I’m a junior in high school, with a strong background in mathematics(I’ll be taking Calculus 2 my senior year), and also in h programming. I’ve been programming in several different languages for over 2 years, and in C++ for the past year(I’m self-taught, I don’t use one of those pathetic public school classes).
Basically, I’m looking for a college with an extremely strong computer science/software engineering focus. I’m trying to find a school that is known for its software/cyber security degrees, but I can’t seem to settle on any specific colleges. I’ve come to CC to find the perfect school to fully develop and supplement the skills that I already have.
Academically, I will have a 32+ ACT, and a 3.75+ GPA by graduation, so that should get me anywhere except MIT(I don’t want academics to completely take over my life…I like to focus on actually learning things, not pounding useless knowledge into my head to get perfect scores).
So, if you know of any colleges that are known for their excellent computer science/computer security programs(ideally with an emphasis on C/C++/x86/x64 and high-level mathematics), please let me know.
Thanks.
(If I’ve posted this in the wrong section, please forgive)
3.75 GPA and 32 ACT students will find many other schools to be difficult to get admitted to (and sometimes the CS major has higher selectivity, or may require a secondary admission process after enrolling).
Good CS departments will offer software engineering courses, project courses, and/or other courses with projects, so that should not be an issue. If courses on security and cryptography topics interest you, you can look in the on-line catalogs and schedules to find if each school’s CS department offers such courses. Math courses in abstract algebra and number theory should help if you want to go into cryptography (cryptography may also be offered in the math department).
Have you talked to your parents about cost constraints and financial aid situation, and run net price calculators on various colleges’ web sites? (You can try your state flagship, some other state universities, and some private schools you know about (including those which are not super-selective) to start for examples.)
Look for Universities and Colleges that have been designated by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE/IAE). Also, ones that have designated by the NSA and DHS an Information Assurance Center of Academic Excellence in Research (CAE-R). There are only thirty-six US institutions with both designations.
Schools can still be strong in software/cyber security without being CAE/IAE or CAE-R, but it’s one item (out of many) to look for…Good Luck!
Arizona, but I’m fine with out of state colleges. I’ve seen the NSA certifications, but it just doesn’t seem that they teach what I’m looking for. They focus more on big data…I want to focus on systems penetration and software programming.
The 32 and 3.75 have a plus next to them, so that’s the very least that I would expect. From what I’ve read, nearly every single tech school that I’ve looked at accepts those scores, so I’m not sure what specific colleges you are talking about.
Just because high stats are necessary to have a chance of admission to some highly selective schools does not mean that they are sufficient to gain admission to those schools. Actually, 3.75 GPA is rather iffy for schools like Caltech and Harvey Mudd, as well as direct admission to CS majors at schools like Berkeley, Washington, Illinois, etc…
Lots of schools have good CS departments, so you need not look at it in terms of one ideal school to seek admission to. Arizona State has a number of computer security courses listed that you can take as in-major electives beyond the usual upper level courses in operating systems, databases, networks, algorithms, and software engineering.
Have you talked to your parents about cost constraints? Out of state public schools tend not to give good financial aid. The same can be true for less well endowed private schools.
Well I know that Caltech is iffy, but I put Caltech in the same category as MIT. I’m looking for non-highest-tier colleges(they usually come with a highest tier price as well), but the next level down. Still very competitive in selection, but with a main focus on computer engineering.
Have your parents seen the prices of all of the colleges you may consider, and have they assured you that all of them are affordable? You do not want to find out in April of senior year that most or all of your acceptances are to schools which are too expensive for you to attend.
Take a look at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Rochester, NY. I know someone majoring in cyber-scurity there who loves it.
Also look at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. GREAT town, amazing location on riverfront property across the Hudson from Manhattan. You’d have a choice of three airports to fly into (Newark, LGA, and JFK).
Big or small? Urban, suburban or rural preferred? Any cost constraints? Can your family afford full tuition at a quarter million, or do you need merit or financial aid?
I’ve picked some schools off of the NSA list that would be a good fit.
-Boston University (M)
-Drexel University (S)
-Florida Institute of Technology (M)
-George Washington University (M)
-Northeastern University ®
-Pace University (S)
-Polytechnic Institute of New York (S)
-Rochester Institute of Technology (M)
-Southern Methodist University (M)
-Stevens Institute of Technology (HM)
-Syracuse University (M)
-University of Arkansas (M)