<p>Hey everyone. I'm a senior in high school looking for a liberal arts college with an exceptional Computer Science program.</p>
<p>I would like to go to Cornell University, for it's College of Arts of and Sciences also has a very good Computer Science program, but my parents refuse to pay the high costs of an Ivy school if I don't enter medicine. I'd also like to enter the Game Design field in the future, and Cornell has that as a minor, which made things even better.</p>
<p>But anyway, does anyone know of something like Cornell's program - a high-level liberal arts college with a strong Computer Science program and possibly a Game Design minor? This may seem like an odd request, but I like stuff like history and english more than Physics and Chemistry, though I still prefer Computer Science above all. Location isn't too big of a deal, though I'd like to keep it in the East, as I live in the Southeast. I suppose I'd like to live in an urban place, as I've lived in suburban areas all my life.</p>
<p>I have a 35 ACT score and a decent GPA with some nice extracurricular activities, so I'd like to think I have a shot at most places. Thanks for any and all advice.</p>
<p>if your interested in computer science then you might consider majoring in computer engineering. that would help you significantly more than a las degree. although that probably means a lot of physics. you could try to look at some technical schools for good computer majors</p>
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I like stuff like history and english more than Physics and Chemistry
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<p>That implies that an engineering program might not be much fun.</p>
<p>Most major universities have full computer science programs, so you could get a CS degree at many places. If you went to an LAC then your options in courses could be limited. If money is a concern, how is your state university for CS?</p>
<p>If you are a very strong student, have you considered merit scholarships? Boston University has a pretty aggressive program for top students, a full undergrad and graduate program in CS, and lots of liberal arts majors.</p>
<p>How important is it to you to go to one of the top CS departments in the country? If that matters, then you could narrow down the list by starting at the top for CS and working your way down.</p>
<p>Brown has a strong CS program (not as highly rated as Cornell, but still well regarded) and excellent liberal arts majors. And of course it is about as expensive as Cornell.</p>
<p>I think I should explain that although I like History and English more than Physics, that doesn't mean that I dislike Physics. Basically, I desire a strong Computer Science department without the total Engineering technical environment.</p>
<p>There is a decent instate option, along with merit scholarships for my state school, but they are more of safeties. I'm looking for a school to really reach for.</p>
<p>And the looking-at-a-Computer-Science-list-then-narrowing-it-down idea sounds good. Anyone know where to obtain one?</p>
<p>Again, any and all advice will be appreciated.</p>
<p>I should elaborate about the engineering comment. Engineering programs usually require a very heavy dose of physics, with less but still substantial chemistry, liberal arts subjects are required, but for most engineers they are distractions. Some universities put their CS programs outside of engineering, so one can focus on the logic and software side without having to take the more physical components of an engineering program. So you might consider looking at colleges to see whether they offer a non-engineering CS program.</p>
<p>The National Research Council has done studies of perceived quality of graduate programs, including CS. The newest one is due soon, but they keep putting off the date. The most recent one is more than 10 years old, but the general reputations do not change much. USNews also polls CS faculty for their opinions.</p>
<p>As a silent creeper, Canadian schools are pretty decent when it comes Compsci. Take for instance, UofWaterloo, gr8 school, excellent coop, and they focus a lot on entrepreneurship(the founders of rim/blackberry are alumni). Also UofT, probably the most prestigious Canadian school, very intense compsci curriculum though. Also York U, surprisingly enough, they have a very excellent compsci program, can be linked with their business pro…gr8 rapport. One of my co-workers, mind you, I worked for IBM, DB2 developer, attended york. Got a follow up offer after his TIP (technology internship program, from the school). McGill, but I believe the course is in french, not too sure and UBC in vancouver…EXCELLENT CS program. The latter three, excluding mcgill, that is uoft, yorku and ubc have a ba in compsci, so you can do a artsy focus on the compsci. </p>
<p>undergrad - YorkU - Bsc Computer Science 2003
mba - Schulich - YorkU 2005
msc - UofT 2008
phd - ??? probably Standford, who knows. </p>
<p>But at the end of the day, make your uni choice and the school you feel most comfortable with, not entirely on peoples BIAS opinions. Go to the campuses, have a feel of the place, and see if you like!</p>
<p>I recently had an interview for Vassar college and all the alumni I spoke to about my interest in CS raved about Vassar’s CS department. They said it is a really good program and since Vassar is a LAC you get the best of both worlds.</p>
<p>Basically all the top universities have (obviously) strong liberal arts, including good computer science. Brown and Yale, in particular, have good programs.</p>