UMD CP vs TAMU for CS

College Search & Selection
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Hi guys,

I got accepted at UMD CP as a Letter and Sciences major (I plan to transfer to CS after completion of my requirements). I also got accepted at TAMU as CS major. UMD will be OOS tuition, but they provide scholarship to close the gap (must maintain 3.2 GPA). TAMU will be in-state tuition. I also got UM Twin Cities and VTech which are awesome (but I lean towards UMD or TAMU at this time).

I know:
-UMD has higher ranking in CS + closer to Washington DC, but
-TAMU has one of the biggest alumni networks (and many of my friends will go there)

Can someone enlighten me with this information to help me decide my college:

  1. Which one has a better internship opportunity?
  2. what is the college life like in UMD and TAMU?
  3. Washington DC vs Texas?
  4. What is the class like for UMD and TAMU?

I am sure there is no right and wrong answer, and I really appreciate all comments, advices, and information

Cheers!!!

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In the long run, both will be great including for internships.

UMD is not DC. It’s suburban but you can access Dc. They are even building a metro stop.

College Station is a small town that really is the school.

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Texas A&M admits to first year general engineering. Students must then go through entry-to-a-major to get into their majors. Automatic admission occurs at 3.75 college GPA, but few applicants to CS get admitted without automatic admission. Read the ETAM threads in the Texas A&M forum section.

For UMCDP, you need to complete two CS and one math course with C- or higher grades and have an overall college GPA of 2.7 to get into the CS major: Limited Enrollment Program : University of Maryland

Minnesota and Virginia Tech have similar systems as Texas A&M, but the automatic admission to major college GPAs are 3.2 and 3.0 respectively (if you are admitted to the engineering division to begin with).

Basically, in terms of likelihood of being able to major in CS, UMDCP > VT > Minnesota >> Texas A&M. However, if you need the scholarship to continue affording UMDCP, then your GPA benchmark there is 3.2 rather than 2.7. But that is still much less difficult than 3.75.

If you go to Texas A&M, prepare transfer applications to other Texas public universities during your first year, in case you do not get into the CS major.

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