UMD CS or UVA CS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well University of Illinois is ranked higher than Harvard, UMD, Princeton, and GT among others. Going to a school based solely on the ranking of the major seems shortsighted. I would go with overall interest in the school.

You just can't stand it that UMD > UVA for CS, can you?

One of the big problems I had with studying CS at UVA was I had to take all these useless engineering classes. At UMDCP you can focus more on CS. It's also a bigger program which has far more offerings. Anyway, sadly UMDCP is a much stronger program for CS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well University of Illinois is ranked higher than Harvard, UMD, Princeton, and GT among others. Going to a school based solely on the ranking of the major seems shortsighted. I would go with overall interest in the school.

ha ha. Yea, pick UVA over UMD, GATech, UIUC for CS. LOL. Please do it. Make room for other kids at those CS focused schools.

There is zero CS ranking where UI is ranked higher than Harvard or GATech. What are you smokin?

UIUC is top 5. It is ranked higher than GTech. Harvard is not ranked higher than UI or GTech for CS in any ranking.

Harvard is sometimes ranked lower and sometimes ranked just above UMD for CS but everyone knows that Harvard ranking has come from every advantage that Harvard has. My nephew applied to UIUC, MIT, CMU, GTech and UMD. Got into G-Tech and UMD. Chose UMD.

If OP is asking that question, I think it will be better if they pick UVA.

UIUC is always top ranked but nobody wants to go there because it's in the middle of nowhere. It's also one of those CS programs that require you take a bunch of engineering courses unrelated to CS like 1950s electrical engineering or basic Physics. This just makes it painful if you really just wanted to study CS and have no interest in outdated EE classses.

[Anonymous]

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?

I went to UVA CS. If I had known what I know now, I'd definitely gone with UMDCP. It's a much better program and is more prestigious.

If you are interested in rankings, go to csrankings.org. UMD is typically in the T15. UVA isn't ranked. UVA is a fine school for things like French Lit or Philosophy but it is not known for STEM.

Thank you for your response! It is what I am looking for: a much better program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well University of Illinois is ranked higher than Harvard, UMD, Princeton, and GT among others. Going to a school based solely on the ranking of the major seems shortsighted. I would go with overall interest in the school.

You just can't stand it that UMD > UVA for CS, can you?

One of the big problems I had with studying CS at UVA was I had to take all these useless engineering classes. At UMDCP you can focus more on CS. It's also a bigger program which has far more offerings. Anyway, sadly UMDCP is a much stronger program for CS.

Thank you, it is helpful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well University of Illinois is ranked higher than Harvard, UMD, Princeton, and GT among others. Going to a school based solely on the ranking of the major seems shortsighted. I would go with overall interest in the school.

You just can't stand it that UMD > UVA for CS, can you?

One of the big problems I had with studying CS at UVA was I had to take all these useless engineering classes. At UMDCP you can focus more on CS. It's also a bigger program which has far more offerings. Anyway, sadly UMDCP is a much stronger program for CS.

TRAITOR!

[Anonymous]

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 went through this a couple of years ago when both schools were on the list of options. DC did not like UMD the minute they set foot on campus. UVA was good enough but so-so engineering program. Eventually decided to go elsewhere. If it were between the two, I'd have encouraged them to go with UVA - Better ranking overall, in-state, pedigree, etc. Other than a highly ranked CS program, UMD is definitely not in the same tier as UVA.

If you want to reduce the cost of CS at UVA, do it through the school of arts and sciences. If I recall, their cost also goes down in later years, but I'm not sure. Check the costs over 4 years.

For DC2 (who's nowhere near DC1 in terms of academics/stats, we'd be thrilled if they got into UMD.

[Anonymous]

Re: CS.org rankings, if you sort by 2022 - 2022, UVA (and Va. Tech) is in the range of 33.

[Anonymous]

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 went through this a couple of years ago when both schools were on the list of options. DC did not like UMD the minute they set foot on campus. UVA was good enough but so-so engineering program. Eventually decided to go elsewhere. If it were between the two, I'd have encouraged them to go with UVA - Better ranking overall, in-state, pedigree, etc. Other than a highly ranked CS program, UMD is definitely not in the same tier as UVA.

If you want to reduce the cost of CS at UVA, do it through the school of arts and sciences. If I recall, their cost also goes down in later years, but I'm not sure. Check the costs over 4 years.

For DC2 (who's nowhere near DC1 in terms of academics/stats, we'd be thrilled if they got into UMD.

^^ PP again. Probably better input than mine. One other point I'd like to add.. DC1 was considering dual-majoring or minoring in a business domain so that factored into our thinking as well. If you are only focused on CS, listen to the feedback from folks that went to UVA and UMDCP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well University of Illinois is ranked higher than Harvard, UMD, Princeton, and GT among others. Going to a school based solely on the ranking of the major seems shortsighted. I would go with overall interest in the school.

ha ha. Yea, pick UVA over UMD, GATech, UIUC for CS. LOL. Please do it. Make room for other kids at those CS focused schools.

