bump
^^
Anyone specifically know about Wesleyan’s Computer Science Department?
There’s a huge demand for CS at Wesleyan and the department seems to do well at meeting the basic programming and computer science end of things (several sections offered every semester) and in high end courses involving applied mathematics. It’s not that great in the mid-level pre-professional courses one might find relevant to fields like, information technology or computer engineering.
I noticed you mentioned the word “basics,” but that’s quite different from having a good program overall. How would you roughly rate the rigor of the program? I know that the department is joint Math/Computer Science so that worries me that there won’t be as much emphasis on the Computer Science.
Were you to have no other information, then you might have to infer that a school with a separate CS department would be stronger in the field than one without one. However, your actual conclusion should be based upon deeper research. If Wesleyan seems like a good fit generally for you, that’s a huge factor as well.
@eternaldream - You can substitute the word, “core” for the word, “basic”. I in no way meant to imply a lack of rigor in the program as a whole.
The trouble is actually being successful at deeper research. There is that chart we spoke about above, but I’m having trouble finding more solid findings on the strength of Wesleyan’s computer science. While class selection plays a big role, it’s hard to account for the other factors that play a huge part. 
Start with what you can assess. Look at Wesleyan’s range and frequency of CS offerings in comparison to your other options. Maybe assign a rough letter grade to what you have found. If Wesleyan’s CS department rates a “B” or better, keep it in your mix. As that goes, an “A” school with a “B” department is a very good combination. At some later point, you can refine your “grades” as needed.
In terms of Haverford, consider consortium course options, particularly bi-college ones.
Taking this out of the abstract, if you can arrange to meet a CS professor at the colleges you have begun to like, that would be ideal.
I found this for Wesleyan for this academic year:
https://iasext.wesleyan.edu/regprod/!wesmaps_page.html?crse_list=COMP&offered=Y#fall
Would you deem that as decent? Most classes seem to be repeats of the semester before although there is some variation.
After asking someone else, I was told CS Bryn Mawr students take more advantage of Haverford then the other way around and Swarthmore is not quite as convenient, but doable. Penn is a bit more difficult and limited. However, I can definitely take advantage of this consortium for non-CS classes.
For cross-registration or consortium course options, be sure to check on the following:
- Commuting between the campuses. Barnard - Columbia and the Claremont colleges are extremely convenient. Some other colleges may not be as convenient to commute between.
- Academic calendars. Consortia which have the same academic calendars are obviously more convenient since it can be a hassle if you have to attend class or final exam at the cross registration college but your dorm at your home college is not open, or your final exam time at the cross registration college conflicts with class time or final exam time at your home college.
- Administrative limitations by either school on cross registration, including where in the priority one is for popular courses.
I never thought to consider academic calendars :o Wow. Thanks for mentioning that. Definitely something important I need to look at now.
More input from anyone on these schools?
Are you only looking at those 4, or others?
Well, right now I’m mostly asking for input on those four schools, but I’m open to other suggestions as well 
On another thread of mine you can see the colleges I’m applying to.
The only thing is that the deadline must have not passed yet! I’ve already applied to a couple colleges that were due March 1st.
Bumping one last time because deadlines are approaching.
Hi everyone,
Just an update for everyone as a thanks for all your help! I ended up adding Wesleyan to my list and got in! But due to a strange turn of events both on my part and admissions, I ended up applying and was accepted to Stanford University where I will be attending this coming Fall!
Thanks again to everyone who helped me through this difficult admissions process!