My son’s stats will qualify him software engineering in SJSU or CS in Chico State. But I worry he will get loss in SJSU. He tends to be disorganized and has a very slow processor. But extremely self driven and hard working. I would be grateful if you can share with me your thoughts on these two choices for a kid like him.
Hi! I can’t speak to either CS program, nor do I know which is better for your sons needs. I did want to mention how strong the job placement is for CS kids coming out of SJSU. Their career fair is impressive and well represented by Silicon Valley tech. Good luck to your son!
I attended Chico State many years ago and work with a number of current students. While I can’t speak to the CS department specifically, I can say the fact that your son is driven will be as important a factor as any in his ability to focus on academic priorities. I don’t know much about SJSU. Have you considered UNR? My nephew is a special needs kids who has just started there and I am very impressed with the level of support.
SJSU is great for CS, don’t know about Chico, but the kids I know that went there were really happy. I don’t know exactly about the learning environment, but can pass this on…Inquire about getting into CS at SJSU if not admitted directly to CS as a freshman. A friend told me it can be tough, not impossible, but a real challenge. Her student went to SJSU as a freshman but didn’t get into CS until junior year, they were sweating it, you only get one (maybe two) chances to switch into the major. The other thing was he was stuck between a rock and a hard place cause he couldn’t get into CS classes cause he wasn’t in the major and couldn’t get in the major cause he didn’t have the classes…but he did get in. It was strategic when to apply for the major change. The student really has to be up to the task - grades, pushing for it, etc., if not admitted directly. I would apply to both and get more feedback. Is he looking at Cal Poly?
We are also looking at CPP. Have researched online to find that Chico State has pretty impressive support for students with LD and size of school is less than 20,000. Son’s counselor in fact thinks my son can enjoy bit more academic challenge such as SJSU I think he will be okay even he does not end up CS major. I’m just not sure if he can handle proactively enrolling to impacted classes every semester. Getting on top things just simply maneuvering in a large school. Really glad to hear that lots of student are happy at SJSU. Thank you.
Incidentally NHR was proposed to us just two days ago. We know nothing before but the reviews from this CC are not very favorable with education system in Nevada. So I am a bit deflated. But will certainly look at it again. Again, thank you for advice!
Any consideration to attending a community college then transferring to a UC? (Maybe he wants the away college experience though…) That certainly would be in the same financial wheelhouse. Not sure of financial circumstances, but a lot of the private schools may not be as strong in CS, but do have solid CS programs and can offer great merit. Not sure that you have to be at the top end CS schools to get a great job these days, they are so in demand and kids tend to launch off into these special directions once they get into the major. At a smaller private there would be more help and not such a frenzied pace, getting classes would be easy, etc. Not sure if that fits in any regard, just throwing it out there. If you ask cc about smaller or private schools with CS and good merit, they are bound to give you a list. It’s quite a brain trust on here.
Not sure of your son’t stats but, CE at SJSU is one of the more selective programs in the entire CSU system. He’ll need a 3.6 GPA and about 1200 SAT to be a competitive applicant. Chico by contrast will take about a 3.3/1100 for just about any major.
My son is student at Chico. He is a 4th year Sr and on-track to graduate in 4 years with a Finance degree. While eveyone’s late teens and early 20s have their bumps and bruises, he has loved every day as a student there. The campus is supportive and welcoming to students of all backgrounds. Nearly all freshmen live on campus and nearly all other students live within a couple miles of school. There is a vibrant social scene that centers around the school. Yes, theHe has a couple of friends who started in CS and have switched to CIS (under the Business major) due to the workload. CS/CE is a rigorous and time consuming curriculum - but, that is true everywhere, even a CC.
I understand there is an open house 10/22 at Chico http://www.csuchico.edu/admissions/chico_preview_day.shtml
Go see for yourself.
While that program is outstanding, SJSU in general is a big, middle of the road CSU with a really high % of students who commute. Being in the middle of the Silicon Valley is a mixed blessing - on the one hand, jobs and internships are plentiful, on the other it is very expensive and verycrowded. It is a very different student experience than Chico.
