I am considering applying ED II to either Grinnell or WashU. I’ve visited both and love both campuses. I am some questions regarding both.
-Where would Grinnell be ranked with WashU? (Since USNWR separates National Universities and LACs) I know prestige isn’t everything, but would they be comparable?
-I’ve heard both schools’ workload is quite intense? Would they be comparable?
-Which would be better for a career/major in computer science?
-Which would generally look better to grad schools/employers?
I know that these schools are quite different, but it would be greatly appreciated if someone could provide me with some valuable insight!
For computer science, you can take a look at each college’s computer science offerings to see which has better offerings for you. Also, check the degree requirements for both the major and otherwise to see which is a better fit for you.
Computer science courses with programming assignments and projects will generally be high workload.
Thank you for your response. Ranking does matter to my parents and I, so I am curious to see which one is ranked higher or if they are similarly ranked.
If you are concerned about ranking, then you may really be concerned about post-graduation placement. See if each college’s career center has post-graduation survey results describing employment and graduate school destinations of recent computer science graduates.
can you afford to pay 20k-30k more per year for washu? if you can’t, the clear choice is grinnell. if you can, the choice is a bit more difficult. affordability should come first when making your decision. grinnell just instituted a no-loan policy (aka replacing loans in financial aid packages with grants/scholarships) moving forward starting with the class of 2025, which should heavily be considered (if you will possibly be taking out loans to help finance your education).
that being said, both schools are regarded as “hidden gems.” the vast majority of people don’t know either of these schools (i.e. “do you mean the university of washington?” “oh, cornell is SUCH a good school!”), and comparing liberal arts colleges to national universities is almost like comparing apples to oranges, it often just doesn’t make sense most of the time. you’ll be getting a fantastic education at either.
the workload at grinnell is quite hefty, especially if you’re studying a science-related field. labs can take quite a while and can be rather difficult (as expected). if you’re someone who will be taking a lot of STEM-related classes, expect your workload to be heavy, no ifs, ands, or buts. i can’t give my take on washu’s workload.
your last two questions (regarding grinnell) can probably be answered here: Computer Science | Grinnell College
i believe it shows the outcomes of the past four (five?) graduating classes for those who majored in computer science and includes other points such as internships and research experiences.