USC vs Northeastern Computer Science (undergrad)

Hello, Junior here looking into USC and Northeastern for CS. I know both schools are strong for CS with Northeastern’s co-op program and USC’s proximity to Silicon Valley. I also know both schools are improving rapidly. I would like to know how these 2 schools compare. Money is not a problem. Thank you very much!

Fwiw, USC is #10. There are a number of USC alumni working at the well-known tech company where my D is employed.
http://www.shanghairanking.com/SubjectCS2015.html

Top Tech Companies Feeder Schools.
https://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/infographics/top-tech-companies-feeder-schools

Parent of recent USC CS grad. Can’t compare them (don’t know anything about NEU or their program) but USC has been amazing for mine and his peers. Lots of opportunities for projects and research - he worked on things for city of LA through an on campus organization, had amazing relationships with profs, was a TA, landed incredible job. USC goes a long way in SV. His best friends are all employed in Bay Area starting this summer, and one left after junior year because their product was funded with millions of $ and strong backers. At 22, this former student is currently picking out insurance plans for future employees. Amazing stuff. These are great students that likely would have done well anywhere, but together at USC they really pushed each other to achieve. Was fun to watch. Doing well in a program at any school can be about surrounding yourself with like minded achievers that motivate you to do more. But for us, it does seem that good things await USC grads, particularly on west coast. The Trojan family alumni network is real and very strong. Their recent investments (and growing endowment) are taking the school to even higher levels in so many aspects. I have been impressed with their mission. Location is cool with LA as a backdrop, but Boston is so great too.

Having said all that glowing stuff about USC, if you want to be on East Coast after graduation, the contacts and relationships made there may be better for you. I know people hire from everywhere, but there can be advantages and something to be said for being a regional product.

The USC forum is also pretty active with regular posters if you want to ask anything else over there specifically about USC. Also know that USC and particularly CS/Engineering there is super competitive with an acceptance rate significantly lower than USC’s 16% rate overall.

USC isn’t anywhere near Silicon Valley.

I believe most people know that SV is northern CA and USC is in southern CA. All the previous posts are mentioning that USC is a big feeder into tech which is primarily Silicon Valley among other key areas. West coast is west coast. And besides, in CA, where SV to LA is an hour flight, many consider them to be close. There is also Silicon Beach which is starting to make a big statement down south. Whether northern or southern California and throughout tech industry, USC is regarded well is what the posters are saying, they aren’t discussing geography. Not sure the same is said about NEU and CS, I didn’t know they offered CS, which doesn’t mean it isn’t good, just haven’t heard of many/any NEU grads in tech in SV. My exposure is limited however.

Here’s another top-ten feeder schools article -

https://qz.com/967985/silicon-valley-companies-like-apple-aapl-hires-the-most-alumni-of-these-10-universities-and-none-of-them-are-in-the-ivy-league/

I doubt there’s a huge difference between the CS grads the schools produce. If you ultimately want to work on the east coast, I’d go with Northeastern. If you want to work on the west coast, go to USC.

You can get a job in Silicon Valley with a CS degree from NEU - it’s just that it’s logistically harder if you’re on the east coast and looking for a job on the west coast.

Northeastern CS student currently on co-op in LA at a big tech company - it’s not hard to work on the west coast at all. I don’t think regionality will make much of a difference here. There are Northeastern co-ops and full-time people at all the big names in SV. Northeastern even has co-op housing in SF because of how many students are there.

Both are good CS options. USC is known a bit more for its entrepreneurship, Northeastern is known for co-op. The only notable difference I would point out is the undergraduate teaching approach at NEU is pretty unique and offers a good learning environment for those without experience and those going into software development. More info at the link below, which is well worth the long read in my opinion.

http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/matthias/Thoughts/Growing_a_Programmer.html

If you look at the full report above in depth from the source, you’ll find Northeastern at #21 for “The 25 Most Wanted New-Grad Alumni in 2017 Tech”, which focuses on recent hiring data. Northeastern’s recent rise probably skews them down.

https://www.scribd.com/document/346963694/Hiringsolved-Ideal-Hire-Report-in-Tech

As others have said, there isn’t a bad choice here. Location is certainly a big difference but both have their pro’s. LA is great if you want warm weather and beaches with still a decent deal to do, while Boston is great for the northeast city lover. If you gravitate towards one for a fit reason, you won’t be closing any doors by going to one over the other. Of course co-op versus internship, and then lots of other small differences, for better or worse.

Working on said beach now, I’m not sure I would bet on it popping up a ton. Lots of other cities are undergoing tech booms, but LA as a city has been trying to grow their economy by recruiting more tech. A big challenge in getting companies to move there or start based in LA is they have trouble getting talent to move there over a known tech hub like SF/Seattle, a super attractive city like NYC, or an academic hub, where Boston tech has been popping up more due to the concentration of schools.

Our S is an EE grad from USC. He did interview at various places including CA but ended up interning in HI and Newport News. He accepted a full time job in DC and has been there since 2011 and is happy there. We know other USC grads in SF and SV.

You have nice options and really can’t go wrong with whatever you choose. Why not applying to several great Us and see which ones accept you? These Us are quite selective.