UCI vs UCSC in Computer Science

<p>hello, i will be transferring from a California community college and i'm stuck between UCI and UCSC with a major of computer science. i looked into both of these schools a lot and UCI seems to have the better computer science program but UCSC seems to provide more of a "college experience" (for lack of a better term). i can tell that i would love attending UCSC but if UCI has a better program then should i automatically go there??? </p>

<p>also i don't really plan on going to graduate school and also i don't want to here about UCSC is just a hippi drugy school because every school is gonna have drugs </p>

<p>i would appreciate any help or advice a lot!!!!!! first hand experiences are also greatly welcomed!!!!</p>

<p>UCSC may be more convenient for applying to and interviewing at Silicon Valley computer companies.</p>

<p>Speaking as a student that attends UCI, </p>

<p>There are many great opportunities that stand at UCI, especially for computer science students. You’d be surrounded by great faculty and plenty of research opportunities, and the university also has tons of ways to get involved in the community and find jobs and internships. Looking down the road, there’s a Google headquarters and Western Digital, just to name a couple of the awesome opportunities for experience here in Irvine. UCI also keeps strong connections with these companies, which come to UCI to give presentations, collect resumes, attend career fairs, and even take groups of students in for internships on a quarterly basis.</p>

<p>For computer science, UCI has 6 options for majors and multiple minors in their dedicated school of ICS, while UCSC mixes engineering with computer science in one school, and does not offer the full amount of majors and specializations that UCI offers. It’s always nice to study deeper into the specializations and interests that you have!</p>

<p>On the topic of getting the “college experience” well, UCI definitely has that, too. There are thousands of ways to get involved on campus, tons of campus organizations, and plenty of parties to go around too. There’s plenty to do on campus, around campus, and off campus.</p>

<p>That’s just my two cents. :)</p>

<p>Holla, I’m also a CS student here at UCI. Although it may sound really biased, I suggest you come over here.</p>

<p>Since you’re mostly concerned about the college experience, there’s plenty of that up in here. Living here is an absolute blast and you’re gonna have a ton of late nights staying up with your friends out and about =)) Also, clubs here are pretty awesome and are a hotbed of social interaction and cliche college events that are both educational and enjoyable.</p>

<p>See you soon! =]</p>

<p>Honestly, I think that it’s all off of your personality and what you would value out of a college. The program that is offered at a college can only take you so far. It’s what you make out of your respective academic program and the opportunities you take advantage of. I’m sure that there will be a lot of great opportunities presented to you at both schools, and you have to make sure that you create that into the best experience possible for yourself. But, in my personal opinion, I think a huge thing that most Computer Science majors lack is essential business and communication skills. Your programming and technical knowledge can get you the interview, but it will be your business/comm skills that can actually land you the job in the future. This is why I think that UCI is probably the best place in which you can learn both, and create an invaluable network for yourself to build a career that you are truly passionate about. UCI really emphasizes a key balance between both, and if you choose to take up business classes as well, the business school is GREAT. There are a lot of classes that help you combine both skills. The computer science school has a lot of great opportunities like the ICS student council and other academic fraternitites and organizations that students really leverage to have an overall amazing experience as computer science majors. Socially, I think both schools are the same (not necessarily defined as booming “college towns”) but I know that if you really try to get involved, you can have an amazing experience at Irvine. But once again, it’s all about what you make of your experience. Don’t get too bogged down and worried about whether a certain school will make or break your career and happiness in the future. That’s all on you :)</p>