Stony Brook has always been my top choice. It’s my cheapest option because I’m in-state and I was granted the presidential scholarship. But I can’t help but feel like I’ve been rejected after being given an AOI in Pre-Computer Science. Is it even worth going there anymore? I don’t know what to do. I’m absolutely positive I want to major in Computer Science, but I’m worried that I won’t be able to keep that 3.2 GPA requirement in the CS prerequisite courses, mainly because I’m not sure how much harder it is compared to the courses I’ve been taking in school. In school, my overall GPA is a 96.36. My current schedule consists of 5 AP courses, Honors College English, and electives. I was able to maintain this GPA with 14 extracurricular activities (including two sports). My SAT score was a 1440, which was probably the reason why I was given an AOI. Based on all of this, do you think I’ll be able to make it into the program?
Also, is there any way that I can make it into the major earlier? I’m taking AP Computer Science A this year, so could I possibly skip one of the prerequisites if I get a good score on that AP Exam? Or are there any summer classes I could take so that I could start freshman year admitted into the major. I’m willing to do anything.
My other options are Purdue (which is pretty expensive for OOS) and Binghamton (I don’t want to go here cause everyone from my school goes there. Literally 20-30 students a year). The benefits with both of these are that I have been admitted directly into the major. Also, for Purdue, there’s no limit for the number of credits you can transfer. So if I go there, I’ll be starting out with around 40 credits vs. the 30 I get from Stony. But I’d still have to pay the OOS tuition which is around $45,000. And if I go there, my parents won’t be able to afford to pay for my graduate studies—a priority for me. As for Binghamton, it’s more expensive than Stony. Plus, Stony Brook just seems to be a better place for STEM majors.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
@brownpotato15 I always advise to go with a sure thing. Since you got admitted to the CS major at Binghamton, whereas you didn’t at Stony Brook, I would normally say (but not in this case, see why below) go there and not worry about how many students from your high school are there. Watson Is very difficult to get into so I imagine most of your peers from your high school will not be in the same school at Bing. They will most likely be in Harpur. However—-the fact that Stony Brook costs less due to the Presidential scholarship makes me think that you should go with Stony Brook, your cheapest option, not only because of cost but also because it’s your top choice and you will do better at a place which is the best fit. Computer Science and engineering are ultra competitive at Stony Brook (same as at Binghamton) so don’t at all feel rejection or slighted. But keep in mind you will be with equally talented students as yourself at Stony Brook so you will need to study hard to attain the 3.2 gpa in CS prerequisite courses. If you chose Binghamton Watson I would say the same thing—that is will be difficult to maintain a high gpa to stay in that major. My suggestion is to have a backup plan (Plan B) if you don’t get accepted into the major at Stony Brook. Here’s the twist—University at Buffalo has a great CS program and it will be easier to do well there gpa-wise versus at either Stony Brook or Bing. The transfer requirements to Buffalo are not too formidable and the price is right —just have a 2.5 gpa in prerequisites courses. See
http://engineering.buffalo.edu/home/academics/undergrad/admissions/transfer.html
You have nothing really to lose by selecting Stony Brook and then if you don’t get into the major you can transfer to CS major at University at Buffalo —the cost at Buffalo will be less than at Binghamton and I believe it will be easier to transfer to Buffalo and do well gpa wise there versus at Bing Watson. You will have same job opportunities coming out of CS major at any of these top SUNY schools.
@trackmbe3 @brownpotato15 everything that trackmbe3 is accurate and I would have pretty much said the same thing. Don’t feel slighted that you are AOI stony brook CS because most kids in CS at stony were not directly admitted. The only issue is that it is a very difficult major and the purpose of the 3.2 is to weed out students because there just isn’t enough space to accommodate everyone who wants to study CS. If you want a sure thing then pick Buffalo or Binghamton. All 3 sunys will get you the same type of CS job if you make it out alive. Even though stony CS is probably the best one I don’t feel that the stony grads are selected over bing and buffalo for the alpha tech companies like Google Facebook Bloomberg Amazon…it still comes down to how well you do in your technical interviews and past work experience/internships.
Good luck.