Public schools CS major

[Anonymous]

Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, UIUC, Georgia Tech, UT, UMich, UMD, UW...

I heard the classes are really large and that there are a lot of international students competing for resources and internships — is that true?

[Anonymous]

Uh, why don't we start with your kid's stats? like where do you live in-state? GPA? test scores? ECs? Some of the schools you listed are almost impossible to get into for CS.

Are you aware the market for CS grads has tanked?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, UIUC, Georgia Tech, UT, UMich, UMD, UW...

I heard the classes are really large and that there are a lot of international students competing for resources and internships — is that true?

Large 400-level classes at UMD. Typically 75-150. Dont think internships are necessarily competitive with classmates. Most get leads via handshake or github. CS isn't for the faint of heart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, UIUC, Georgia Tech, UT, UMich, UMD, UW...

I heard the classes are really large and that there are a lot of international students competing for resources and internships — is that true?

Yes, especially for the UC's. Intro to CS is a 1200 person class at UCB and the professors suggest streaming it from your room. And, don't bother arguing, I just hired a kid from there last month and he is the second one on my team. The class environment doesn't improve, the courses are hard, kids very competitive, and curves are the norm. If you can code internships aren't hard to find in the valley, you just need to be a go getter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, UIUC, Georgia Tech, UT, UMich, UMD, UW...

I heard the classes are really large and that there are a lot of international students competing for resources and internships — is that true?

Yes, especially for the UC's. Intro to CS is a 1200 person class at UCB and the professors suggest streaming it from your room. And, don't bother arguing, I just hired a kid from there last month and he is the second one on my team. The class environment doesn't improve, the courses are hard, kids very competitive, and curves are the norm. If you can code internships aren't hard to find in the valley, you just need to be a go getter.

Thank you! Would it help if my kid has already taken several AP-level classes — for example, to graduate in three years?

[Anonymous]

Purdue and UMass are on par with all those above

[Anonymous]

It is slightly harder for international students to compete for internships because they need Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization. Most companies don't want to deal with CPT when domestic undergraduates are aplenty. And it doesn't matter if your child goes to a large public or a small private from an internship point of view since internship ads are online where everybody can apply wherever they're from.

[Anonymous]

Does location make a difference? For example, are schools like Berkeley, UCLA, and UCSD on the West Coast considered easier or more preferred for internships because they’re closer to many companies?

[Anonymous]

My kid at Michigan Data Science and yes classes are big. However he really likes his major.

Michigan profs overall good in CS. Core Classes well-structured with lots of labs, office hours, peer tutors available. Most classes have videos of lectures as an option. He also has classes in statistics department and it’s also tough going but he finds the teachers skilled and accessible in his classes of 40 students. APs and community college classes are really not the equivalent of the Michigan classes. The university is starting to close the door on transfer credits but it’s not clear what will be disallowed.

Grading is tough and on a forced curve in core CS classes. Tests can have ugly means and medians in the 70ies or much lower. However the system of lots of support makes kids feel like they’ve got a support network for these tough classes. Profs usually curve up at the end of the year.

So overall we’re happy with Michigan but it’s definitely not what I envisioned. But if he getting his head stuffed with CS and statistics it’s a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, UIUC, Georgia Tech, UT, UMich, UMD, UW...

I heard the classes are really large and that there are a lot of international students competing for resources and internships — is that true?

What exactly is the ask here? Yes, classes in the intro classes can be large - like 1400 people at the UCs. Yes, everything is super competitive in this major at these schools. Yes, lots of international students.

But these are among the best schools in the world for CS. It's going to be a grind for everyone that chooses this major at these schools. And the job market is not great at this moment for CS majors, even from the top schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, UIUC, Georgia Tech, UT, UMich, UMD, UW...

I heard the classes are really large and that there are a lot of international students competing for resources and internships — is that true?

What exactly is the ask here? Yes, classes in the intro classes can be large - like 1400 people at the UCs. Yes, everything is super competitive in this major at these schools. Yes, lots of international students.

But these are among the best schools in the world for CS. It's going to be a grind for everyone that chooses this major at these schools. And the job market is not great at this moment for CS majors, even from the top schools.

You have to be kidding me? 1,400 students in one class at UC's? That can't be true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, UIUC, Georgia Tech, UT, UMich, UMD, UW...

I heard the classes are really large and that there are a lot of international students competing for resources and internships — is that true?

Mostly true. Exceptions will exist for particular courses.

VT, UVa, and W&M each limit undergraduate OOS to roughly 1/3 of the class. After admitting US students who are OOS, fewer undergrads will be international students.

At the graduate level, US colleges are flooded with international applicants because a Masters degree is needed to get an immigrant work visa after graduation.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand how you can get into a limiterd-enrollment CS program these days and take intro classes when you arrive. I thought these programs were ultra-competitive for admissions? Are the intro classes for URMs/FGLIs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, UIUC, Georgia Tech, UT, UMich, UMD, UW...

I heard the classes are really large and that there are a lot of international students competing for resources and internships — is that true?

What exactly is the ask here? Yes, classes in the intro classes can be large - like 1400 people at the UCs. Yes, everything is super competitive in this major at these schools. Yes, lots of international students.

But these are among the best schools in the world for CS. It's going to be a grind for everyone that chooses this major at these schools. And the job market is not great at this moment for CS majors, even from the top schools.

You have to be kidding me? 1,400 students in one class at UC's? That can't be true.

Actually, Data Science at Berkeley is closer to 2000 students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how you can get into a limiterd-enrollment CS program these days and take intro classes when you arrive. I thought these programs were ultra-competitive for admissions? Are the intro classes for URMs/FGLIs?

You might be able to get credit for AP CS-A or Calc BC, but most students still need to take intro classes.