship chances or merit aid, but the fact that you have so many college credits will certainly cut your total College cost in half, if you target schools that will accept all or most of your college credits from Western Kentucky University. Certainly, University of Kentucky should be one of your targeted schools.
I recommend that you take the SAT. Most colleges use only CR+M for SAT-based merit aid. Since your ACT math was very high, having a score that is half math may help your chances.
You will need significant aid to get to $10K tuition for private or OOS colleges. Do you expect to qualify for need-based aid or are you looking for merit aid?
Wow, this is extremely helpful. Thank you everyone!
When replying to multiple people on College Confidential, is it good manners to respond all at once, or separately?
tk21769,
Thanks, I can’t believe I’ve been forgetting to look at the Common Data Sets. Those things are jam packed with info.
I currently know rather little about how much my parents can/are-willing to spend. Thanks for linking the calculator, I’ll try it out.
Psata82,
My mistake, I should have clarified. The way my current high school works, I’m essentially a full time student at WKU.
Except for 2, all the classes were at WKU, in a normal classroom with professors, etc…
As for saving time/money with my existing credits:
I’d rather go to a really good school for 4 years (if could afford it) then an okay one for 2.
That’s simply because I enjoy good classes (I have seen some at Stanford) and what goes along with that.
If money turns out to be an issue (which it likely will) then credit transfer will become higher priority.
(Surprisingly, Reed would accept nearly all of my advanced math cred from WKU, according to a prof I emailed.)
BobWallace,
Thanks, I plan on taking the SAT. As I said to tk21769, I need to talk to my parents about money, so I don’t really know the answer to your question right now.
Mastadon,
Strong cs PhD programs? Does a strong Phd program mean much to an undergrad? Good research opportunities and talented professors I suppose, but I’m looking for quality undergrad classes.
All else being equal, it should mean that the CS department has strong faculty.
However, all else often is not equal.
A university might employ distinguished professors who do a great job mentoring PhD candidates, but seldom teach undergrads. Or, maybe they do, but only in huge lectures (then delegate most of the interactions with undergrads to inexperienced grad students.)
If a university has a highly ranked graduate CS department and also is highly ranked as an undergraduate institution, that may be a good sign.
As for the need based v. merit aid issue, a key question is whether you can cover the Expected Family Contribution (which the online Net Price Calculators will show). If you can’t, then you probably need merit money. To answer this key question, there’s just no way around the awkward “money talk” with your family. Sooner better than later (otherwise you’ll waste your time on schools you cannot afford.)
Usually strong PhD programs have exceptional undergrad programs in CS as well. But there are many more colleges that have excellent CS programs. What types of classes have you been taking that are not challenging enough for you? Is it just intro CS? Have you have the data structures and algorithms classes? What hardware software etc?
Your cost can depend on your ‘need’ at some schools-- figure out what that is calculated at for FAFSA and the Institutional Method. Some will meet your need and other’s won’t. At yet hers you will have to seek merit. Usually students look instate first because you can get instate rates. You can look at some of the smaller tech schools too privates that might give aid, since it seems an atmosphere you may like. Tech schools and large CS depts will have a real depth of course offerings so you can go as far as you are able. It is very hard to identify hardcore departments for you when we also have to take your costs into consideration, that is a lot of the kind of work you will have to do yourself.
Read:
-the financial aid forum, open the threads that are pinned at the top. You will see lists of the automatic merit schools, among other threads
-the College Majors forum, the math/cs and sometimes the engineering forum has discussions of various colleges