UMD CS or UVA CS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, with equal cost, just let your kid to chose where he or she feels they belong. Both programs are great, maybe UMD a higher ranking, but it wont matter in the end of the day if the child is not happy and going to drop it.
I have a child who is graduating from UVA engineering this year (not CS but he has a lot of friends from CS program). All CS kids from my child's group were able to get the jobs they wanted including with Google, Amazon, government military contractors, NASA, SpaceX just a few examples. All of them received these job offers at the end of last summer, almost year before their graduation. Good luck to your kid!

Why do you say it doesn't matter? Presumably, you picked UVA because of its ranking, no?

Presumably, OP's kid could pick UVA, hate it and drop out, right?

A PP who went to UVA for CS probably has better insight into UVA CS than most of us posting here since most of us didn't go to either schools for CS, including your own kid who majored in engineering and not CS.

Sure, UVA CS kids can get jobs, so can GMU CS kids. What's the difference, then?

There is not a huge difference. For a doctor, big law, finance, yes but for cs no. Op child should pick the best fit. Two great schools.

[Anonymous]

UMD

Everybody knows that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, with equal cost, just let your kid to chose where he or she feels they belong. Both programs are great, maybe UMD a higher ranking, but it wont matter in the end of the day if the child is not happy and going to drop it.
I have a child who is graduating from UVA engineering this year (not CS but he has a lot of friends from CS program). All CS kids from my child's group were able to get the jobs they wanted including with Google, Amazon, government military contractors, NASA, SpaceX just a few examples. All of them received these job offers at the end of last summer, almost year before their graduation. Good luck to your kid!

Why do you say it doesn't matter? Presumably, you picked UVA because of its ranking, no?

Presumably, OP's kid could pick UVA, hate it and drop out, right?

A PP who went to UVA for CS probably has better insight into UVA CS than most of us posting here since most of us didn't go to either schools for CS, including your own kid who majored in engineering and not CS.

Sure, UVA CS kids can get jobs, so can GMU CS kids. What's the difference, then?

There is not a huge difference. For a doctor, big law, finance, yes but for cs no. Op child should pick the best fit. Two great schools.

Doe not matter even for medical. Individual performance matter more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, with equal cost, just let your kid to chose where he or she feels they belong. Both programs are great, maybe UMD a higher ranking, but it wont matter in the end of the day if the child is not happy and going to drop it.
I have a child who is graduating from UVA engineering this year (not CS but he has a lot of friends from CS program). All CS kids from my child's group were able to get the jobs they wanted including with Google, Amazon, government military contractors, NASA, SpaceX just a few examples. All of them received these job offers at the end of last summer, almost year before their graduation. Good luck to your kid!

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, with equal cost, just let your kid to chose where he or she feels they belong. Both programs are great, maybe UMD a higher ranking, but it wont matter in the end of the day if the child is not happy and going to drop it.
I have a child who is graduating from UVA engineering this year (not CS but he has a lot of friends from CS program). All CS kids from my child's group were able to get the jobs they wanted including with Google, Amazon, government military contractors, NASA, SpaceX just a few examples. All of them received these job offers at the end of last summer, almost year before their graduation. Good luck to your kid!

Why do you say it doesn't matter? Presumably, you picked UVA because of its ranking, no?

Presumably, OP's kid could pick UVA, hate it and drop out, right?

A PP who went to UVA for CS probably has better insight into UVA CS than most of us posting here since most of us didn't go to either schools for CS, including your own kid who majored in engineering and not CS.

Sure, UVA CS kids can get jobs, so can GMU CS kids. What's the difference, then?

There is not a huge difference. For a doctor, big law, finance, yes but for cs no. Op child should pick the best fit. Two great schools.

I see. So again, then for CS why not go to GMU rather than UVA? It's cheaper, and probably easier to get into. Outcomes are the same, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMD is more serious.

Here's a basic 4-year plan for UMDCP for a CS major.

https://undergrad.cs.umd.edu/sites/undergrad.cs.umd.edu/files/images/u167/CMSC%2007010%204%20Year%20Plan.pdf

Many would place out of the first two semesters of math and possibly a semester of CS.

In addition, there are several variations on this involving specializations in machine learning or data science etc.

https://undergrad.cs.umd.edu/degree-requirements-cs-major

UVA CS was very rigid when I went there. I'm assuming it hasn't changed. We had a total of 4 electives over four years, and we're required to take 12 hours of physics, 8 hours of chem, 20 something hours of core engineering like thermo, circuits, etc, mostly stuff that has nothing to do with CS. UVA is has an amazing campus, and for most majors it's probably a better choice but for CS I'd go with MD hands down.

Actually it seems UVA CS is more rigorous. Discrete Math, Data Structure and algorithms, Algorithms, Computer Architecture, and Operating Systems are all required classes. Any one of the above could be a weed-out class. It appears at UMD you can get away with just upper level specialty electives and not take some of the above tough classes.

