<p>Hi I have recently been admitted to Chicago under the EA program and was wondering if anyone knew how the Undergraduate Program at UChicago for Computer Science is? Is it more theoretical or hands on? And how do students fair off when they look for internships during college breaks and full time jobs after graduation? Do any big name companies come to recruit such as Google or Microsoft? I couldn't find much information on the website.</p>
<p>Thank you for your help!</p>
<p>Much appreciated!</p>
<p>Chicago is decent enough, but Cornell has the advantage of its CS department being embedded in a much more comprehensive applied sciences and engineering environment. For instance, there are very few CS related EC's at Chicago, while in contrast I am sure there are all sorts of design challenges and so on in Ithaca. Also consider the math requirements at Chicago by way of the course catalog, which are a bit heavier than at other schools. </p>
<p>As for on campus recruiting in Hyde Park at the UG level, it’s very heavily slanted towards consulting, banking, and public service due to the preponderance of liberal arts majors. Very few fortune 500 type firms come out, as students tend not to have the accounting, marketing, programming, budget management, etc. skills they desire, but also because historically they have not been able to pick up people save for the very prominent ones (Apple, Sotheby’s). But I would not let that deter you. I had a lot of friends from high school in CS and EE programs at top schools around the country, and most got their jobs by simply applying to their company of choice. In fact, many got offers after being denied through the on campus recruiting process, where there is an artificial winnowing down of the number of applicants to match pre-planned, “university” recruiting goals. </p>
<p>The only institutions that seem to give you a really definite edge in CS are going to be places like Berkeley, Stanford, Hopkins, and MIT, but principally because they are in immediate proximity to so many alumni working for leading employers. It’s not so much that Stanford CS is <em>STANFORD CS</em>, but rather that Palo Alto is in the heart of high tech world.</p>
<p>You left out Carnegie Mellon...Another definite edge in CS</p>
<p>CS at Chicago leans to the theoretical, which is where you lean, is superb. On the other hand, there are many opportunities for paid employment on campus that will give you solid, real-world skills. Chicago is also sending a team to the ICPC this spring. Facebook was on campus in the fall -- S acquired a t-shirt.</p>
<p>Depending on your background and interests within CS, there may be other schools that better fit the bill. S seriously considered a number of them.</p>
<p>thanks for your help and input! Yes I'm leaning toward UChicago more now because of the city itself and the atmosphere. I'm also leaning towards consulting also, such as BCG or McKinsey and etc. </p>
<p>I was thinking of doing a double major in Comp. Science and Eco (or maybe just a minor depending on how the workload is) because I enjoy math and theoretical thinking alot.. I think it will be good.</p>
<p>But even though Chicago is more liberal arts..do students do well in the workforce if they choose banks or consulting such as receiving the job?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!!</p>