Purdue vs. Penn State vs. UC Santa Cruz

College Search & Selection
1

I am a high school senior from California hoping to study Computer Science in college to become a Software Engineer.

I was admitted into Purdue University - West Lafayette for a major in Statistics, Penn State - University Park for a major in Computer Science, and was waitlisted for UCSC. I needed advice on deciding which one to attend.

Here are the pros and cons for each school:

Purdue:
Pros - Best Computer Science program of the three; One of the major CS colleges in the Midwest, so there will be more internships and job opportunities
Cons - Will try to either transfer to CS major or double major in Stats & CS, but might be difficult to do this (not guaranteed); Very competitive CS program, will definitely be hardest to complete; Out of state, so costs more than UCSC

Penn State:
Pros - CS program is 2nd best of the three, Have already been accepted to CS program (guaranteed)
Cons - Out of state and costs the most of all three, Not as many job opportunities/internships as the other two

UCSC:
Pros - Costs the least (in state), Proximity to Silicon Valley means there will be a lot of job opportunities/internships (as much as Purdue or possibly more), Best weather
Cons - CS program is worst of the three, There is a chance I get accepted for a major other than CS and might be difficult to transfer into CS program

Cost:

Cost is not a huge concern for me, but I still need there is a significant difference between the three:

Purdue: $41,834
Penn State: $48,814
UCSC: $32,019

Right now, there are 3 scenarios:

  1. Admitted to UCSC for the Computer Science major.
  2. Admitted to UCSC for major other than Computer Science.
  3. Not admitted to UCSC.

Can you tell me which college would be worth attending for each scenario?

2

You have no other choices, like other UCs or CSUs?

3

No, these are the only ones

4

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/19262577/#Comment_19262577 indicates that, for Purdue, you need a prerequisite GPA >= 2.75 and overall GPA >= 2.50 to change to CS. If admitted to non-CS at UCSC, you need a prerequisite GPA >= 2.8 to change to CS.

Would any of the schools require debt beyond the federal direct loan limit ($5,500 the first year)?

5

How will you pay ?
What’s your parents budget from savings and income? What’s your efc?

Right now, you need to reiterate your interest in ucsc -cs there is very good anyway - by sending any new test scores and your first semester grades (+third quarter grades).
Since you weren’t admitted to your major, forget Purdue.
You’re lucky to be living in a state with an excellent network of community colleges, some of which offer most /all pre-reqs for your major. Start looking at those nearest you.
If your choice ended up being community college or gap year, which Would you prefer?

6

There won’t be much of a difference in undergraduate CS between the three schools. The idea that UCSC is somehow inferior at CS is silly.

If you absolutely want to major in CS, money isn’t an object, and you don’t mind living in Pennsylvania, go with the sure thing - Penn State.

7

What’s your EFC?

8

Money isn’t that much of a factor for me, like I stated before. I just wanted to know what is my best option in terms of graduating with a degree in CS from a good school.

9

Is anyone going to respond?

10

All three are good schools. And as a CS major, you will get a job after graduation. Since money is not an issue, pick one you like the most based on location, vibe and fit.

11

Have you ACTUALLY been accepted to the computer science major at Penn State? I was under the impression that everyone still has to follow entrance-to-major procedure, which is based on GPA.

12

Looks like https://advising.psu.edu/entrance-major-requirements-college-engineering-entering-penn-state-summer-2015 indicates that Penn State requires a 2.60 GPA with no lower than C grades in prerequisite courses. The same applies for computer engineering. Threshold may change for your entrance year.

13

I’ve already been accepted into the computer science major at Penn State so I’m not worried about that.

At this point, I think Purdue is the best choice.
At Purdue, I really want to study Computer Science, so I have some questions:

So, can I start pursuing a double major as soon as I start college?
Do I have to see if they have any available seats for Computer Science?
Or should I do a major in Statistics and a minor in Computer Science
(I would really prefer to have a major in Computer Science, that’s why I’m worried)
If possible, I can also switch majors from Statistics to Computer Science, but do you guys know what the chances of doing this are and how hard it is?

If I have absolutely no chance at studying CS at Purdue, then I will probably go to Penn State.
All advice is appreciated. Thanks.

14

I think your logic in post #12 is good: Purdue if you can double/change majors, else Penn State.

As for the ease of double/change majors at Purdue, you should ask this in the Purdue forum or better yet calling the school.

15

OK. Thank you for your help.

16

I plan on contacting Purdue and figuring out what my options for a major will be.

17

Are you SURE? You DON’T have to go through entry-to-major procedures with everyone else at the end of sophomore year??

18

I just assumed I am already in the Computer Science major.

This is what it says in my admission letter:

“I am pleased to offer you admission to the College of Engineering with the intended major of Computer Science for Fall 2016 at Penn State University Park.”

Doesn’t that mean that I have already been accepted to Penn State as a CS major?

19

“Intended” major. Unless you’re in some special program that I don’t know about, everyone enters within their college (or DUS) only. Entry-to-major, which I just went through as a fourth-semester student, is based on completing a certain number of specific courses with C’s or better and achieving a certain GPA standard. ucbalumnus had the link with info in post #11.

It’s not a high GPA requirement, but as far as I know, almost nobody actually has a major until the end of sophomore year. It’s not guaranteed unless and until you fulfill the requirements.