<p>I've decided to apply to these schools for computer science. I personally have them ranked in this order. Is this generally right, or do I have some wrong in the wrong position?</p>
<p>USC
UC Berkeley
UCLA
University of miami
UCSB
UIUC
Purdue</p>
<p>Well for compsci it goes like this:
1-UC-Berkeley
2-UIUC
small drop
3-UCLA
drop
3-Purdue=USC
4-The rest</p>
<p>Based this off of US news grad school rankings though.
From what I’ve read it seems like UC Berkeley and UIUC have the best, with UCLA, USC, and Purdue having very strong programs as well.</p>
<p>Berkeley, UCLA, and USC are definitely the top overall universities on that list though</p>
<p>I’d add Carnegie-Mellon to your list. It’s in the top tier.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, my school does not offer a physics class so I am not able to apply to Carnegie Mellon.</p>
<p>Also, are any of the other UC schools better for computer science?</p>
<p>UCI and UCSD are pretty good in Computer Science. I think it’s easier to get into Purdue than USC. What about U of Michigan?</p>
<p>I would contact CMU about the physics requirement. Not your fault your school doesn’t have it. Why doesn’t your school have physics though???</p>
<p>Check out University of Texas Austin.</p>
<p>@BeanTownGirl: I have emailed Carnegie Mellon and they “strongly suggested” that I couldn’t get in without physics. I’m not sure why my school doesn’t have physics, it’s a bit odd.</p>
<p>IntBacc, I’m guessing it is a general recommendation for most students. If you have qualifications for the schools like UCB and UIUC computer science, I’m sure CMU will at least consider you given that you have not taken physics. A bit peculiar that your school does not offer it, though.</p>
<p>I would maybe find a way to mention that on your application. I would imagine that top engineering/computer science schools would be uneasy accepting a student without any physics. Maybe it could be mentioned in a letter of rec or something of that nature. </p>
<p>uofiapplicant’s ranking seems fairly accurate to me.</p>
<p>Pat, thanks for the advice. I have been considering taking physics over the summer and based on what I’ve heard I think I will. Carnegie Mellon is the only school I’m applying to that require SAT IIs so what would you recommend? I’m in IB chem so I will take the chemistry test and then I need math I or II. I believe I can get an 800 on math I but math II obviously would look better.</p>
<p>(I am in IB math SLII and will be in IB HL math so I should theoretically be able to get and 800 on both math tests with the barron prep book)</p>
<p>The Computer Science of the Engineering department of all the UCs requires SAT II subject test at least for math and one science class. If you apply to Computer Science of LAS then you might not need it.</p>
<p>I didn’t realize that. Anyways, this thread has really helped me out. I’ve decided to take physics over the summer. I am also signing up for an ACT retake, SAT math II, and SAT chemistry. I believe I’ll apply to
Cornell just for kicks
Carnegie Mellon
USC
UIUC
UC Berkeley
UCLA
Purdue
U Miami
And then one of the lower UC’s like irvine, Davis, San Diego, or Santa Barbara. Does anyone have insight on which has a stronger computer science. I’ve heard that San Diego and Santa Barbara have strong programs.</p>
<p>Whoops I forgot I’m thinking about UMich and UTexas at Austin</p>
<p>Can you afford to attend all of these schools? (Check their net price calculators.)</p>
<p>About University of Miami:
I just finished my freshman year there, and I just added a Computer Science major (in addition to my pre-existing Psychology major) a few weeks ago. I talked to my programming professor (he’s also the Director of Undergraduate Studies) about whether the department offers classes in C++ and C#, since from what I can see through online job postings, many employers are looking for people with experience with those languages, and he said no, but the computer engineering department does offer them. It seems the computer science department focuses on Java (there is a C programming and UNIX class though), unless there’s some other programming languages in the upper level classes that I don’t know about because the course descriptions don’t mention them.
Is this typical for other universities’ computer science departments as well?
Also, I agree with what everyone else said about Carnegie Mellon. If I had figured out my interest in computer science back in high school, I definitely would have applied there.</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus I have a fair amount paid for but I would need student loans at most of these schools. </p>
<p>@illinois I have not looked extensively into the umiami course offerings. Thanks for the advice on c++ classes, ill definitely look into it. Also, I will be applying to Carnegie Mellon. I’m taking physics over the summer and sat math 2 and Chem the beginning of senior year. Hopefully I do we’ll enough to get in</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Berkeley’s introductory course sequence uses Python or Scheme, Java, C, and assembly language as needed to teach the various introductory CS concepts. Advanced courses use whatever computer language is appropriate to the course (students are expected to learn the computer languages as needed).</p>
<p>I would not be surprised if that were the case at many other schools.</p>
<p>But if a school’s CS department uses only a single computer language for all courses, that may be a drawback to the curriculum, as different computer languages are not all the same in the ability to use various CS concepts. A CS graduate whose experience is limited to one computer language may find it harder to adapt to different computer languages on the job.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>It is generally not considered a good idea to take more student loans than the Stafford loan amount.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I haven’t done a lot of research into loans yet. What are the drawbacks (beside the obvious having a lot to pay back) of taking more than the stafford loans.</p>