Either you didn't bother to look at or just being purposely deceitful. UMD lower level requirements are Programming I & II, Computer Systems, Discrete Structures, Organization of Languages and Algorithms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

CL20171 wrote:- UVA CS is $46k/yr
- UMD CS is $43k/yr with Merit.

The cost is not much difference.
Which one is better choice?
Thank you for any input?

We're kind of in the same boat so really appreciate all the inputs above.
How about throwing Pudue and VT into the comparison?
UVA CS, 46K(in-state), School rank 25, CS rank 29.
Purdue CS, 41K(OOS), School rank 51, CS rank 16.
UMD CS 49K(w/ merit), School rank 55, CS rank 16.
VT CS , 32K(in-state), School rank 62, CS rank 29.
Visited all except Purdue. DS has no real preference between the 3 visited.
Double major intended.
Tuition are in doable range range for us.
Thoughts?

In cs no one really cares where you go to school. It’s just competitive parents. The degree is what matters. All good choices. Congratulations

Right, a CS degree at MIT or CMU is the same as from Purdue or UVA. LOL

You realize that they all end up at the same companies so yes, it is just people competitive like you.

LOL You do not work in the CS field.

The vast majority of CS grads don't work for FAANG, that is true. But people in the CS industry know which CS programs are the best, and they will recruit from there.

That doesn't mean UVA CS grads can't find jobs. Of course not. But, if you want a good CS program, you go to UMD, not UVA.

UVA boosters just can't stand that UMD CS is better than UVA. It's almost pathetic to watch you all and your "both are good schools". You would never say that about other majors. UVA CS is no better than VTech. If they all end up in the same companies, then save yourself $$ and go to VTech.

I greatly enjoy my FANG spouse's pay check so I think I do know he has no issue getting a job and he went to a no name school no one has heard of. After a few years of experience, skill, degree and how you interview are equally important. Funny enough, he's never had an issue getting or keeping a job even when others couldn't. Clearly he's doing something right from his bad CS school. His crummy degree will pay for our kids to get their CS degree to paying cash for it... not to shabby.

That's interesting.. because I (PP) also went to no name, didn't even major in CS but worked for FAANG.

But, it took a lot longer to get there, and I'm thinking it did for your DH (hence the experience needed). We are outliers. The vast majority in FAANG are not from no name state university. I used to live in the Bay Area, too.

Don't know how old your DH is, but back when I worked for FAANG they had a list of acceptable colleges by degree.

Also, one of the FAANG founders went to UMD. None went to UVA. Just so you know.

If you really think it doesn't matter where you go to college for CS, then go to a C rated school and see how you do.

Again, a UVA grad in CS will be able to find a job, just a GMU grad can. So, then why not go to GMU over UVA if the outcome is the same?

A lot of his coworkers are not from fancy schools and many have degrees other than cs. I think it helps for your first job, but it also helps knowing someone who can help you get a job. Go to the school that is the best fit for the student. Skill and interviewing is also important when some companies make you do multiple interviews. We’ve had friends from good schools get turned down for similar jobs. They just did not interview well. Having a clearance helps a lot too.

Well, of course.. FAANG companies hire a lot of people with degrees other than CS.

I don't know about the other FAANGs, but I do know that the one I worked at doesn't care if you know someone there. Your resume goes in the pile, unless you have some amazing achievement that someone pointed out.. like you developed some really great stuff at your previous job or at college.

And yes, interview skills are very important. The FAANG company I worked for asked questions that tested your critical thinking skills and ability to think on the spot, unrelated to CS. These were general mental teaser type questions.

The first job also is a stepping stone to the next job, which leads to it taking longer to get to a FAANG job if you don't have that pedigree.

Most of the people I worked with went to places like Cornell, MIT, Cal... those were the ones who were hired directly. The others who went to lower tiered schools came through a circuitous route, myself included.

In any case, the vast majority of IT workers don't work for a FAANG, so yes, if you are just out for a regular IT job, it doesn't really matter where you graduated from. But, it's a lot harder and takes longer to get a job at FAANG without the pedigree of where you went to school.

Hum. You had to go the circuitous route…funny as my spouse from a no name school got hired quickly after the interviews. Never has an issue getting a job or transferring. But, sure, keep telling yourself it’s all schools. After so many years experience no one cares but you.

Because I'm probably way older than your spouse. I don't care where people went to school. Why would I? I didn't go to a great school, either. My DC is probably going in state.

But, it's not about me or your spouse. It's about the fact that generally, coming out of a great school for that major gives you a better chance to get a higher paying job. And that sets your baseline for your future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UMD is more serious.

