UMDCP vs. UMass Amherst Computer Science/Engineering

College Search & Selection
1

Hello,

I was accepted into UMDCP for Computer Engineering and UMass for Computer Science. I am not too sure what I am truly interested in, but changing majors isn’t too difficult at either school. My question is, which school would better prepare me for the future? Looking at recent rankings, UMD is doing quite well. I was given a scholarship from UMass and my cost of attendance is around 35k compared to 50k at UMD. Is paying 15k more worth it?

Thanks,
Jawad

2

I would greatly appreciate if someone could help me out.

3

I can’t find it right now, but you can give a search a go. Someone else recently posted about a number of different program including Georgia Tech and UMAss Amherst and a number of posters recommended UMAss due to the lower cost.

I don’t have personal insight to offer. In general, where you get a CS degree is not as important as in other fields of study.

4

Depending on the university, computer science and computer engineering are two separate and different majors. Since you’re comparing two different schools, the best thing to do would be to:

  1. Go to the website of that department at each school-read what they’ve got to say about themselves, and
  2. Take a good look at the required courses in the major, and read the course descriptions; and
  3. If you’re really ambitious, contact each department and ask to be put in contact with a soon-to-be senior, and then ask any and all questions you can think of.
5

Unfortunately, I could not find that post. Given the time and situation, UMass Amherst makes more financial sense. However, UMD has an amazing program, and I heard that the college itself was much more lively than UMass. Being close to DC also has its advantages, but I am not sure if those advantages will apply to me. I love DC too. I went there a couple of years ago with my family, and I really enjoyed it there.

UMass has an excellent CS program, and I think the curriculum fits me better. I will attempt to ask UMD for some financial help, but given that I was a regular decision applicant, I might not receive any.

I was waitlisted at Purdue for CS as well. If I get accepted, should I consider it over UMass Amherst (given that I get no money from Purdue)?

Thanks for all the help.

6

If you get a computer engineering degree, you’ll likely end up doing the same kind of software engineering work that someone with a CS degree would get.

Where you go to school isn’t that big of a deal for CE or CS. Unless you clearly prefer one school over the other, I’d go with the cheaper option.

7

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. I love both schools, so I’m glad that I am choosing between them.

8

I have a similar problem of choosing between UMD and Umass for Cs.
However Umass is giving me 14k per year. Which one should i go with?