There is zero CS ranking where UI is ranked higher than Harvard or GATech. What are you smokin?

UIUC is top 5. It is ranked higher than GTech. Harvard is not ranked higher than UI or GTech for CS in any ranking.

Harvard is sometimes ranked lower and sometimes ranked just above UMD for CS but everyone knows that Harvard ranking has come from every advantage that Harvard has. My nephew applied to UIUC, MIT, CMU, GTech and UMD. Got into G-Tech and UMD. Chose UMD.

If OP is asking that question, I think it will be better if they pick UVA.

UIUC is always top ranked but nobody wants to go there because it's in the middle of nowhere. It's also one of those CS programs that require you take a bunch of engineering courses unrelated to CS like 1950s electrical engineering or basic Physics. This just makes it painful if you really just wanted to study CS and have no interest in outdated EE classses.

Not sure what you are talking about.. UIUC is a much sought-after CS program. I know a handful of kids from California that went to UIUC and are doing extremely well. A kid from Texas who co-authored a patent picked UIUC over Austin. Most college kids adapt to wherever they end up so 'middle of nowhere' is an initial filter criteria but once you are there, it doesn't really matter.

[Anonymous]

We looked at and toured both schools for CS. The schools could not be more different in feel. UMD clearly has the better CS program but the campus feel urban, diverse, busy and somewhat noisy. UVA is like stepping into the past, preppy, pretentious and the program in my view is limited but the UVA name is very well regarded and these kids get good placement too- they almost trend toward CS mgmt and UMD is CS architects. My STEM kid did not like UVAs vibe and old buildings. He was Ok with UMD (I didnt love it) but choose a different school ultimately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well University of Illinois is ranked higher than Harvard, UMD, Princeton, and GT among others. Going to a school based solely on the ranking of the major seems shortsighted. I would go with overall interest in the school.

You just can't stand it that UMD > UVA for CS, can you?

One of the big problems I had with studying CS at UVA was I had to take all these useless engineering classes. At UMDCP you can focus more on CS. It's also a bigger program which has far more offerings. Anyway, sadly UMDCP is a much stronger program for CS.

TRAITOR!

I know I kind of feel bad saying it but being in E-school was a painful exercise that didn't really benefit me. I would've personally liked a program like UMDCP that has solid CS but allows you to pursue your interests. For example, at UMDCP CS, you have to have an upper-level concentration. It's up to you to select this. So if you're into math that's fine but if you'd rather study philosophy or linguistics that's also fine. At UVA I was only able to take 4 electives over the entire 4 years. I had almost no flexibility. Also, UMDCP is ranked even higher in areas like AI or Quantum computing. Being able to work for world-class researchers in these fields is especially attractive. All that being said UVA is a wonderful school. If you are interested in McIntyre or Arts & Sciences by all means go there.

[CL20171]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well University of Illinois is ranked higher than Harvard, UMD, Princeton, and GT among others. Going to a school based solely on the ranking of the major seems shortsighted. I would go with overall interest in the school.

You just can't stand it that UMD > UVA for CS, can you?

One of the big problems I had with studying CS at UVA was I had to take all these useless engineering classes. At UMDCP you can focus more on CS. It's also a bigger program which has far more offerings. Anyway, sadly UMDCP is a much stronger program for CS.

TRAITOR!

I know I kind of feel bad saying it but being in E-school was a painful exercise that didn't really benefit me. I would've personally liked a program like UMDCP that has solid CS but allows you to pursue your interests. For example, at UMDCP CS, you have to have an upper-level concentration. It's up to you to select this. So if you're into math that's fine but if you'd rather study philosophy or linguistics that's also fine. At UVA I was only able to take 4 electives over the entire 4 years. I had almost no flexibility. Also, UMDCP is ranked even higher in areas like AI or Quantum computing. Being able to work for world-class researchers in these fields is especially attractive. All that being said UVA is a wonderful school. If you are interested in McIntyre or Arts & Sciences by all means go there.

Well said, thank you!!!

[CL20171]

Anonymous wrote:We looked at and toured both schools for CS. The schools could not be more different in feel. UMD clearly has the better CS program but the campus feel urban, diverse, busy and somewhat noisy. UVA is like stepping into the past, preppy, pretentious and the program in my view is limited but the UVA name is very well regarded and these kids get good placement too- they almost trend toward CS mgmt and UMD is CS architects. My STEM kid did not like UVAs vibe and old buildings. He was Ok with UMD (I didnt love it) but choose a different school ultimately.

Thank you for your input, it is very helpful!

[CL20171]

Anonymous wrote:If there are any chance your child is going to switch majors -as mine did - go to UVA

My child is determined: CS

[Anonymous]

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?