<p>Hey guys, I'm a rising senior, in state, have good grades, won awards in clubs and sports, decent SATs and am working a connection with CP. </p>
<p>I would like to know which school is most likely better for me (based off of what I provide, and your knowledge).</p>
<p>I want to major in Information Systems (if not, Computer Science). I wish to persue a Master, possibly MBA, as I wish to become an information systems manager, or something like that in a company or corporation. I do not mind so much large schools or a lot of students, however, I am looking for something where students receive more attention from their professors and the university alike. I do not want to be just another student. I do plan on staying on campus at least for my freshman year. I am pretty big with school sports, so school spirit is a sure thing that appeals to me. I would also like to know, whether receiving a degree at UMBC, is just as appealing (in Information Systems or Computer Science) as getting one in CP. Also, does UMBC prepare well for grad school?</p>
<p>UMBC is a good school no doubt, however, UMCP is on a different map. I mean, Sergey Brin, UMCP computer science undegrad before he went to Stanford for grad school and created Google…I believe CP is in the top 10 or 15 in computer science nationally as well as the overall school being highly regarded nationally and internationally with a long list of succesful alumni’s and current professors (including 3 Nobel Prize winners). If you have a choice, I’d go for College Park.</p>
<p>Sorry for bumping this old thread, but I had the same question. I’m not in computer science, but I am an information systems major.</p>
<p>Which should I be concerned with, graduating from the better university or graduating from the better school? Information Systems at UMCP would be from the Robert H. Smith School of Business, whereas Information Systems at UMBC is in the College of Engineering and Information Technology. </p>
<p>When it comes to getting a job (not a temporary, but one you want to be permanent) are employers concerned with the better university you graduated from, or rather the better school that taught your major?</p>
<p>If you are seeking jobs relating to your major, typically the reputation of the school in that major matters more than the reputation of the school overall.</p>
<p>However, note that there is also substantial favoring of local schools; the further away the school is, the less likely the employer will take the trouble to travel there (or even know about it).</p>
<p>If you major in IS, consider taking the CS courses in operating systems, networks, databases, and security, to get a stronger background in the concepts that will help you adapt to new technologies and unusual problems (things that those without CS background and just lower level vendor-specific certifications tend to have trouble with).</p>
<p>I mean one could say “school” as the sub section of a college and “university” as the entire college. He used “school” for both reasons which made it confusing.</p>
<p>Reading it again though I guess he’s saying the individual school (smaller sect) is what it’s all about, so just because a university has a better reputation it doesn’t mean anything for you right? It’s the reputation of the major-teaching school that counts?</p>
<p>Would it be more clear if it were worded this way:</p>
<p>If you are seeking jobs relating to your major, typically the reputation of the university in that major matters more than the reputation of the university overall.</p>
<p>However, note that there is also substantial favoring of local universities; the further away the university is, the less likely the employer will take the trouble to travel there (or even know about it).</p>
<p>Thanks so, does anyone know who’s reputation is better between College Park’s “Robert H. Smith School of Business” and UMBC’s "College of Engineering and Information Technology? As far as the Information Systems major at least. I wouldn’t know how to find that answer.</p>
<p>Here are the links to the two main pages if it helps…</p>
<p>If you have the choice, go to College Park. It has better name recognition, even against UMBC’s strongest program. There really is no comparison. </p>
<p>If you do not have the choice and you go to UMBC, transfer to UMCP as soon as possible. I’m not knocking UMBC, it’s just not at the same level.</p>
<p>Kinda sucks that College Park is farther away from my home…driving there takes approx. a half hour, 20 miles each way. UMBC is 20 minutes, and 13 miles respectively.</p>
<p>I was told it was hell driving to College Park and back…there is the shuttle option, but that’ll sap even more time considering the shuttle doesn’t operate based on your needs. It operates when it operates. The only benefit of that is you save mileage on your car and don’t have to worry about driving half the way…but this is all more of a hassle then going to UMBC.</p>
<p>Finally there’s the choice to live on campus…and to this day I’ve yet to see how that’s possibly going to work out for me. There’s really no place like living at home while as a college student (even though here’s not the perfect place per se) and I know I’ll do better and be much better off than sharing a dorm…and the downside to having one for your own is higher bills obviously, not to mention I don’t think too much of those are available for transfer students…</p>
<p>Well, that’s life. Technically I do have 3 semesters to change my mind and re-apply to Park, because by then I’d have accumulated 90 credits which is the maximum you can transfer to Park from a 4-year college like UMBC…I did get in to Park by the way. I applied back in July thinking I ought to go there if I get accepted (didn’t think I was…considering my GPA was 2.9 - NOT EVEN a 3.0 and I got accepted? Must’ve been the letters and my 4.0 GPA the previous semester, lol), but, now I’m recalling how much harder my life would be considering where the school’s located. I’m not even concerned with the rigorousness of classes (even though I probably should be). What’s a bigger problem is that I’m much better off living here while in college, yet Park is so damn far away.</p>
<p>By the way I heard I can “amp” myself up with certificates and such considering that I’m an Information Systems major, and to be honest, were I to have went to Park I would not have considered getting those because an R.H. Smith Bachelor’s of Science seems pretty sufficient by itself. I’m pretty sure the same kind of degree from UMBC’s Engineering & IT school coupled with other achievements will be at least as good-looking, anyone agree?</p>
<p>UMBC will be featured on 60 Minutes on November 13. It will focus on the university’s culture of innovation and achievement, especially for students studying science, technology, engineering and math. UMBC is the #1 Up and Coming University for the third year in a row. US News also ranks UMBC **fourth on the list of top national universities where the faculty has an unusual commitment to undergraduate teaching. **UMBC is tied with Yale and ranks just ahead of Brown and Stanford.</p>