University of Washington Computer Science

My son has apparently received a direct admission offer into the CS program at UW. The official paper work won’t arrive for another 1-3 weeks per our understanding which is why I say apparently. He is still in the decision making process to determine where he is going to go. UW is by far the highest ranked and most prestigious CS program he has been accepted into. My question is what are the unique opportunities he would be passing up if he decides to decline UW? Will a UW CS education create more/better/different opportunities? Is the CS education “better” at UW?

The other schools that he is still considering are:
University of Alabama
Ohio State
Purdue
Western Washington

We live in Washington but with the merit money he has received all of the schools are affordable and UW is actually the second most expensive. The money difference between all of them is not a significant factor.

He is very thankful to have this decision to make.

Since Seattle is a software hub, I’d think internship opportunities would be easier to pursue from UW. It would also be logistically easier to look for a permanent job after graduation.

I doubt the actual CS education would be any better or worse at UW than at the other schools mentioned.

The location relative to software jobs opportunities is something we have discussed. Western Washington while not in Seattle is only about a 1-1/2hr drive.

UW’s name will carry some prestige for sure. The name on the degree alone will make a difference. I can’t speak to particulars but I think one could succeed at any of these schools. I do think UW has a significant overall advantage and with money not being a significant factor I don’t see a reason against UW mentioned. Is there anything that your son dislikes about UW beyond the academic program? If there are other factors, I don’t think it would be a mistake to choose one of the other schools listed for other factors beyond the CS program.

I don’t think there is anything in particular that he dislikes about the UW program. Not long ago, it was his first choice if he got in as a direct admit. I don’t think he is crazy about the thought of the large class sizes (~25% greater than 50) which will also be the case at OSU and to a degree at Purdue and Alabama. Western is a smaller school and he really liked it when he did an overnight visit. He liked Alabama when he spent a week at the campus but that was during the summer months when things were not in full swing.

Perhaps it is a perception thing but UW seems rather impersonal. He will be doing an admitted student visit in early April and I anticipate that as a direct admit student he will be getting a little more personal contact in the coming weeks. The access to the software industry will likely be the best at UW and I agree that the name will carry some weight.

I am just trying to gather more information for him to think about to help him make the decision that he feels is best for him.

Did your son receive the direct admit in his acceptance letter? My son has applied to the same program and while he was told he was a Purple and Gold Scholar( OOS), there was no mention of computer science

@buvumom‌ there was nothing in the acceptance letter. When he loads his unofficial transcript it shows major as computer science. Most show pre-science for major. We are told that the listing of the major on the unofficial transcript indicates direct admission.

@WAPacker‌, this post from a recent graduate of the UW CS program contains information that might be helpful:

http://www.quora.com/What-is-it-like-to-be-a-computer-science-major-at-the-University-of-Washington

This article underscores the stature of Washington’s CS/CE Department:

http://qz.com/343521/18-universities-produce-half-of-us-and-canadas-computer-science-professors/

The big things will be the recruiting, name, and network (his classmates at UDub will be more likely to do neat things and pull him in; less likely at those other schools).

If costs aren’t an issue, I don’t see how UDub isn’t a clear first choice.

My son completed his final visits to Ohio State, Purdue and finished up with UW. Ohio State didn’t do much for him, he really liked Purdue but being a direct admit at UW was too much to pass up. He preferred the UW campus and Seattle over Purdue so all of the relevant factors for him tipped to UW. He is happy to have made his decision.