okay so first of all these were my top three colleges(besides UCLA from where I got rejected) and over the course of the past 3 months I was admitted to all three. I applied to major in computer science. I got into the comp sci program for UMD, got into undeclared for UCSD and got into pre-science at UW Seattle. I needed help deciding what would be the best possible route to take, considering difficulty of entering the program, job opportunities, internship opportunities, competition and the likes. I am currently leaning towards UW but I’ve heard that the pre science program is risky as only the top 300 students get in. I also read that UCSD is introducing a lottery system for capped majors next year so now it’s just based on luck. Also I am adamant on majoring in computer science. Could anyone provide some insight as to what may be the most suitable path to take?
All 3 are big state universities with respected CS departments, but it sounds like Maryland is more of a sure thing for the major you want. Internship opportunities should be good for CS majors in the Baltimore-Washington corridor (as long as you’re a US citizen, at least).
What about net costs? Would you be paying out of state rates for all of them?
You got into CS at Maryland, one of the best Cs programs in the nation.
If it’s affordable, go there.
I’m a US citizen but I’ll be paying OOS for all three
Both Washington and UCSD are highly competitive to get into the CS major after entering as pre-science or undeclared.
https://www.engr.washington.edu/current/admissions/admitstats (grades and essays evaluated for admission)
https://cse.ucsd.edu/undergraduate/admissions/capped-major-status (4.0 or 3.9 threshold in recent quarters)
If Maryland is affordable, you have direct admission to CS there, and majoring in CS is a priority, go there. There is no assurance of being able to major in CS at the other two schools.
If you are a 3.9+ UW GPA/33+ ACT type of student, then consider UW. If not, I would recommend Maryland since you are already in the major you want. Good luck!
I have 2100 in my SAT and our school system doesn’t award a GPA but I would say it’s around 3.8-3.9 on 4.0. Is UW Seattle comp sci extremely hard to get into?
Yes, UW Seattle CS is insanely difficult to get into if you are not direct admit. It’s too risky if you want to do CS. Odds are you’ll major in computational math, management technology or its - or will have to transfer to wsu or wwu.
“Insanely”? Not necessarily for this applicant, who is probably somewhere around the top third to top quarter of the entering class of engineering students (enrolled engineering department stats in 2016 were SAT 1170-1420, ACT 27-33).
A few days ago, an article in the Seattle Times about Paul Allen’s $40 million gift to the establish the new Allen School for Computer Science & Engineering reported:
"Students are usually admitted at the end of their freshman year or the start of their sophomore year. But the school also admits some students directly, at the same time they are admitted to the university as freshmen. This year, direct admission will be offered to 150 students. All but five of them are Washington residents. [UW CSE website states, “These admits have an average unweighted gpa of 3.97 and are mostly Washington state residents. Average test scores are: ACT 34, SAT math 764, SAT verbal 758.”]
"Although computer science and engineering is a tough program to get into, the picture is getting better. In 2016, 43 percent of bachelor’s applicants were admitted to the program. In previous years, the admission rate was lower.
“[The CSE Department] is now enrolling about 370 new undergraduate students each year, double the number it was able to accommodate in 2012… This year, it is asking for $6 million from the Legislature to increase the number of students it graduates by 120 degrees per year. Most of that increase would be in bachelors degrees, Lazowska said.”
Thus, when this applicant is applying, the department should have space for around the top 50% of applicants. If that is a concern, then I again offer my recommendation of Maryland.
More information about admissions to the various engineering majors, including CSE, can be found at:
http://www.engr.washington.edu/current/admissions/admitstats
Even with the increase, that’s still 2/3 not to get in, and the students op would compete with are all extremely strong - 32-34 OOS overachievers, plus the top students from the state who didn’t manage to get direct admit. Many will have a 32-33 ACT and excellent preparation too. (Keep in mind OP has an equivalent 32 - good, but far from a shoo in for this particular major).
Lots and lots of non direct admits have to be either transfer or be content with another major.
OP could have a shot, but no more than that. In my opinion it’s not worth the risk since OP got into his/her major already at a university known for this major.
Another factor would be cost, of course.
In the end, OP will make the decision to risk it or not, we can only provide our opinion and what our experience has taught us.
^ Exactly.
Around the bottom half of this year’s class may eventually need to find an alternative/related major or transfer to another CS program. If OP is concerned about that, OP should follow the express advice of the department in deciding whether to enroll at UW:
"We can’t answer this for you, but we recommend thinking about the following factors:
"Are there reasons for me to attend UW other than studying computer science/computer engineering?
"Am I open to multiple majors at UW and/or open to transferring if not admitted into my major of choice?
"How will the stress of applying to a competitive major impact my freshman year of college?
"If I have been directly admitted to a computer science/computer engineering program at another school, how does that program compare to opportunities for non-majors at UW?
"If I am not a Washington resident, is out-of-state tuition worth it if I am not admitted to my major of choice?
“Do I feel well-prepared to succeed at a large university that requires a lot of individual motivation and personal initiative, and where no one will monitor my progress?”