Computer Science majors, where are they applying?

[Anonymous]

Interested to see if we have missed any hidden gems for future computer science majors. Where is your kid applying? We are doing top 10 from CS list plus UMD, VT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interested to see if we have missed any hidden gems for future computer science majors. Where is your kid applying? We are doing top 10 from CS list plus UMD, VT.

CS is available at virtually all universities. Top 10 CS are probably all reaches. UMD and VT matches (? not safeties for CS). Your kid needs safeties and more matches.

[Anonymous]

Wisconsin, Purdue...? Other ideas?

CS varies quite a bit from looking at course catalogs. Some universities have very few electives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interested to see if we have missed any hidden gems for future computer science majors. Where is your kid applying? We are doing top 10 from CS list plus UMD, VT.

CS is available at virtually all universities. Top 10 CS are probably all reaches. UMD and VT matches (? not safeties for CS). Your kid needs safeties and more matches.

I agree. DC's super nerd classmate, who was featured on Washington Post with then defense secretary Carter for hacking the Pentagon, did not get into CMU computer science program. Though all the stories about him came after the admission decision was made, he was a better candidate than most of the students they admitted, with or without the publicity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interested to see if we have missed any hidden gems for future computer science majors. Where is your kid applying? We are doing top 10 from CS list plus UMD, VT.

We went through this last year for DC1. There are no hidden gems. Top ranked CS programs are very competitive. If applying to OOS publics, be aware that they only admit a very, very small portion of OOS students to their CS programs. Most are also direct admits to their CS program. Michigan is the only exception on both counts (50% OOS and anyone who wants to do CS can do so).

I've read that some Liberal Arts schools have good CS programs but we didn't apply to any. I've also read that most of them don't have a lot of depth given their size and difficulty with hiring/retaining CS faculty.

Being female and the right kind of minority always helps. What are your kid's stats?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interested to see if we have missed any hidden gems for future computer science majors. Where is your kid applying? We are doing top 10 from CS list plus UMD, VT.

What is the CS list?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interested to see if we have missed any hidden gems for future computer science majors. Where is your kid applying? We are doing top 10 from CS list plus UMD, VT.

What is the CS list?

Just the US News & World Report CS List

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interested to see if we have missed any hidden gems for future computer science majors. Where is your kid applying? We are doing top 10 from CS list plus UMD, VT.

We went through this last year for DC1. There are no hidden gems. Top ranked CS programs are very competitive. If applying to OOS publics, be aware that they only admit a very, very small portion of OOS students to their CS programs. Most are also direct admits to their CS program. Michigan is the only exception on both counts (50% OOS and anyone who wants to do CS can do so).

I've read that some Liberal Arts schools have good CS programs but we didn't apply to any. I've also read that most of them don't have a lot of depth given their size and difficulty with hiring/retaining CS faculty.

Being female and the right kind of minority always helps. What are your kid's stats?

Ugh. Public School. White Male. 1560 SAT taken once. 4.3 GPA. Hardest classes available at school including 10 AP and 2 DE. Took all electives as regular grades vs. P/F (hurts gpa a bit). Full Pay. Strong ECs. Parents both college grads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interested to see if we have missed any hidden gems for future computer science majors. Where is your kid applying? We are doing top 10 from CS list plus UMD, VT.

We went through this last year for DC1. There are no hidden gems. Top ranked CS programs are very competitive. If applying to OOS publics, be aware that they only admit a very, very small portion of OOS students to their CS programs. Most are also direct admits to their CS program. Michigan is the only exception on both counts (50% OOS and anyone who wants to do CS can do so).

I've read that some Liberal Arts schools have good CS programs but we didn't apply to any. I've also read that most of them don't have a lot of depth given their size and difficulty with hiring/retaining CS faculty.

Being female and the right kind of minority always helps. What are your kid's stats?

Ugh. Public School. White Male. 1560 SAT taken once. 4.3 GPA. Hardest classes available at school including 10 AP and 2 DE. Took all electives as regular grades vs. P/F (hurts gpa a bit). Full Pay. Strong ECs. Parents both college grads.

I currently have a junior in FCPS with almost identical stats. With CS, it is my understanding that you don't have to be enrolled in the "top 10" to obtain an excellent education and well paying job. Just a great placement office and a location frequented by recruiters. Best of luck!

[Anonymous]

CU Boulder would be a safety. So would UPitt.

[Anonymous]

Colorado School of Mines?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CU Boulder would be a safety. So would UPitt.

If he doesn't get into a good program, he should get a bunch of certs if he is a US Citizen. He can meet people at conventions, coding academies, internships, hackathons, etc.-he needs team skills for code reviews, pair programming, etc. If you are both grads, he may get bonus points for "legacy" status. Just make sure if he has a weak dept he is good at independent study.

[Anonymous]

For anyone looking to combine CS and business, WashU and Lehigh have joint programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For anyone looking to combine CS and business, WashU and Lehigh have joint programs.

Also look into Berkeley's MET program.

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions.