<p>Hi, My S is interested in computer science (game design), but also loves history, so his major may change down the road. He is in the Honors programs at each school, and has gotten money to work with professors on projects as early as freshman year. With all the different merit awards, our out of pocket costs for either of these schools would be about $2500/year.</p>
<p>Do any of you have a sense about the academic reputation for these schools relative to each other? I know these aren't very selective, which is why they want my S so much, but I would love to get some more info. </p>
<p>With our college saving funds having been depleted so much it would be nice if he could accept one of these just-about-free rides.</p>
<p>Thanks for any help!</p>
<p>This is merely anecdotal, but we have friends whose son was accepted to a number of top schools - including at least 1 Ivy. He selected the Honors program at Michigan State for a variety of reasons - including a full scholarship. He’s just completing his sophomore year and told me he’s happy with the intellectual stimulation, academic challenge and research opportunities. His parents wanted him to attend a more “prestigious” school, but now they bleed green.</p>
<p>Both, actually, have quite good computer science programs. U of MN wins, I would say, but not by a vast amount.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your quick responses! It is really getting to be crunch time! That is really good to hear that your S finds the intellectual atmosphere challenging - is he in honors housing? Sounds like he has a P.A. - was it hard to find a professor to work with?</p>
<p>My S is worried that MSU is a big party school, but I imagine that people with similar interests find each other, right?</p>
<p>I’ve got to set up a visit to Minnesota right away. Just about every weekend between now and May 1st is booked already. I’ll be glad when he makes his decison, that’s for sure.</p>
<p>mamacol,</p>
<p>It’s my friend’s son who attends MSU. </p>
<p>My son was also accepted to MSU last year - and it ended up being 1 of his last 2 choices. I was disappointed as I had heard that it’s a party school and just not very strong academically. I’m pretty sure this isn’t true and recall learning about very strong programs. The students we met were bright, eloquent and passionate about many different topics. After the visit, my husband and I would have been very, very happy if MSU had been his choice.</p>
<p>Thanks for clarifying - I was so excited to get a response, I sort of “speed-read” it.
Did your child wind up at Champaign? That is on my S’s list also, but it is just so expensive for in-state kids. But he’s looking at Computer Science, as i mentioned, which is certainly a strength of UIUC.</p>
<p>So hard to make these decisions!</p>
<p>Does your son know about DMAT at MSU? It just started up a few years ago. I don’t think many people do know about it. They create video games among other things. I don’t know any more than that.</p>
<p>I mean I think the video game designing part started up about 5-6 years ago. It was mentioned on TV at the time.</p>
<p>Thanks Shyanne, I’ll definitely look into that!</p>
<p>mamacol,</p>
<p>No, my son is not at UIUC, but a small LAC… My daughter is graduating from there in May, though. You’re right, Computer Science is an incredibly strong program in Champaign. Students have incredible opportunities for internships and many companies regularly recruit there for grads.</p>
<p>I know a super, super, super excellent programming student at the U of MN. He has found interesting ECs that utilize his skills. I don’t know much about Michigan State.</p>
<p>Which one is farther from home? My default advice is to advise going to the farther of two schools (more learning about a new regional culture there) if two schools are very close in desirability. </p>
<p>In the computer science rankings I have seen, Minnesota outranks Michigan State. That may be of interest to you. Does Michigan State have a Scheme course for all computer science majors? Minnesota still does: CSCI 1901.</p>
<p>I can’t speak to Michigan, but the Twin Cities is a pretty nice area to spend one’s college years. </p>
<p>Oh, c**p, it’s snowing again. Gotta go scrape my car windows.</p>
<p>You can’t scare us away with your talk of snow! Weather has been so weird this winter all over. That is a good point about the Twin Cities being a more vibrant place than East Lansing.
I wish there weren’t such discrepancies in the COA’s at some of these schools. UIUC is our state flagship, and they offer merit aid for out-of-state kids, but hardly anything for in-state. So, we look where he is more sought out. </p>
<p>Thanks for the info about rankings of the computer science depts - without knowing the industry, I feel completely adrift.</p>
<p>I can’t wait til May 1st!</p>
<p>Have your son check each school’s comp sci offereings, reqs for the major- all of that academic stuff. Then have him check on the other factors- city, campus, etc. If one school stands out to him he should go there, otherwise it may come to the last minute coin flip and he’ll do fine wherever he goes. Too late for him to split the difference and go to UW…</p>