I have been accepted to UT Computer Science Business Honors (in state under McCombs), RICE (full pay) and UIUC for Computer Science (Grainger), they all appear to be great programs. Any insight on one vs the other.
Other people cannot decide for you whether you should do a business major or a CS major 
CompSci is in McCombs?
It is a combined Computer Science & Business honors program (run by Turing and McCombs)
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Rice is small, with small classes and a lot of interaction with profs. Known for it’s happy, smart student body. UIUC is a big machine of a place. Again, very smart (it’s gotten really competitive), but much more of an impersonal, big class vibe.
I have no idea about UT CS/Biz. Sounds vg- I would guess that UT is more like UIUC, except in a cooler town. If you like the idea of merging Business and CS, then it sounds great. I have one son in Business school, and the other interested in CS, BTW. Berkeley has a similar, highly regarded program, but again, I have no idea about UT’s specifically. I would bet that it is vg.
Would you rather got to a small school, or a big school?
Do you want to do some business classes, or strictly CS?
From your acceptances, you are a superb student. You will be able to handle the work at any of the schools, and will probably do very well afterwards. I would go to the school that you feel the best at(if money isn’t a problem).
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Sure. It is still a decision that you need to make. If you want a business flavor to the undergrad, you go to UT. If you want a pure CS flavor, you really have two choices – a) ask UT to make it a pure Turing admission – if you can get them to do it for you, I’d recommend it over UIUC, or b) go to UIUC. The business + CS necessarily subtracts from just CS. It does not come without a cost.
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Thank you! I do want to take some Business classes and would take those at Rice and UIUC as well. I have about 15 AP so I would have some flexibility substituting my core classes.
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If your interests are in doing Business along with CS, your best options seem to be UT CSB (in-state) and Rice (full pay) with adding a business second major or minor. UT and Rice have completely different atmosphere - visit both and see where you feel at home.
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Been to both and really like them. CSB is a small program with business classes with the CBHP students and CS classes by themselves, so it minimizes the concern of a large college.
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My daughter goes to Rice and I get the impression that the CS requirements are such that many CS majors double major or major and minor. I would think a business minor with CS would be totally doable and possibility a double major though I’m not really sure how double majors work since my D hasn’t done one. If you choose not to go that route, graduating early might be possible (I know a couple of CS majors who have), which would save you some money. Rice is very flexible when you change majors so if you change your mind regarding CS it would be easy to move to something else.
If there is a big cost difference I’m not sure UIUC is worth choosing over Texas - unless you just want to get out of state. It’s obviously a great program, and I’m an Illinois alum, but Texas is really good too! And Austin is a pretty cool town!
As for Rice and UT - that’s a hard one. VERY different schools with different things going for them. How much does the financial difference matter to your family? I assume as a CS major you don’t have any immediate grad school plans that need to be funded? I don’t think jobs/internships will be a problem from either school. The Rice CS majors I know seem to have great internships and jobs after graduation
Good luck to you!
Thank you very much, Rice’s flexibility has been a huge attraction. There is a 20K+ difference between UIUC and Texas and another 25K for Rice. And you are right no grad school plans right away. Is your daughter a CS major as well? What has her experience been?
My daughter is not a CS major. She’s majoring in bioengineering and minoring in global health technologies. She would like to go into medical device design. So she has no personal experience in CS.
CSB is a great program, similar to MET Berkeley and M&T U Penn. If you have enough credits then doing dual degree will not cut into your CS side of learning. My son chose it over Turing , Rice, Georgia tech and UIUC CS + finance and is extremely happy. His CS classes are hard and challenging compared to regular CS and much similar to Turing. He is on track to finish AI concentrate in his junior year and will mostly focus electives on CS side . CBHP side is also amazing and he is developing very unique skill sets. There is a lot of flexibility if you come with credits ( which most csb kids do) .
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