Since the engineering and computer science programs at Purdue and UIUC are extremely tough and top-rated, I was wondering whether it would be worthwhile to study at flagships like Indiana at Bloomington or Michigan State instead?
I’m not a stellar student, I have a 3.8 W GPA and 30 ACT and am currently taking Honors Precalculus which isn’t the toughest math course around for a senior. Even though I’d be able to get into Purdue for engineering (but probably not UIUC), I feel as if I would perform better at the aforementioned safeties that I’ve been accepted to.
My question is, should I expect the engineering and computer science programs to be equally/nearly as tough at all the schools I listed? Would the top rated programs give me an edge over the safeties when it comes to job recruiting and salary potential etc?
SIDE NOTE: I’m considering liberal arts colleges as well such as Grinnell for Computer Science or something similar that isn’t hardcore engineering. I feel as if I’d be able to perform better in an environment where there’s less competition and more collaboration among peers and attention from professors, and help more readily available. Right now I’ve only applied to Grinnell and Kenyon but I’m not sure whether I’d be able to get into either. Do you guys have any suggestions for LAC’s that have a Feb deadline and are good Top 50 rated LACs? (I’d rather not look into any STEM focused schools such as Harvey Mudd because I’m still experimenting with career options and not 100% set on CompSci.) So basically what I’m aiming for here are good all-around LACs with a respectable CompSci program.
You can afford OOS?
BTW, how well you do in CS comes down to how good you are at programming and absorbing CS concepts, which is only somewhat correlated with test scores and GPA.
And the top schools (at least UIUC) would open more recruiting opportunities for you.
Finally, if you are in WI, why not UW-Madison? Fine CS department (behind only UIUC on your list) and with an overall university reputation that is probably better than all the state schools you listed.
I’m OOS (Illinois) but UW Madison is actually my top choice school. The only thing about that is I’m worried I won’t get in.
As far as affordability goes, UIUC has got super expensive in state so I feel like I could get a better OOS experience for a little more $. I do however need lots of aid as our situation is tough. Will probably take loans
It is tougher now as OOS, but not extremely difficult to get in to UW-Madison. The good news is that there, you can declare for CS after taking a few CS courses with a decently acceptable GPA in those courses.
BTW, while CS in Engineering is very difficult to get in to at UIUC, entering DGS isn’t, and right now, the rules are that you can declare for one of the CS+whatever majors in LAS if you have a GPA that isn’t too difficult to achieve.
For UIUC I applied for CS in engineering which is obviously a reach, did I make a mistake? Would I have had better chances applying for the LAS CS?
Have you run the Net Price Calculators on each school’s web site? You won’t get anything but federal aid at OOS public Us. If your stats qualify you for some merit aid that’s different.
I haven’t done that. That actually leads me to another question. Do the mentioned OOS unis meet full need? Or would, say UW Madison, likely give me enough aid to reach a similar net price as UIUC?
Indiana and Michigan State are offering me merit aid and I have yet to hear back from some of the private unis I’ve applied to.
Only two public Us meet need for OOS students - UVA and UNC. Do a google search for the list of schools that meet need.
Most OOS publics are unlikely to provide much fin aid.
UIUC allows you to list a 2nd choice major, no? Did you list one of the CS+X majors?
I didn’t list any major as my 2nd choice >.<
UIUC CS is extremely competitive to get into - it is easier to apply via the LAS department. Also, I think it is important to take into consideration the environment you will do better in. Both UIUC and UWisconsin will be quite competitive. Purdue will be more competitive than IU but more collaborative than the other two and Purdue seemsto make more effort in trying to make a bigger university smaller (their neighbourhoods concept). You will need to consider if being in a tougher/competitive program could be discouraging. While more opportunities are available to a UIUC CS grade, you will still be highly employable as a CS grade from most other universities as well.
@singermom4:
Any evidence for the competitive/collaborative statement?
They’re all big state schools, and I heard a UIUC Engineering student say that they tend to be collaborative because pretty much everyone is already admitted in to major (unlike some places where you have to compete for spots). Though there’s evidence against that as well. Still, I’m curious what you are basing your statement on.
Don’t you have to compete for spots in UIUC as well if you don’t get admitted directly into it freshman year?
There are virtually no spots open in CS in Engineering at UIUC if you don’t get in out of HS. You can only enter one of the CS+X programs, where you just have to meet a certain GPA.
Would I be sacrificing significant recruiting/salary opportunities if I study CS at say Indiana or Michigan State? The issue here is I’m in state for Illinois but I heard it’s extremely difficult to get into the engineering or CS programs and even harder to transfer into them from LAS, so I wouldn’t want to risk wasting a whole year or two. I feel like the safeties would be a less stressful environment for me but I also want to have a strong and stable financial future.
Note that you are limited in the amount of loans that you can get, BTW.
@PurpleTitan - working with a private college counselor (over 30 years of experience) who is involved in editing several of the college guides and very knowledgeable about the school environments. Also, we are in Illinois so personally know many people attending UIUC engineering. Not only is it competitive but the relatively high number of international students makes collaboration a little more difficult due to language issues. It falls in the ‘publlic’ ivy leagues so definitely should be considered if one can survive reasonably well in that type of environment. For some people it could cause them to switch majors and that could be a far worse move long run.
@singermom4: Just want to point out that Purdue has just as high a number of international students (especially in Engineering).
Aren’t Michigan State and Indiana considered public ivies as well? Last time I looked up the list, they were