Overflowing classes can occur at both big and small schools. Need to investigate each school individually. But the OP may be more concerned about some courses not being offered at all (or very infrequently) in a small CS department.
CS majors that are engineering based typically have more math and non-CS science requirements, and may be ABET accredited. ABET accreditation is mostly useful for those interested in the patent exam, although it does indicate meeting a decent minimum standard. However, there are good CS major programs without ABET accreditation, which may not meet the minimum math and non-CS science requirements.
@vistajay will do! I have one more question about National Merit Finalists. If you are NMF, are colleges guaranteed to give you the scholarship if you mark them first choice? Or do they choose one or two from their applicants with NMF?
@EdgeoftheDark , it depends on the school but most with their own NMF scholarships will give you the scholarship if you are admitted and you mark them first choice with NM Corp. Some are easier admits then others. For example, Southern Cal admits about half the NMFs who apply, but if admitted you are guaranteed to receive a half tuition scholarship.
Depends on the school. Some have automatic scholarships for NMF. Others have competitive scholarships for which NMF is one of the minimum qualifications. Note: even for automatic scholarships, they may be contingent on admission which may not be automatic for NMF (i.e. you get the scholarship if admitted, but you are not assured of being admitted).
I second UT Dallas as an affordable option.
Also, consider Northeastern. Northeastern has a separate computer science college outside engineering if that is a pull.
@EdgeoftheDark
Do not compare yourself with other students at your school and run your own race.
You have not mention your EC’s, assuming you have a few, and community service, then you could apply to NC State’s Park Scholarship. They have a few for OOS and International students.
It is not necessary to have CS heavy EC’s to get into a CS program. It may be slightly easier for girls to get into Tech focused colleges - Northeastern, RPI, WPI etc. and they all give merit aid.
It sounds like your parents are not able to pay the full freight for private schools, but do not qualify for FA. Are they willing to pay if you get into MIT, Stanford or not at all ?
You must create your college list based on this and if full pay is impossible, then focus only on merit schools only (UTD, Alabama etc.)
That has NOT been established. And, for some odd reason, this woman of color with nearly perfect SATs and an ACT of 35, has had it drilled into her head (by who knows what responsible adult or adults) that she’s not competitive for private colleges in the northeast (where the average tuition discount can easily top 50% of the sticker price.) Something is terribly wrong here.
@circuitrider I appreciate your concern, but I don’t think any adults in my life have affected my thinking. My parents actually want me to apply to more selective schools, but to tell the truth I’m not that confident in my abilities. I guess you could say I AM too focused on how others at my school are doing, and not my own achievements.