<p>Hi, i intend to pursue a Computer Science Undergraduate studies at the Univ of Minnesota Twin Cities..
what do u guys think? is it a good choice?
I have several questions..
is the undergrad CS at Minnesota good? Do they only concentrate on the Graduate studies?
Minnesota TC is not ABET accredited.. does it matter?~</p>
<p>I do have other backup choices as well such as Purdue and Ohio State...are there other choices that is suggested to be added in?</p>
<p>please advice...</p>
<p>ABET accreditation doesn't matter for computer science; don't use that as an indicator of good vs. bad programs.</p>
<p>I have a friend from high school that went there for CS undergrad. It seems like a good school and I don't think it's a bad choice. You'll get a similar education from a lot of schools, it's more of a matter of whether you personally like the school or not.</p>
<p>i am not using it as an indicator of good or bad
but its a matter of is ABET important?
as in..okay izit vital for job security or recognition by professional bodies?
why Minnesota is not accredited? They feel they don't need to be accredited? Nevertheless, at the same time some other top school are accredited like U of Michigan and Illinois Urbana
If ABET is not important to CS, what is the whole idea of having it accredited and not?</p>
<p>I understand that the BAR council for law, if we do not comply to it, we cant practice law rite? does it apply to this as well?</p>
<p>ABET is not important to CS programs.</p>
<p>
[quote]
i am not using it as an indicator of good or bad
but its a matter of is ABET important?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>No, it's not important. (Hence the entire first half of my one-line reply...)</p>
<p>It's an option. ABET's willing to accredit computer science programs, but it doesn't do anything. Some colleges see it as an extra element of corroboration that their program is valid, so they invest the time and effort to get accredited. Because computer scientists don't need licenses to practice computer science like some engineers need licenses, and like lawyers need licenses, there's no functional benefit to having your program ABET accredited, so many perfectly good programs don't bother jumping through ABET's hoops.</p>
<p>It doesn't say anything one way or another. Just look at fit and program quality.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I don't know anything about the UofM TC. You could check the CV's of the professors and make comparisons between them and other profs at the other schools you're applying to. (Comparisons in terms of what you hope to accomplish and how good the profs are at teaching and/or doing research in that.)</p>
<p>So what if when ABET starts to accredit more and more CS programs, and it come to the time where ABET is actually required to practice? possible to happen? -_^</p>
<p>so there are actually undergrads from non-ABET accredited univs who acquire jobs in the US?
let say ABET is concerned, it is for looking job in the governmental sector or private sector?</p>
<p>The only reason why i am freaking out, cuz i am not residing in the US
so i do not know the ins and outs of it...
and when i come to know about why undergrad in these univs aren't accredited, i panicked...</p>
<p>Minnesota has a strong computer science program. One clue I use in looking at computer science programs is whether they include an early, required course in Scheme with the Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs textbook, as Minnesota does.</p>
<p>Token adult - then you might find this list interesting (if you haven't seen it already):
SICP</a> Adoption List</p>
<p>That was interesting. Last updated 1999. I've heard some colleges have dropped SICP, but CSCI 1901 at Minnesota definitely still uses it.</p>
<p>Ooops, good point. This looks a little better: last updated in '07:
Schemers</a> Inc. — Schools Using Scheme</p>
<p>From what I have been told, ABET is not that popular among academic computer science departments. They apparently find it too confining, and many have made conscious decisions not to design their programs to match ABET. Caltech, Princeton, and Cornell, among many other top programs are not ABET in CS, although their engineering programs are certified. So I would not worry that people will look down on your program if it is not ABET.</p>
<p>OOH, thanks for the Schemers, Inc. list of schools that use scheme.</p>
<p>by next week i am sending my application to
UMN TC
Purdue
Buffalo
and UVA
hope things turn out to be alright :D
and be able to get admission to UMN TC especially..</p>
<p>
[quote]
One clue I use in looking at computer science programs is whether they include an early, required course in Scheme with the Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs textbook, as Minnesota does.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Ironically, MIT, whose professors wrote the book and which made the course famous, dropped its SICP course (with the support of at least one of the book's authors, who now teaches the new, Python-based intro course) when it restructured the EECS curriculum a few semesters ago.</p>
<p>They still teach the intro AI class in Scheme, though.</p>