UW or USC for Comp Sci

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
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<p>I'm having trouble deciding which college I should go to next year... so any suggestions/comments would really help!</p>

<p>I was Direct Admitted to the Comp Sci program at UW (instate tuition), but I was also given the Presidential Scholarship at USC. I would still have to take out approximately $10,000 in loans per year at USC. So here is my dilemma... I know UW's Comp Sci program is ranked much higher than USC's, and I would be closer to home, and it would be cheaper. However, I feel like USC's personality fits me much better as a person and student. USC has much smaller class sizes, it doesn't rain hardly as much (i hate the rain), and I really want to explore somewhere new (I literally drive past the UW everyday). Also, I can't really explain it, but I just feel like USC is where I should be, but at the same time I'm not sure I can justify spending an extra $40,000 on tuition and wasting an opportunity in the UW Comp Sci program. I'm also worried that I may not have access to the same Comp Sci opportunities (internships, jobs, etc) with a USC degree compared to a UW degree.</p>

<p>So that's my problem. If you have any opinions please post, I would really appreciate it!
P.S. I'm going to post this in both colleges' forums to get both sides.</p>

2

<p>Have you been to USC? Very different feel than UW, culturally way more diverse which some like, some don’t. If you haven’t been there, I would go asap, you will know right away if it feels as good as you think it does. UW is gorgeous and has great connections. I get the too close to home thing, but don’t go on brochure talk, be sure you see USC for yourself.</p>

3

<p>I visited a few months ago and loved the feel of the campus and the diversity that the international students seem to bring. I did not however get to sit in on a class though wich concerns me because I can’t seem to find a single picture of a classroom on USC’s website. Any current students have a comment on the classroom environment?</p>

4

<p>That’s great that you know the feel of the campus and liked it. Not sure what sitting in a class will do since there are as many styles as there are professors and classes. Since they are small class sizes overall at USC, not sure what sitting in one would tell you overall. If you like the campus already that is a biggie, not everyone likes the campus or neighborhood, glad you got to experience if for yourself.</p>

5

<p>I’m glad you liked your visit! </p>

<p>I agree that you’re probably not missing too much by not seeing a classroom. There are a wide variety of different classroom styles you’ll see here depending on the class, from lecture hall, to small rooms with tables and chairs, to computer labs for some of your CS classes. They almost universally have multiple projectors and other modern classroom fixtures. The computer labs are actually really nice- they just remodeled a bunch of them.</p>

<p>Check out my friend Zach’s blog about Computer Science here. There are some pictures of SAL, which is where many CS classes meet [My</a> Major: Computer Science](<a href=“http://viterbivoices.usc.edu/zachb/my-major-computer-science/]My”>My Major: Computer Science - Viterbi Voices)</p>

<p>As far as careers, USC CS majors are definitely highly sought after. Every time I go to one of the career expos put on by Viterbi (where over 100 companies come to recruit USC engineers each semester), there are tons of opportunities for them. I have several friends who interned with Microsoft and Google. ([Interning</a> at Microsoft this Summer!](<a href=“http://viterbivoices.usc.edu/rob/interning-at-microsoft-this-summer/]Interning”>Interning at Microsoft this Summer! - Viterbi Voices)). </p>

<p>CS majors are also sought out by pretty much every company in every industry, so they get hired by top companies whose main focus is not software, but who need software to function. If you’re at all interested in video game programming, then you literally can’t beat USC’s #1 program in that field, and lots of game companies recruit here too, though they often do it more directly through professors for those classes. </p>

<p>I suggest checking out the Viterbi Careers website [USC</a> - Viterbi School of Engineering - Students](<a href=“http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/careers/students/]USC”>http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/careers/students/) </p>

<p>Also, here is a list of spring 2013 career expo attendees so you can see who was hiring Viterbi CS students:
<a href=“http://viterbi.usc.edu/assets/150/84108.pdf[/url]”>http://viterbi.usc.edu/assets/150/84108.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Some quick highlights: Amazon, Bloomberg, CIA, Cisco, DIRECTV, eBay, EA, Garmin, Intel, Medtronic, Microsoft, Motorola, NVIDIA, Raytheon, Target, Yahoo!, Zynga. Google didn’t come to the expo this semester, but they are on campus recruiting a lot and do their own sessions with student orgs and the career center. I have actually met the Google recruiters multiple times and I’m not even a CS major. </p>

<p>Hope this helps!</p>

<p>-Steve
Viterbi Class of 2013</p>

<p>PS - In the end, my decision partially came down to a strong gut feeling like you seem to have, and I couldn’t be happier that I went for it and became a Trojan :D</p>

