What Schools should I apply to for Computer Science?

A couple of very disparate points to make.

Purdue may take you but, they will try hard to weed you out of their CS program. You will be placed in large classes and have to compete for your seat. Maybe you’ll thrive, maybe you won’t but, it will be a very challenging process - there won’t be a lot of time to watch Basketball. Visit the campus, talk to current CS students, even sit in on a class or two. If you head that route, do it with your eyes open.

Most college students change their major at least once. Most of the kids I’ve seen enter CS programs have switched to other majors with fairly low GPAs because they couldn’t handle the workload. The few that have stuck with it are intentionally taking longer than 4 years At most schools the curriculum is very difficult and very time consuming. CIS or MIS seems to be the favorite target. My point here - don’t pick the BEST CS program, pick a school at which you think you’ll fit in and enjoy.

i think you are selling the UCR, UCM and the CSUs short. For a degree like CS, it is all about what you’ve done, not where you did it. Unlike Marketing or Econ, it is a demonstrable skill. That’s why big tech companies (Google, Facebook, etc), the FBI and other prestige employers recruit CS grads at places like CSU EB, Chico and Sac.

At this stage, the objective is to have several viable options come May. I’d encourage you apply to several schools that are likely to admit you. A couple that are less likely - cause you never know. See where you get in, visit some schools, then make up your mind. Your local CC would be a viable option but, understand, transferring into a prestige UC is no cake-walk.

Good luck.

@NCalRent thanks for your comments. The problem with UCR and UCM is I visited their campuses and really disliked it. I’m definitely considering some CSUs but I will be “stuck” for 4 years (which is why I would rather go to CC than most CSU’s).

Your points are definitely very valid but I think compsci is one of the things I’ll do well in. I already took calc ab and bc and have gotten A’s and 5s on each. I also took CSP and CSA in high school and did well as well.