Which is better for a computer science major? USC or UMD College Park?

I want go into computer science but can’t decide where to go. I got into both schools and the cost would be out of state tuition. Some places say people aren’t taking computer science at USC or the professors aren’t good and some say its amazing. UMD people say is known for CS so I was just wondering which one would be better.

BUMP

CS at USC is fantastic, have recent grad and know at least 9 of his CS friends well. They had amazing opportunities and ALL landed big jobs. One founded a company funded by Peter Thiel and is off to the races. Silicon Valley recruits strong out of USC. Is it better than UMD? I can’t answer that, it is so much more about the person than the school a lot of times. But USC CS has been phenomenal for the ones we know. As a private school, there isn’t such thing as OOS tuition rate.

The COA for USC for OOS students is $75K. The COA for UMD is $51K. (According to both schools’ websites). That’s quite a difference per year. UMD has a great CS program.

Which part of the country do you live? Think about transportation costs too.

USC hasn’t even handed out their decisions for this year so how were you already accepted?

@momofsenior1 Im from New Jersey.

@CADREAMIN do you think its worth paying the $20,000 for usc than maryland? what big jobs did they land?

Lots easier to get to UMD than to USC! Something to think about when you are weighing your options. A drive/bus/train is much easier and cheaper than a flight.

Just realized you are a transfer student in your first semester at a SUNY and high school record of 1200 SAT and 3.2 gpa which would be factored in because you are applying with under 30 units. Honestly, and I am sorry if it is harsh, you need to take USC off of your radar for CS. Apply to other schools that are a better fit for the record you will be bringing in with you. There are students with 4.0s and stellar ACT or SAT scores that aren’t admitted to USC Viterbi. That is who you are competing against. The acceptance rate at Viterbi is extremely low. And if you look at past years transfer threads, the ones that were accepted checked every box - all the right classes, GEs, prereqs met for the 30 or 60 units coming in, along with typically a 3.7 or 3.8+ college gpa. USC is not a school you try to transfer to on a whim, that is throwing away your application money. You really have to plan it and take just the right courses to have any kind of chance.

@CADREAMIN Im applying with 34 credits to get into the fall term 2019. I currently have a 3.9 GPA.

You have great universities in-state. I am not convinced that it is worth paying out of state tuition for UMD or full price at USC. There are jobs for computer science graduates from Rutgers and TCNJ. I have worked with a few from Rutgers who were very good.

I think that UMD and USC are also both very good choices if you can afford them and if you can get in.

I don’t like Rutgers at all. Did a college visit not that great environment.

Are they both equal in academics? Comparing Maryland to Stanford it’s obvious that Stanford wins but is it obvious they one or the other is better. US news ranked Maryland 16 and USC 20? Doesn’t they make Maryland better ?

“US news ranked Maryland 16 and USC 20”

For computer science, or probably for any major, the difference between a ranking of 16 and a ranking of 20 is meaningless, and the rankings might go the other way around a year from now.

I would minimize debt. Debt sounds easy before you take it on, but can be unpleasant when you get to paying it off.

@ex2x01 have you actually been accepted anywhere at this point? I see you have a new thread about appealing a decision at UMD. Does that mean that you have been turned down there?

If you are currently studying CS at a SUNY, then I am not convinced that it is worth transferring. Try to get the best grades that you can where you are. In computer science employers are not going to care much about where you get your bachelor’s as long as you are a school that it at least at a SUNY/Rutgers/TCNJ level. UMD/USC/U.Wisconsin are all great universities for computer science, but you do not need to attend any of them to do very well in your career.

Relax. Have a pizza. Work hard and keep your grades up. You will do well.

The appeal wasn’t my part that’s was my friends.

I thought you went to SUNY Buffalo because it was the least expensive. Are your parents willing to pay for UMD or USC?

In one thread you said you’re attending SUNY Buffalo and in another you said you’re at a community college. I think it will be easier to transfer from a 4-year SUNY with only a few months of college experience than from a cc. If finances are an issue I’d look into schools in NJ. You can always move OOS after you graduate.

The thing Is I heard viberti isn’t that well known.

It’s all relative…in many parts of the country/world and particularly Silicon Valley, is very well known. Probably depends on who you ask or know and where you’re located, it’s that way with a lot of schools. I didn’t know what UMD was and still have to look up SUNY to see what it stands for. There’s so many east coast schools I never heard of until I became active on here.

UMD and USC would I get the same job opportunities or will one give me more opportunity than the other. Lets say if I were to work in silicon valley or NYC.

I’ve been a developer for several years. I never went to a prestigious school, and I just got a job offer at a fortune 500 company. This was after interviewing at USAA, Amazon, University of KY, and Stanford Medical Center. Yes, one of those companies is indeed in Silicon Valley. Technology is driven entirely by work experience. The degree is useful at getting your foot in the door, but after about 2-3 years, they don’t even ask where you graduate.

Speaking entirely from experience, you’re going to get paid an entry level salary when you graduate…no more, no less. If they pay any higher, they can get an experienced professional to do the job. Whether it’s Silicon Valley or Dallas, TX, salary is adjusted to a relative equilibrium based on the cost of living and level of experience. Therefore, it really doesn’t make a large difference where you live, and trust me, you can live comfortably anywhere with a tech degree and work experience.

We considered moving to Silicon Valley after I interviewed at Stanford Medical. After calculating the rent, food, gas, and other expenses, we would have more disposable income in Texas, so that’s the offer I decided to accept.