Another CSU worth a look is Sonoma, they are about 1/2 the size of Chico, most student live on or near campus and they have a solid CS program.
Tour all 3 and see what you think
Percentage of frosh living in the dorms:
90% SSU
62% CSUC
56% SJSU
http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg05_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=802
http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg05_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=1083
http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg05_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=768
Regarding SJSU CS major selectivity, you can check the thresholds by major here:
http://www.sjsu.edu/admissions/impaction/
Changing into the CS, CPE, and SE majors after enrolling at SJSU:
http://www.sjsu.edu/cs/practicalities/major-change/
http://cmpe.sjsu.edu/files/public/media/resources/studentforms/cmpe_se_com_policy.pdf
Thank you both again for your insight & info! My son s stats are not brilliant but fair: UC/CSU GPA 3.86 & ACT 28. EI=4300/1050. He spends his youth entirely on catching up homework. Yay, we had already signed up for Chico Preview Day. I hope he can get out & have a life in the college! Hoping to obtain your kind advice on Best Fit for him. Yes, definitely prefer living in dorm. Will take a look at Sonoma which I heard is a liberal arts like collge
Your Son’s stats are nothing to apologize for. I am glad you are signed up for the Preview day. I encourage you to also check out the other schools while in session if possible. Stats and virtual tours simply don’t provide enough of a picture. Talk to students…
The stats above about freshmen living in dorms can’t be accurate.
http://www.iea.sjsu.edu/Students/QuickFacts/20144QuickFacts.cfm
About 60% of the 3500 first time freshmen at SJSU lives a commutable distance from campus. I find it hard to believe that well over 1/2 of their freshmen on campus. SJSU is a fine school but, residential it ain’t.
http://www.csuchico.edu/pa/chico-facts.shtml#9
Contrast that to more than 70% of students at Chico that hail from beyond their local service area.Their service area extends to the Oregon border and many of that 30% have to move to attend.
Chico has in incoming freshman population of 2700 and a little over 2000 beds on campus, nearly all of which are filled by freshmen. There is at least one non-campus affiliated dorm and a also a high concentration of student living in the neighborhood surrounding the school. (the tour said 90% live within 2 miles - which could be).
I couldn’t find any stats on Sonoma’s site about local vs out of area students - 90% of anything is hard to fathom but, there’s no question it is a very residential school.
60% probably comes from adding the “Santa Clara County” (35%), “West/South Bay Area” (6%), and “East Bay Area” (20%) categories, but not all of those areas are within 30 miles of SJSU.
SJSU has a requirement that frosh live in the dorms if they do not live within 30 miles of campus and are not non-traditional students, according to http://www.housing.sjsu.edu/housingaz/freshmanoncampushousing/ . Of course, some students who come from within the 30 mile range may choose to live on campus.
Given the living situations of frosh, SJSU has a substantial population of both resident and commuter students. It is likely that the commuter percentage is higher for transfer students and non-traditional students (not mutually exclusive categories).
Looks like CSUC has a significant percentage of non-commuter frosh living nearby, but off campus, so it may be more residential than it appears from the frosh living in the dorms percentage.
Hi, my son got accepted to SDSU, Chico State and U of Pacific for CS/Pre-CS. Did not apply to SJSU. Although I (and his counselor) think a small college like UoP is more appropriate given his special needs (very slow processor), he is leaning towards SDSU because he feels proud to have been accepted, that a large university resembles the real world and wants to be challenged. He probably underestimates the demands of a CS major too! But afterall it is his decision where he wants to go. I’m researching the SDSU website to find out more the effectiveness of their Student Disabilities Services. And knowing there are just 400+ (out of 29K undergrates) registered LD students, it seems a bit low, whereas e.g. Chico State has ~10% which seems a bit high to me. Will definitely meet with their Rep duing Open House. But, grateful for any information sharing!
Apologize, I have started a new discussion under LD Forum instead!