<p>Hi guys. First of all, I'm an international undergrad student so I'm paying OOS for all the universities. I want to major in Computer Science (& Engineering - where it's available). I need to some help picking one out of the following ones, based on quality of major there, campus life etc, the whole shebang. I also want to know which one would help me get into a good grad school after this.</p>
<p>1 - Ohio State (pending)
2 - U of Iowa (admitted, $4,500 scholarship)
3 - SUNY U at Buffalo (admitted)
4 - Temple U (admitted, $7,500 scholarship)
5 - University of Cincinnati (admitted, $10,000 scholarship)
6 - Clarkson University (admitted, $16,000 scholarship)
7 - Michigan Tech (pending - don't really care)
8 - UMBC (pending)</p>
<p>OSU is my first choice and I'm guessing I'm getting into it, but I don't think I'll get any aid. UC looks good because of the Co-op program which might help getting into grad school because of the work experience. So, any help on making a decision would be appreciated.</p>
<p>You really need to look at what your Cost of Attendance would be for each of these. Is airfare cheaper? What about the affect that weather would have on your clothing costs.</p>
<p>The only two that I know well are U of Iowa and UM-BC. U of Iowa is in the middle of a charming “college town” with lots of things to do within walking distance. However, it is in Iowa and the winter weather can be brutal. UM-BC is essentially a self-contained academic oasis surrounded by undeveloped land. Many students commute from elsewhere in the Baltimore-DC area. The students who do live on campus really like it, but if you want to go shopping, to a movie, or out to eat, there is nowhere close enough to walk to. You would need to have a car, or catch a bus. Winters are milder than in Iowa. Of these two, I’d choose U of Iowa because even though the weather can be really bad, it is easier to get off campus when you want to.</p>
<p>Weather and airfare doesn’t really matter. Thanks for the link. Do you know anything about the academic quality of either of the two universities?</p>
<p>In Computer Science, Ohio State is the clear choice from the universities on your list. As an engineering major you need to think about the full breadth of the available resources at the university, and that includes the graduate program and the faculty. These resources would translate into projects, and internships – all critical for a successful undergraduate education and follow-on jobs. OSU has those resources.</p>
<p>The other colleges on your list are one notch below OSU and other top tier computer science programs. SUNY Buffalo has a tradition of industry sponsorship, and the resources of a large university. So, if OSU doesn’t come through for you, that would be a good second choice.</p>
<p>Well the only thing that might prevent me from going to OSU might be the high cost. They should really give out more merit aid for a big school like it is though.</p>