I know the title is vague. What I am looking for is a decent school for Computer Science that doesn’t require me to take 2+ years of math in order to graduate. At most I would prefer only up until calc 2. Location is irrelevant, just would want it to be affordable (under 15k in loans per year) for a student from Illinois with a EFC of 0. Also I am a sophmore transfer student with a GPA of 3.4
Edit: Already looked at my state schools and none of them match what I am looking for.
Where did you go to college last year?
What schools can you commute to?
How much will your parents pay each year?
I went to Harold washington last year ( a community college), plan on going there for this coming fall as well. Only school that I could afford to commute to is UIC, which is my fallback school if I have no other options. My parents aren’t paying anything for my college education.
Out of state public universities, or private ones anywhere, are unlikely to cost less than $25K (and may cost much more than that). Exceptions include Truman State and the University of Minnesota-Morris, which have OOS sticker prices in the $20K-$25K range. Whether they would give an OOS transfer student enough grant aid to leave you with a manageable balance, I don’t know.
CS is mostly math, it’s going to be impossible to find a school where you have to take under two years.
Why are you so anti-math?
@codemachine I am not really anti-math I just don’t see the use of it past calc 2 and discrete mathematics. Especially as a software developer. The majority of my friends that have graduated from UIUC and gotten jobs at places such as Microsoft, google, IBM, etc have told me they never use any of the math they learned from college other then basic college algebra and Discrete.
Just seems like wasted time to me.
Non-engineering-based CS majors typically list calculus 1 and 2, linear algebra, discrete math, and math-like CS theory courses. Engineering-based CS majors typically add calculus 3 and differential equations.
I agree with @codemachine and @ucbalumnus, CS is a math heavy major, regardless if you use the math in your job down the road. If you want to major in CS, then you have to take the classes.
The majority of CS programs may require significant math, but some do not. St. Lawrence requires one math class, Bowdoin, none. Tying this into specific suggestions for the OP may prove more difficult, but he/she should know that programs of the type he/she is searching for exist.
It also requires a different level of thinking so even if its not directly related to math beyond calc 2. I’ve actually heard one of the most important maths to a programmer in the field (correct me if I’m wrong, I’ve personally never come across it) is linear algebra.
I’d really look into UIUC, as it is a top tier CS program. Even if you don’t use their math everyday, you’ll get a solid job. What’s suffering through it for a couple extra years when you make bank as soon as you’re out?
Sounds like continuing your CC and then attending UIUC. Fits your budget.
A computer science major who doesn’t know multivariable calculus? Okay.
A decent computer science major will always involve lots of Maths. If you really hate maths you can try doing Information Technology.
May not be that rare. Math requirements for CS majors at some well known schools for CS:
Stanford: calculus 1-2, discrete math, probability theory
CMU: calculus 1-2, linear algebra, math proof methods, probability theory
Berkeley (L&S CS): calculus 1-2, linear algebra / differential equations, discrete math / probability theory
Berkeley (EECS): calculus 1-2, multivariable calculus, linear algebra / differential equations, discrete math / probability theory
MIT (6-3): calculus, multivariable calculus, either linear algebra or differential equations, discrete math
Note that the first three are non-engineering based CS majors. Of course, the courses listed above do not include junior/senior level math-like CS theory courses (algorithms and complexity, theory of computation, etc.) that may be required or optional.
Bottom line is that a CS major should be good at math and math-like thinking, although calculus-type math may not be used as much as discrete math.
@International95 How would you rate UChjcago’s CS program? I’m assuming you attend. Are you a CS major?
lol no I do not attend UChicago. The griffin picture is that of a different college (a much tinier UChicago). Repost on UChicago forum?
You can only borrow the $6500 federal student loan this year, and $7500/year as a junior and senior. Anything more requires a cosigner. How are you planning to pay OOS rates? Transfers generally don’t get much aid.
Oh sorry, Reed’s griffin looked oh too similar haha. Once again, my apologies, @International95 .
Yes, engineering disciplines require more math (and physics). I’d say for a strictly CS major, know at least:
Calc 2 (preferably 3)
Multivariable
Linear
Differential
These you WILL use.
@austinmshauri I don’t know to be honest, a lot of the higher tier schools (Northwestern, Upenn, other top 25 schools) would cover a decent chunk of my tuition. I’ve used a lot of the tuition calcualators for a lot of those schools and some would completely cover tuition while some would cover enough so that I would only have to take out 15k or so per year just because my EFC is 0.
Did you indicate that you were a transfer? I didn’t think schools gave full tuition grants to transfer students.
Are your parents willing (or able) to cosign $15k loans/year? You can’t borrow that much and if your parents are low income, they may not be able to either.