Should I apply to CoE or LSA for Computer Science?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Michigan
1

<p>Hey guys, </p>

<p>So for applying, prospective students are only allowed to choose one of the colleges to apply to. Is it worth it for me to apply to UMich's CoE? Is it any bit easier for me to get into LSA? Do I even have a shot at either? Thanks. </p>

<p>Male NJ Resident
Intended Major: Computer Science
GPA: 95/100 UNWEIGHTED (3.93)
Best ACT Composite - 32 <strong><em>Will retake for a 33 or 34, have been studying</em></strong>
---Best English Score - 35
---Best Math Score - 32 (had a 760 SAT I, but not submitting SAT I)
---Best Reading Score - 32
---Best Science - 31
---Best Combined - 31
SAT II: 770 Math II
Essays: Common app essay - very good (teacher and counselor loved it), supplements - well written, approved by parents, counselor, and teachers
Counselor Rec: Very good relationship with her
Teacher Recs: Very good relationship with my two teachers for recs
E.C.'s: Good, most notable: Siemens Semifinalist</p>

<p>Any differences someone would like to share between the Bachelor degrees from each?</p>

2

<p>The CS degree in CoE and LSA are quite different. You can check out the specifics of the two programs down below.

[ul]
[li]LSA - <a href=“http://cs.lsa.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/cslsa_program_guide_fall_2013.pdf[/url]”>http://cs.lsa.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/cslsa_program_guide_fall_2013.pdf&lt;/a&gt;[/li][li]CoE - <a href=“Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan”>Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan;

<p>Generally the LS&A degree requires a lot more breadth outside of your CS requirements and less breadth within. It has a foreign language requirement and significantly stricter requirements for humanities/social classes. These classes come at the cost of some of the upper level CS classes you will be taking, so CS-LSA students will usually fulfill a “track” which has emphasis on a specific specialty of CS like security, bioinformatics or AI. </p>

<p>CoE has a far smaller emphasis on classes outside of your field, so you won’t have any mandatory language classes and only a very few and easy intellectual breadth requirements.</p>

<p>You should apply to the program that interests you most. You will be competitive at both.</p>

3

<p>LSA is Bachelor of Science BS
COE is Bachelor of Science in Engineering BSE</p>

<p>all the required CS classes are the same. anyone who tells you that the LSA is inferior is wrong. I’ve talked to the program director who has seen and analyzed the data between LSA and COE CS kids in terms of jobs and salary and it was found that the difference was statistically insignificant. </p>

<p>Keep in mind that you pay less tuition for CS-LSA until you actually declare, but you won’t be able access Engenius until you do. </p>

<p>In COE you have to take more Calc 3 and 4, Physics 140/240, and Chemistry. But honestly those classes have little do with actual programming. You’re better off just taking 2 more upper CS elective with LSA’s more relaxed requirements.</p>

4

<p>Hmm, 2 more upper CS electives does sound more intriguing to me, but I’ll definitely have to look into those links KronOmega posted. </p>

<p>Thank you both for the responses. It’s great to see both Bachelor’s would attract employees despite the different distinctions. </p>

<p>Are both CoE and LSA as difficult to get into when compared to each other (just wondering)?</p>

5

<p>It’s traditionally held that CoE is more difficult to get into, but not dramatically so. I don’t have the numbers on that, though.</p>

6

<p>CoE is only a little bit more difficult than LSA; however, with your stats, I would not worry about applying to CoE.</p>

7

<p>I’m actually leaning toward LSA at the moment (not because it is supposedly easier to get into, UMich overall is top notch).</p>

8

<p>also in an interview, all that matters is whether or not you can answer their programming problems.</p>

<p>and of course, they won’t have questions that involve calc/physics/chem</p>