Target to pursue bachelor's in CS, how to select among UIUC, UW, UCSD, UCI, PSU?

College Search & Selection
1

I plan to pursue bachelor’s in CS, and am now admitted to the colleges above in various majors/conditions:

  • UIUC: Undeclared, Division of General Studies
  • UW: Pre-physical Science
  • UCSD: Undeclared, Revelle college
  • UCI: Computer Science
  • PSU: Computer Science, Schreyer Honors College
    It is tough for me to make a decision now. Any comments are very appreciated !
2

Transferring in to CS at UIUC is very tough.
Most applicants do not get in to CS at UDub (though they have several other CS-like majors).
Don’t know about UCSD but getting in to CS there may be tough as well.

What are costs?

3

First, run the numbers carefully, and eliminate anything that is out of your budget: http://www.finaid.org/calculators/awardletteradvanced.phtml

If you are certain that you want CS, then you need to know how difficult it would be to move from “undeclared” or “pre-physical science” to a CS major at that university. If it will be easy, then you can pick based on any factor that is important for you. If it will be hard, and you can afford both of them, then you need to choose between UCI and PSU.

4

CC member ucbalumnus compiled a helpful guide on the subject:

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/math-computer-science-majors/1857648-cs-major-impaction-and-secondary-admission-requirements.html

I’d like your chances of getting into the CS major at Washington (assuming you continue to apply yourself to your studies) if your stats are around the top 25% of the class (that is, above a 3.85 UW GPA and 32+ ACT (33 M)/2100+ SAT (730 M)).

Congratulations on your acceptances and good luck!

5

Thank you very much for your comments.

UIUC CS is too tough to enroll in the critical pre-requisite courses. I cannot afford the risk.

Now I would shorten my list to UW, UCSD and UCI. Can I analyze the status in this way?

  1. Admissions Selectivity: UCSD > UW > UCI. The higher selectivity, the more difficult to transfer.
  2. Space of CS for transfer: UW > UCSD. Unlike UCSD, most students are not admitted directly to a UW major.
  3. Reputation of CS: UW > UCSD > UCI. Mainly based on ranking.

It seems that UW is most deserved to try if I choose not to go to UCI.

@UWfromCA Thanks a lot for your reference. BTW, does the transfer still relate to ACT/SAT?