Any students or parents of Computer Science students have any opinions/reviews/personal experiences with the program at Rowan that they could share with me? Why you think Rowan is a good program, or other schools which may have a better comp sci program? We just took a tour of the campus today (impressive growth!), but the guides were engineering majors and couldn’t speak to the comp sci program. We were told to come to an open house for academic specific presentations, which we will, but i just wanted to get some opinions here.
Daughter’s roomie, a bright young woman and former soccer captain, is a CS grad. Alas, going to grad school rather than accepting a position at QVC, where she interned. I’ll try to get her to post here.
I graduated from GSC (now Rowan) in 1978. There was a talented cartoonist named Doug Kirby, a communications grad (before IT majors existed). He went on to design AT&T’s first website. I, too, was a comm major (although I customized my major before it was cool) and had no lack of opportunities in my prior 20-year career in radio/TV broadcasting, journalism, and public relations. My friends have won multiple Emmies as writers, techs, and producers. Another was a GM for an NFL team.
Son, who graduated HS at the top of his class in 2009 at the height of the recession (three classmates went to Harvard and another to Bucknell), chose a full scholarship at Rowan for civil engineering over paying elsewhere, including Cornell. Doesn’t regret his decision one iota. There were other students like him. Doesn’t feel he knows any less than anyone else who went elsewhere, and he found that he had more hands-on than some. Got out in 4 years, too, with the classes he wanted, which isn’t always possible elsewhere (an understated consideration). No matter where you go, it’s likely that you will start in the same kind of position (unless maybe you’re also considering MIT or Stanford).
As a recruiter for nearly 30 years, I’ve seen grads of many, many colleges and visited many. I still haven’t defined “good” or “better”. I’ve found that it all comes down to the individual student. If the student believes that the environment is one in which they can succeed, they’ll succeed. If not, they won’t. They will define “good” and “better” in the years after they get out.
One thing I can tell you is that her/his teachers will be professors and real-world adjuncts, not grad assistants. Rowan professors, from what I’ve seen, are approachable during and after college.
Open houses are great, but why not just show up one day (Tuesdays through Thursdays are best) and walk around and talk to people and eat the food and visit a lab? Maybe even, with permission, sit in on a class and meet the instructors and students. What’s the worst thing that can happen? If people rub you the wrong way (or vice versa), the choice will be easier.
College is like buying a nice new car every year for the next 4 years at least. Don’t you think taking a test drive makes sense?
If your student can visualize themselves at Rowan and working with other students there or anywhere else, that’s where to go. Cost prohibiting.
@SpacemanEd Thank you for sharing you background & insights! By ‘good’ I was referring to the coursework of comp sci program, i see it’s ABET accredited,so there’s that… definitely going to visit and see if we can sit in on a class too, great advice, and again, thank you!