Humoresque of a CS Major

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So I'm making a decision between schools a little before I should (Haven't heard from Northeastern or BU, but I doubt I'll get in at this rate) and I've been at arms with my parents and brothers over what is a good choice.</p>

<p>Now, I wanted to go to WPI, got rejected, hoped for RPI, got rejected. WPI was a 50-50 which frankly, I don't understand why I didn't get in (probably my math scores, though I proved myself in everything else) and RPI was pretty much a shot in the dark.</p>

<p>Anyways, here are my options: Drexel University, RIT, UMass Lowell, Wentworth, UMass Boston, and Becker College.</p>

<p>Now, the reason I wanted to go to WPI was mostly because people there seemed so... happy. They were happy nerds who had more free time then they should and enjoyed playing Dungeons and Dragons. It had a "new england feel" which, in my view, is the smell of an old bookstore with autumn leaves.</p>

<p>...I'll try transferring next year...</p>

<p>Anyways, here are the pro's and cons as I see them, help me make the decision:</p>

<p>RIT:
+ Good technical school, a lot of prestige, seems like a safe place.
- I heard Rochester is miserable, the students are aloof</p>

<p>Drexel:
+ Co-Op Program, diverse community, big school, "general" school which is flexible, major-wise.
- Philadelphia (complete change of scenery,) not a typical college experience, might be another shot in the dark, not a technical/engineering school.</p>

<p>Wentworth:
+ Around a lot of other schools, Boston (home,) engineering school, probably well connected.
- M/F ratio is off the wall terrible, not the most 'prestigious' school out there, a little TOO close to home (some people I have an awkward history with will be nearby.)</p>

<p>UMass Lowell:
+ Biggest school on my list, definitely a good engineering school - dedicated AI lab too, a lot of machinery, very well connected.
- Lowell (moist, dusty, and the campus is so old that a section of it is haunted,) not really anything new or different from what I've been doing for the last 12 years, really.</p>

<p>UMass Boston: The less said, the better.</p>

<p>Becker College:
+ Next to WPI, I can take classes at WPI too, credits are probably transferable (best chance to transfer, period.)
- Basically a nursing school, waking up next to WPI will be like a slap in the face.</p>

<p>A little about me: I am an extroverted introvert. I like witty humor. I want to get into the game industry and possibly (non-game) AI development (but I don't want to limit myself to either, hence the CS Major.) I love Dungeons and Dragons and 'nerdy socializing' and appreciate people who aren't so aloof, though I end up grounding them into my world anyways. A good Game Dev club is a plus :D</p>

2

<p>Net price after deducting grants and scholarships (not loans) from the cost of attendance at each school? How much can you and your parents afford before you have to take loans?</p>

3

<p>I’m not really worrying about loans as much as I’m worrying about getting the degree that will actually help me.</p>

<p>CS Majors by default have a good chance, but I’m also worried about getting a CS Major that will actually teach me something.</p>

<p>Let’s think about this without counting money for now.</p>

4

<p>Becker does not have a CS major, only specialized game majors that are not all that heavy in CS.</p>

<p>The others either have ABET accreditation in CS, or have a decent looking enough list of CS course offerings. You did not apply or get admitted to UMass Amherst?</p>

<p>High student loan debt will limit your options and cramp your life after college. Do not ignore cost and debt.</p>

5

<p>I think you will get an excellent CS education at UMass Lowell. Yes, the campus is not as pretty as some others, but their CS department is excellent.
Wentworth used to be a 2 year technical school. While I know that it has evolved into something much bigger than that and they do have some BS degress, I think most people don’t know that. Hence the lack of prestige.
If money is not an issue I would rank them in this order: RIT, Drexel, UMass Lowell, UMass Boston and I would skip Becker and Wentworth.
You should contact WPI about their requirements for transfer students. Don’t make assumptions…Becker students can take one course per semester at another school in the Consortium.</p>

6

<p>I got rejected from Amherst for some reason, despite constant “Advanced” rankings on my MCAS.</p>

<p>Why do you place RIT and Drexel at the top?</p>