Here's a basic 4-year plan for UMDCP for a CS major.

https://undergrad.cs.umd.edu/sites/undergrad.cs.umd.edu/files/images/u167/CMSC%2007010%204%20Year%20Plan.pdf

Many would place out of the first two semesters of math and possibly a semester of CS.

In addition, there are several variations on this involving specializations in machine learning or data science etc.

https://undergrad.cs.umd.edu/degree-requirements-cs-major

UVA CS was very rigid when I went there. I'm assuming it hasn't changed. We had a total of 4 electives over four years, and we're required to take 12 hours of physics, 8 hours of chem, 20 something hours of core engineering like thermo, circuits, etc, mostly stuff that has nothing to do with CS. UVA is has an amazing campus, and for most majors it's probably a better choice but for CS I'd go with MD hands down.

Actually it seems UVA CS is more rigorous. Discrete Math, Data Structure and algorithms, Algorithms, Computer Architecture, and Operating Systems are all required classes. Any one of the above could be a weed-out class. It appears at UMD you can get away with just upper level specialty electives and not take some of the above tough classes.

Either you didn't bother to look at or just being purposely deceitful. UMD lower level requirements are Programming I & II, Computer Systems, Discrete Structures, Organization of Languages and Algorithms.

+1 there are a lot of people posting on here who clearly aren't in CS.

You would be a fool to choose UVA over UMD for CS. But go ahead.. leave the space at UMD for more serious CS students. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Besides CS, UMD is a far superior engineering school. So even if in CS they have options in other related areas such as robotics/industrial engg etc..

+1 UVA boosters are fooling themselves.

Do CS grads from UMD make more money than CS grads from UVA? The answer is no it is pointless to have this discussion.

Overall, yes, actually, they do.

Do CS UVA grads make more than CS VA tech grads? If the answer is no then why pay $$ for UVA when VTech is so much cheaper?

Where is the evidence that UMD CS grads make more money then UVA CS grads?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, with equal cost, just let your kid to chose where he or she feels they belong. Both programs are great, maybe UMD a higher ranking, but it wont matter in the end of the day if the child is not happy and going to drop it.
I have a child who is graduating from UVA engineering this year (not CS but he has a lot of friends from CS program). All CS kids from my child's group were able to get the jobs they wanted including with Google, Amazon, government military contractors, NASA, SpaceX just a few examples. All of them received these job offers at the end of last summer, almost year before their graduation. Good luck to your kid!

Why do you say it doesn't matter? Presumably, you picked UVA because of its ranking, no?

Presumably, OP's kid could pick UVA, hate it and drop out, right?

A PP who went to UVA for CS probably has better insight into UVA CS than most of us posting here since most of us didn't go to either schools for CS, including your own kid who majored in engineering and not CS.

Sure, UVA CS kids can get jobs, so can GMU CS kids. What's the difference, then?

There is not a huge difference. For a doctor, big law, finance, yes but for cs no. Op child should pick the best fit. Two great schools.

I see. So again, then for CS why not go to GMU rather than UVA? It's cheaper, and probably easier to get into. Outcomes are the same, right?

Honestly all other things being equal (I.e. quality of the student) they probably have similar outcomes. A 1500+ SAT kid with a 4.0 GPA who goes to GMU and finishes at the top of the class would probably have their pick of jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, with equal cost, just let your kid to chose where he or she feels they belong. Both programs are great, maybe UMD a higher ranking, but it wont matter in the end of the day if the child is not happy and going to drop it.
I have a child who is graduating from UVA engineering this year (not CS but he has a lot of friends from CS program). All CS kids from my child's group were able to get the jobs they wanted including with Google, Amazon, government military contractors, NASA, SpaceX just a few examples. All of them received these job offers at the end of last summer, almost year before their graduation. Good luck to your kid!

Why do you say it doesn't matter? Presumably, you picked UVA because of its ranking, no?

Presumably, OP's kid could pick UVA, hate it and drop out, right?

A PP who went to UVA for CS probably has better insight into UVA CS than most of us posting here since most of us didn't go to either schools for CS, including your own kid who majored in engineering and not CS.

Sure, UVA CS kids can get jobs, so can GMU CS kids. What's the difference, then?

There is not a huge difference. For a doctor, big law, finance, yes but for cs no. Op child should pick the best fit. Two great schools.

I see. So again, then for CS why not go to GMU rather than UVA? It's cheaper, and probably easier to get into. Outcomes are the same, right?

You would consider many things including overall ranking/prestige and program strength/ranking

UVA and UMD are state flagships and considered peer especially for CS/STEM.

GMU is a good option but a tier below, so people tend to choose UVA/UMD even with little higher price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, with equal cost, just let your kid to chose where he or she feels they belong. Both programs are great, maybe UMD a higher ranking, but it wont matter in the end of the day if the child is not happy and going to drop it.
I have a child who is graduating from UVA engineering this year (not CS but he has a lot of friends from CS program). All CS kids from my child's group were able to get the jobs they wanted including with Google, Amazon, government military contractors, NASA, SpaceX just a few examples. All of them received these job offers at the end of last summer, almost year before their graduation. Good luck to your kid!