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<p>Thank you Steve! I have a hard decision to make, but I’m definitely leaning towards USC at this point. Thank you :)</p>

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<p>UW is a great school and congratulations on getting in. Nevertheless, thousands of USC alumni are from Washington, so you will be in fine company. And why not spend four years in the sunshine, and return to Washington?</p>

<p>Anything around or under $50,000 is a good investment for a top private school like USC, especially with your major. You’re pretty much guaranteed a spot with a top hi tech company that pays well.
And I’m sure you will be able to graduate within four years. </p>

<p>UW is a very large school, as you know. I believe you will enjoy the smaller class sizes and feel of USC.</p>

<p>This is one decision I do not think you will regret in the long run. I have many friends who graduated from UW and they regard USC as a very prestigious school. And I especially enjoy the football rivalry and season in general.</p>

<p>Congratulations and fight on!</p>

<p>Sent from my SGH-T989 using CC</p>

8

<p>Hey Steve, S about ready to commit to USC. Coming in EE, but may want to move into CS. So many industry friends of ours (Intel types) encouraged him into EE although he likes SW, so he will be trying to figure out how to merge practicality with passion. No worries there, that will come with time and why USC is the draw (flexibility)…you mentioned an overview kind of intro course engineers take, but when I look through the Viterbi book with the 4 year plans for each area laid out, I do not see a single intro course across the different disciplines. He read Zach’s blog (great stuff) and it mentions CSCI101 as USC’s intro course. Can an EE take that early on or does each emphasis area have it’s own intro course? Hoping he could get exposure to CS as well as EE within first semester or so to decide direction. Have son in Marshall so familiar with GEs and the like but not engineering.</p>

<p>Would like to have idea going into orientation and class registration as well, so trying to slove the mystery of the intro course. Thanks in advance!</p>

9

<p>Hey Steve, ^^^duh - found the engr 102 course in the guide you guys sent. But I will still ask, what is best way for EE to learn about CS and whether or not that is the way they want to go?.. Just in advising and talking with students/profs that first semester? And could and EE take CS101 early on and use it as elective or something if they stay in EE? Or maybe this is dumb idea and they figure it out when they get there!</p>

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<p>Email Steve Schrader the CS undergrad adviser, easily one of the best advisers at USC, although I can’t really say how good/bad the other advisers for other majors are</p>

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<p>Hi CADREAMIN -</p>

<p>The engineering 102 course is actually somewhat of a secondary intro course that all freshmen take. I have actually been an upperclassman mentor for this course for the last three years, and I think it’s a great program (mentors like myself are there as yet another resource to help students find their major and navigate Viterbi/college). Your son could also meet CS freshmen in this class and find about their experiences or see their projects
[USC</a> - Viterbi School of Engineering - Freshmen Academies](<a href=“http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/fye/academies/]USC”>http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/fye/academies/)
Acutally, check out all the first year exellence programs in Viterbi - the freshman academy program (ENGR102) is just one of many support systems provided for students.</p>

<p>Anyway, each major does have its own specific intro course as well, and there is an engineering 101 for undeclared students which covers every discipline over the semester. In your son’s case, I would suggest choosing either the EE or CS intro course though, because he has it narrowed to 2 already.</p>

<p>Viterbi students aren’t limited to taking only courses in their department, so he could take CS101 even without the major (plus there are also great alternative CS courses for EE majors if he wants to build the skillset).
Timing on courses is also flexible, and many classes (especially intros) are offered both semesters. I’m not sure exactly how the credits would count, but the freshmen advisers would guide each student on a case by case basis. </p>

<p>Because of all this flexibility in taking classes and choosing majors, Viterbi actually provides special advisers just for freshmen (of all majors). They know students are still trying to figure out what they would like to pursue, and can help guide them. These are the people students meet with all year before going to their department’s adviser starting sophomore year (though they can still reach out to the department advisers earlier). They are highly knowledgeable about all the department course plans and have definitely worked with students in similar situations to your son’s (especially with CS/EE).</p>

<p>I honestly wouldn’t worry more about any of this until summer orientation, when registration for the first fall semester takes place. At orientation, the freshmen advisers sit in a room with students as they pick their first semester schedules, and will happily advise on topics like this to help optimize your first semester, then during first semester they can have a longer conversation about 2nd semester and beyond. You can’t register before this session anyway, so he won’t be behind at all. </p>

<p>You’ve mentioned many great ways to help make this decision, and I hope I’ve added a few. At the end of the day, the best way to go about this is to take advantage of a many of these resources as possible!</p>