Please suggest college for comp sci major for below average student

[Anonymous]

GPA is about 3.1. SAT about 1150. Class rank in the lower 50%. Any colleges where comp sci isn't a competitive major? He wants to do comp sci (but note his grades in related HS classes are C's). All ideas appreciated. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

He probably won’t hack it but most LACs don’t make majors competitive to get into so I’d look into some ranked 75-125. Otherwise, maybe George Mason?

[Anonymous]

I was going to say GMU too.
Or maybe you want to do NOVA Community College track that has the guaranteed placement to UVA or VTech after your two years at NOVA. It's a good deal.

[Anonymous]

What state? GMU (very good) and ODU (good) in VA. UMBC in MD. Any state flagship will have a decent program.

[Anonymous]

UMBC?

[Anonymous]

Roanoke College
University of Lynchburg
Longwood
Radford
High Point
WVU

[Anonymous]

He should start with community college and then transfer. Smaller classes. Professors who are focused on teaching. Transfer agreements with 4 year institutions.

[Anonymous]

Longwood?

[Anonymous]

GMU is an awesome college for comp sci, and is also a good school to get internships in the field. Don’t let his grades discourage his passion. A lot of well known tech gurus didn’t do well in HS. The founder of Napster went to Oakton and Chantilly HS, and didn’t attend college. It is known fact that most tech people have ADD or ADHD.

[Anonymous]

University of Mary Washington has computer science and he can do a 5th yr masters program via VT.

Honestly, for the people saying GMU, the com sci program is very rigorous and OP's kid will be lost in a crowd of kids who are stronger students. OP's student would be better off in a com sci program that has much smaller classes and more faculty interaction. Please check out UMW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:University of Mary Washington has computer science and he can do a 5th yr masters program via VT.

Honestly, for the people saying GMU, the com sci program is very rigorous and OP's kid will be lost in a crowd of kids who are stronger students. OP's student would be better off in a com sci program that has much smaller classes and more faculty interaction. Please check out UMW.

+1 or go ODU if they insist on a large school.

[Anonymous]

Cornell College
Luther College
U. Puget Sound
Earlham
Whitman

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cornell College
Luther College
U. Puget Sound
Earlham
Whitman

WTH? Kind of random.

[Anonymous]

There are some good ideas here. But I recommend that your student look in detail at the curriculum required at the universities for CS majors. Most require (for the major, as part of the college curriculum) some level of calculus, linear algebra, discrete mathematics and sometimes two semesters of a lab science. Has your student taken CS classes? Do they like math well enough? I say this not to discourage, but just to prepare. And the requirements vary between schools and sometimes between a BA and BS at the same school.

Also, maybe look at Elon. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

This kid does not have a chance at GMU. What kind of stuff are you all smoking?