32 ACT (33 super scored), 3.8 unweighted, 1/25 class rank, 31 college credits.
I’be applied to UT, A&M, Rice, SMU, Alabama, Case Western, Cal Poly SLO, and GaTech so far. I’m looking for one or two more colleges.
I’m specifically looking for computer science with an undergrad emphasis in cyber security.
Is there a list of top undergrad CS schools? I can’t seem to find any.
Suggestions of schools where I have a chance at merit aid would be awesome. I was looking at Maryland, but I missed the deadline for scholarships.
RPI - solid CS program and with good infosec (hacker culture); does well in national infosec comptetions
Thank you for the suggestion. I don’t think the merit aid would be enough to go there.
Who has experience with the UT CS program? I know it’s fairly small. Is that because it is uber selective or because it’s not that popular?
Could someone rank the CS programs of the schools I listed?
Among the schools you have listed, I will put GATech, UT-Austin, and Rice in the first tier and others in the second tier. Rice has fewer students and faculty, other two have large CS faculty (and despite that) higher student to faculty ratio.
GATech has a threads focus, I do not know if there is a security thread - if it does, it will allow you to really get deeper in one area.
In the `second’ tier, Case is a good school but has very small computer science faculty.
Maryland College Park can be a good place if you want security focus, especially with all the internship opportunities right in that area.
@Jpgranier
You asked about an undergrad CS ranking list. I also do not think one exists. However, this is what I suggest to people for getting an idea of quality of undergrad computer science programs.
Take the USNWR ranking of all colleges (for undergrad programs). Then take USNWR computer science graduate rankings. Combine the two - I think it becomes a pretty good indicator of the overall computer science undergraduate ranking.
Maryland College Park is worth looking into
Are your credits DE/AP or are you applying as a transfer student? If you are applying as a freshmen you could get great merit at UT Dallas and they have a great CS program.
I was saying UMD would be out of the question because their deadline for merit aid is November 1st. Definitely would’ve been worth applying to.
Any other suggestions? SMU and Alabama are high on my list, but I’m not sure how good their CS program is. Rankings definitely mean a lot to me.
@3scoutsmom They are dual credit. I’m actually not the biggest fan of UTD. I know they offer some FANTASTIC scholarships. I’m actually a 20 minute drive from the place.
My understanding of it is it’s a very transient school. Not much student life and too many commuters.
I know some kids don’t like schools too close to home. We are within commuting distance to UT Austin and DS much prefers UTD to UT even though he’ll be an auto admit at both. He really liked how clean and modern the campus was at UTD doesn’t like the urban setting of UT Austin and is thrilled with the idea of going to a school without a football team. My oldest is at OU (meteorology/comp sci double major) and from what I’m learning, student life is what you make of it.
One source of the strength of undergraduate CS programs (and all programs) is Rugg’s Guide. It should be available from your guidance counselor or, if not, online for about $25.
They interview admissions folks at graduate schools and ask them to rank the strength of UG programs. Rugg’s then groups programs into Tiers, Tier I highest, Tier II, etc.
SMU is not even ranked on any Tier for CS.
UT and Rice and GaTech are all Tier I. I don’t have ready access to my copy, so I cannot remember where Bama fell.
Another suggestion would be Trinity U in San Antonio, which is Tier I and you would get substantial merit aid. Certainly worth a visit to check out. All the CS classes are taught in their brand new $230M integrated science building–it is lovely.
Good luck!
Very interesting! I don’t believe my counselor owns a copy of that or she probably would have brought it up to me while we were talking.
It sounds like you own a copy? Do you know where Alabama falls? I’m very money incentivized to go there:P @ColdinMinny
My ranking for undergrad CS quality would be UT, GaTech, Rice, Case Western / Cal Poly SLO / Texas A&M, Alabama, SMU.
WPI and Northeastern offer merit, but it’s fairly competitive. I’d also look at University of Utah, UMBC, and UT Dallas. They are solid for CS.
Look at the VT Hume Center: Virginia Tech College of Engineering offers an undergrad minor in cyber security and graduate programs via the Hume Center in Arlington. They are aligned with the SAIC National Security Education Program, if you have an interest in national cyber-warfare security defense. Also look at CMU.
I second the V-Tech suggestion.
As for CMU though - would be excellent but a waste of time to apply, it’s just about the most selective CS program in the country.
@insanedreamer I agree completely on CMU. My superscore has moved up to a 34 (35E 35M 31R 33S), but the shot at getting in PLUS getting merit aid is so unlikely.
Does VTech and superscore? I have seen answers saying yes, but I have not seen anything on the VTech website
@insanedreamer Many schools superscore the SAT, but not the ACT.
@carolinamom2boys yeah I know… makes me wish I would’ve taken 4 SATs instead of ACTs
Have you looked at UT San Antonio? They are reported to have the top cybersecurity program in the nation.
http://www.utsa.edu/spotlights/cybersecurity/