Recommendations for Computer Science Universities

College Search & Selection
1

Hey guys,

I’m looking for some recommendations with my college selection process.

Here’s a brief overview of who I am:

  • Asian (Chinese)
  • Senior this year (woohoo!)
  • 3.7 GPA
  • 1310 SAT
  • Proficient and eloquent writer/skilled at English (confident in my personal statement)
  • Slightly weaker in math
  • Took AP Calculus (3), AP Language and Composition (4) , CollegeNow Intro to Business, CollegeNow at Queens College STEM Research Academy Biochemistry
  • Taking AP Computer Science Principles, AP Literature
  • Founded chapter of the National Honor Society at my school and now serve as President
  • Constantly finding new ways to help the community (IE: shoveling snow for seniors during Snowstorm Sandy)
  • Studied abroad in Japan on the Kakehashi Program
  • Conversant in Mandarin and Chinese
  • Worked multiple short-term jobs during the summer

What I am looking for in a school:

  • Reputable/Accredited CS program (Preferable if the program is focused more so on actual programming as opposed to math theory)
  • Tuition within 30k~40k~ (Preferably with good merit based scholarships/FA)
  • Setting: Preferably suburban. I also really enjoy cold weather as opposed to hot weather. I HATE the rain, but I adore snow.
  • Prefer to stay in the tri-state area, but moving further away is not a humongous issue.
  • Party school/Greek scene doesn’t really matter to me
  • School Size: Ideally, it’d be a small school where I can bond and communicate with professors.
  • Good food (?) I heard Stony Brook has some nasty food which is a huge turnoff (this obviously doesn’t that high of a priority)
  • Division 1 or 2 Basketball, as I enjoy a good basketball game (Again, not a huge priority)

If you need me to add any other information, I’d be glad to.
Thanks for the help!

2

SCU is very good as it’s in Silicon Valley, as are many of the UC’s. I heard UBC (yes in Canada) is good as well. Boston is also a good area for comp sci–perhaps BU, BC, or northeastern.

3

State of residency?

4

I can’t believe I missed that haha
I live in New York.

5

Stony Brook is an obvious choice, though you may want to check how difficult it is to get into the CS major. Other SUNYs with good CS offerings should also be considered.

All good CS degree programs will include offerings on the theoretical foundations of CS as well as theory and implementation of various topics within CS.

6

Bump-

7

I would highly second Northeastern and also highly recommend WPI.

Northeastern has co-op and focuses very acutely on programming design via their research in programming languages. WPI is very practical and project-based, is less urban than Northeastern if it isn’t your cup of tea, and offers very reputable CS. WPI is also smaller, fitting your size requirement.

Both offer some level of merit scholarships and would be close on price, but worth the application at least.

UMass Amherst is another good option in the northeast, depending on FA. RPI is worth a look as well.

8

Thanks.
Northeastern’s co-op program looks very interesting, I’ll look into it.

9

As far as the CS department at Northeastern, if you’re really interested, I would highly recommend reading the essay below by the creator of the program. It also lays out how co-op works with it.

http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/matthias/Thoughts/Growing_a_Programmer.html

RIT also has good computer science and a strong co-op program.

10

Very insightful essay! This definitely solidifies Northeastern as one of the choices on my colleg list.
The way the CS course is taught is very intriguing and I’m interested in any other Universities that teach in a similar manner (besides the ones listed below in the essay). Any thoughts or suggestions?

11

I don’t think anyone has knowledge of how CS is taught at every school, but a good way to check it to look at the syllabus for the first CS course of any school you’re interested in - what does it focus on? What language is it taught in? You can also go farther and look at how future courses link to it or progress, and look for qualities detailed in that essay.

12

RPI - strong CS program (especially in infosec), challenging academics, good industry reputation, nerdy student body (most are engineers).

13

bump~

14

@CornyHui

Why do you need to keep bumping? It’s more helpful if you ask a specific question or clarification, rather than just soliciting more answers (that are quite likely to be the same). Nobody can understand your specific scenario perfectly.

I second @PengsPhils. Northeastern, RPI, WPI, RIT, UMASS Amherst and SUNY are fine schools that meet your criteria. RPI, WPI, and RIT are on the more practical side. Northeastern is a co-op university with a strong research program. UMASS Amherst and SUNY are larger schools and UMASS has the strongest graduate program and research. The smaller liberal arts colleges will either lack the breadth of the larger schools and will be more likely purely theoretical. Drexel may also be a good choice. Their CS is reputed and also up-and-coming. Case Western also has a fairly practical and well regarded CS program, though your scores might be too low for significant merit. Clarkson in NY might be a good safety to consider.

15

My bad, I’m not familiar with the bumping policy on this forum.