Hopefully this is posted in the correct section. This is a pretty long post, and I know time is a valuable thing, so if you want to skip most of it I’ve put a “TL;DR” at the bottom. Thanks!
Hey guys, so I’m majoring in Computer Science and have been accepted to and am considering these three schools:
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute [RPI]
University of Connecticut [UCONN]
University of Massachusetts @ Amherst [UMass Amherst]
I’ve visited each one, and to say the least, they all seem like great schools.
It’s also worth nothing that money isn’t too big a factor in my decision, due to in-state tuition at UCONN, and the fact that RPI and UMass Amherst are both offering me scholarships so long as I can keep my GPA at a certain level. I’ve always been good with keeping my grades up, and I’m hoping that will remain constant in college.
First, a little bit about me:
I’m a big gamer, big time into games like World of Warcraft, The Elder Scrolls, etc. but enjoy all video games in general as a collective. I enjoy spending time with friends, and going out and doing things.
I’d consider myself a hard worker, as well as self-motivated and a conscientious student. (I don’t mean to come off big-headed saying this, I just think it’s more efficient to be very open and direct about myself on here haha.)
Academics have always had an important place in my life, and I hold a lot of value in student-teacher/professor relations. I’m open-minded to joining clubs and getting involved with whatever school I choose. And, of course, I definitely enjoy downtime and free/social time when they’re to be had. Who doesn’t?
I’ve visited all three campuses on different occasions which is also worth noting, as the initial visitation of a school can have a lasting impact on the impression of it.
I went to RPI for the Accepted Students’ Day, a 6-7ish hour long day, beginning with a welcome and moving onto more Major-specific informational sessions, followed by free-roam time to attend tours and other informational sessions. This was the most informational and longest visit of all the schools I’m considering.
I’ve been to UCONN many times, and have been to the School of Engineering’s Open House and Tours.
I went to UMass Amherst once and attended a Campus Tour and a one-on-one Computer Science Tour.
A few thoughts I have thus far:
RPI is a Polytechnic School, so it’s designed for Majors like mine. The vibe there seems very nerdy and gamer-y which is totally me. Everyone seems super motivated and that motivational atmosphere would be good for me. However, it’s a smaller school and if I wanted to switch majors for some reason, I’d be limited to the STEM field. It’s also probably going to be one of the more “hard-working” options which is absolutely fine, but I want to make sure I’ll have some time/opportunities for fun in there as well. They also have a 5 year Master’s Degree program which is noteworthy.
UCONN has a very modern/updated/fresh campus, and also has a nice diverse/involved vibe to it. This is also the closest to home, but that’s not too big of a factor in my decision, moreso just another perk. Also, I wouldn’t be limited to the STEM fields if I wanted to switch majors here.
UMass Amherst seems to have a very intimate CS building and a program that is continuously growing. They’re getting their own School of Computer Science next year, meaning they’ll have more money to work with and put towards the CS program (CS is in the School of Natural Sciences right now). They have a very large and tall library with some great views. This is the most populated campus/school of my three choices, so there are a lot of student events and ways to get involved. Similar to UCONN, I wouldn’t be limited to the STEM fields if I wanted to switch majors.
Basically, I definitely want to choose the school with the best Computer Science program. However, I also want to make sure that whichever school I choose, that the campus life/campus itself is good, and that there’s plenty to do and fun to be had in between studying.
Hopefully you guys on here can help me make a decision that’s best for me, and if you’re a student at any of these schools, your opinion is also appreciated! (and if you are, be sure to note which one you are attending :D)
TL;DR - Majoring in Computer Science, money is not a factor. Which of these three schools should I attend? I do have to keep my grades up (which, in high school, I’ve done a good job of) in order to keep scholarships.
Academics hold priority but recreational/social interaction and opportunities as well as the overall vibe of the school are important as well.
Thanks a lot and look forward to hearing your input!