Why do you say it doesn't matter? Presumably, you picked UVA because of its ranking, no?

Presumably, OP's kid could pick UVA, hate it and drop out, right?

A PP who went to UVA for CS probably has better insight into UVA CS than most of us posting here since most of us didn't go to either schools for CS, including your own kid who majored in engineering and not CS.

Sure, UVA CS kids can get jobs, so can GMU CS kids. What's the difference, then?

There is not a huge difference. For a doctor, big law, finance, yes but for cs no. Op child should pick the best fit. Two great schools.

I see. So again, then for CS why not go to GMU rather than UVA? It's cheaper, and probably easier to get into. Outcomes are the same, right?

Because college is about more than graduating and getting a job making X dollars. Some kids in VA have no desire to go to GMU because its so local to NOVA and they want to go "away" to college, meet other people, live away from their parents, have big time sports, have opportunities to experience life somewhere new.

We are splitting hairs here. The kid should go to the school that appeals more in the intangibles because while UMD may be ranked better, at the end of their four years, they A. might change their major and B. even if they are making less than someone who went to UMD, its going to be a negligible amount.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, with equal cost, just let your kid to chose where he or she feels they belong. Both programs are great, maybe UMD a higher ranking, but it wont matter in the end of the day if the child is not happy and going to drop it.
I have a child who is graduating from UVA engineering this year (not CS but he has a lot of friends from CS program). All CS kids from my child's group were able to get the jobs they wanted including with Google, Amazon, government military contractors, NASA, SpaceX just a few examples. All of them received these job offers at the end of last summer, almost year before their graduation. Good luck to your kid!

Why do you say it doesn't matter? Presumably, you picked UVA because of its ranking, no?

Presumably, OP's kid could pick UVA, hate it and drop out, right?

A PP who went to UVA for CS probably has better insight into UVA CS than most of us posting here since most of us didn't go to either schools for CS, including your own kid who majored in engineering and not CS.

Sure, UVA CS kids can get jobs, so can GMU CS kids. What's the difference, then?

There is not a huge difference. For a doctor, big law, finance, yes but for cs no. Op child should pick the best fit. Two great schools.

I see. So again, then for CS why not go to GMU rather than UVA? It's cheaper, and probably easier to get into. Outcomes are the same, right?

Because college is about more than graduating and getting a job making X dollars. Some kids in VA have no desire to go to GMU because its so local to NOVA and they want to go "away" to college, meet other people, live away from their parents, have big time sports, have opportunities to experience life somewhere new.

We are splitting hairs here. The kid should go to the school that appeals more in the intangibles because while UMD may be ranked better, at the end of their four years, they A. might change their major and B. even if they are making less than someone who went to UMD, its going to be a negligible amount.

and I'm no saying at all that UVA is the choice, don't mean it to come across that way. if UMD appeals, go there. If UVA appeals, go there. This site gets way too into the weeds in these comparisons. as my DD would say "its just not that deep". Outcomes will be great at both schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2022 ranking

https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/computer-science-rankings?_sort=rank-asc

That is graduate school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, with equal cost, just let your kid to chose where he or she feels they belong. Both programs are great, maybe UMD a higher ranking, but it wont matter in the end of the day if the child is not happy and going to drop it.
I have a child who is graduating from UVA engineering this year (not CS but he has a lot of friends from CS program). All CS kids from my child's group were able to get the jobs they wanted including with Google, Amazon, government military contractors, NASA, SpaceX just a few examples. All of them received these job offers at the end of last summer, almost year before their graduation. Good luck to your kid!

Why do you say it doesn't matter? Presumably, you picked UVA because of its ranking, no?

Presumably, OP's kid could pick UVA, hate it and drop out, right?

A PP who went to UVA for CS probably has better insight into UVA CS than most of us posting here since most of us didn't go to either schools for CS, including your own kid who majored in engineering and not CS.

Sure, UVA CS kids can get jobs, so can GMU CS kids. What's the difference, then?

There is not a huge difference. For a doctor, big law, finance, yes but for cs no. Op child should pick the best fit. Two great schools.

I see. So again, then for CS why not go to GMU rather than UVA? It's cheaper, and probably easier to get into. Outcomes are the same, right?

You would consider many things including overall ranking/prestige and program strength/ranking

UVA and UMD are state flagships and considered peer especially for CS/STEM.

GMU is a good option but a tier below, so people tend to choose UVA/UMD even with little higher price.

ah.. so rankings do matter.

UVA is not high for CS or STEM. Various CS rankings show UMD is top 20 for CS. UVA is not.

So, since rankings for T20 do matter, then UMD > UVA.