Anonymous
03/03/2016 09:47
Subject: if you hire people with computer science BSes
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks to everybody! I see many promising possibilities here to investigate.
Regarding CMU: I wish he had a chance there. He is a smart kid with excellent standardized test scores and an impressive github repository for somebody his age, but he is one of those kids whose grades are consistently dragged down by their homework grade. I don't think a kid like that would have a chance at CMU. I think they would want somebody more organized.
Regarding community college: this would be a great choice for a kid who wants to go to a top school. That is not my DS. He just isn't driven.
But I am starting to see that there are schools where he can go,survive even if he will never be very organized, refine his computing skills, and get a nice job, so thank you all!
OP, I think you should be more concerned about finding a school he can keep up/survive than getting in. I know people mostly focus on "getting in" aspect of college, but keeping up can be far more difficult than getting in particularly kids who do not have good study habit. Good luck.
You are so right! That's one reason I am looking for noncompetitive schools that still have good reputable programs. His study habits are improving steadily. And his study habits are quite good if it is something he is interested in. I wish he had my self discipline, but then again I do not have his charm and charism.
Anonymous
03/03/2016 09:46
Subject: Re:if you hire people with computer science BSes
Anonymous wrote:CMU grad here. I studied Information Systems, not CS, and the acceptance rate is better there. I didn't choose it for taht reason, but because I prefer IS over CS (I prefer applied to theoretical).
I was a B student from a good public school in this area. I also had a suspension on my record, but for something that's not illegal (so not fighting or drugs). My GPA was low B's, and my SATs were above average, but not amazing. I did have excellent work experience and recommendations -- I was doing summer internships at real companies helping them with computer stuff.
CMU, at least when I was there, was a pressure cooker school so they would give you a chance, but there's a lot of work so you have to prove yourself. Both my roommates freshman year failed out. One was a straight-A student from smalltown, PA. I guess you get an A just for showing up. He finsihed the first semester with 4 Fs and 1 D.
I was willing to work, and proved myself. I even graduated early!
Not sure if it's still like that, but I encourage him to try if he really has a love for computers. I did, and I think it came through in my application, so they took a chance on me. I guess it paid off for them, as I'm doing well and am a mid-level donor as well.
Thank you for this information. My DS is really really good with computers (I work in a computer intensive research field, so I know). Maybe he does have a chance at CMU. When he enjoys what he is doing, he works very hard. But, if he is not interested, wild horses can not make him do it (he is the opposite of me here... I was always a very "good girl" who does what she is told). Maybe we'll apply just for the heck of it... But it would be a real "Hail Mary" application, and I do need some sensible backup choices.
Anonymous
03/03/2016 09:40
Subject: Re:if you hire people with computer science BSes
CMU grad here. I studied Information Systems, not CS, and the acceptance rate is better there. I didn't choose it for taht reason, but because I prefer IS over CS (I prefer applied to theoretical).
I was a B student from a good public school in this area. I also had a suspension on my record, but for something that's not illegal (so not fighting or drugs). My GPA was low B's, and my SATs were above average, but not amazing. I did have excellent work experience and recommendations -- I was doing summer internships at real companies helping them with computer stuff.
CMU, at least when I was there, was a pressure cooker school so they would give you a chance, but there's a lot of work so you have to prove yourself. Both my roommates freshman year failed out. One was a straight-A student from smalltown, PA. I guess you get an A just for showing up. He finsihed the first semester with 4 Fs and 1 D.
I was willing to work, and proved myself. I even graduated early!
Not sure if it's still like that, but I encourage him to try if he really has a love for computers. I did, and I think it came through in my application, so they took a chance on me. I guess it paid off for them, as I'm doing well and am a mid-level donor as well.
I was a B student from a good public school in this area. I also had a suspension on my record, but for something that's not illegal (so not fighting or drugs). My GPA was low B's, and my SATs were above average, but not amazing. I did have excellent work experience and recommendations -- I was doing summer internships at real companies helping them with computer stuff.
CMU, at least when I was there, was a pressure cooker school so they would give you a chance, but there's a lot of work so you have to prove yourself. Both my roommates freshman year failed out. One was a straight-A student from smalltown, PA. I guess you get an A just for showing up. He finsihed the first semester with 4 Fs and 1 D.
I was willing to work, and proved myself. I even graduated early!
Not sure if it's still like that, but I encourage him to try if he really has a love for computers. I did, and I think it came through in my application, so they took a chance on me. I guess it paid off for them, as I'm doing well and am a mid-level donor as well.
Anonymous
03/03/2016 09:34
Subject: Re:if you hire people with computer science BSes
BTW I hire people with HS diplomas that are self taught and I hire people that went to computer learning center type of programs. They generally start as help desk employees and work their way up.
Customer service skills are a key, an engineer that can talk to people is highly marketable (wait tables or work at a bank... learn to deal with irate people)
Also, information technology is a good way to go, a little less science and more business.
Customer service skills are a key, an engineer that can talk to people is highly marketable (wait tables or work at a bank... learn to deal with irate people)
Also, information technology is a good way to go, a little less science and more business.
Anonymous
03/03/2016 09:27
Subject: if you hire people with computer science BSes
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks to everybody! I see many promising possibilities here to investigate.
Regarding CMU: I wish he had a chance there. He is a smart kid with excellent standardized test scores and an impressive github repository for somebody his age, but he is one of those kids whose grades are consistently dragged down by their homework grade. I don't think a kid like that would have a chance at CMU. I think they would want somebody more organized.
Regarding community college: this would be a great choice for a kid who wants to go to a top school. That is not my DS. He just isn't driven.
But I am starting to see that there are schools where he can go,survive even if he will never be very organized, refine his computing skills, and get a nice job, so thank you all!
OP, I think you should be more concerned about finding a school he can keep up/survive than getting in. I know people mostly focus on "getting in" aspect of college, but keeping up can be far more difficult than getting in particularly kids who do not have good study habit. Good luck.
Anonymous
03/03/2016 09:20
Subject: if you hire people with computer science BSes
OP here. Thanks to everybody! I see many promising possibilities here to investigate.
Regarding CMU: I wish he had a chance there. He is a smart kid with excellent standardized test scores and an impressive github repository for somebody his age, but he is one of those kids whose grades are consistently dragged down by their homework grade. I don't think a kid like that would have a chance at CMU. I think they would want somebody more organized.
Regarding community college: this would be a great choice for a kid who wants to go to a top school. That is not my DS. He just isn't driven.
But I am starting to see that there are schools where he can go,survive even if he will never be very organized, refine his computing skills, and get a nice job, so thank you all!
Regarding CMU: I wish he had a chance there. He is a smart kid with excellent standardized test scores and an impressive github repository for somebody his age, but he is one of those kids whose grades are consistently dragged down by their homework grade. I don't think a kid like that would have a chance at CMU. I think they would want somebody more organized.
Regarding community college: this would be a great choice for a kid who wants to go to a top school. That is not my DS. He just isn't driven.
But I am starting to see that there are schools where he can go,survive even if he will never be very organized, refine his computing skills, and get a nice job, so thank you all!
Anonymous
03/03/2016 07:54
Subject: if you hire people with computer science BSes
He can do community college, get As, then transfer into the good school.... Upenn, Columbia, gtech, Princeton,..
Anonymous
03/03/2016 07:32
Subject: if you hire people with computer science BSes
Anonymous wrote:OP, we received this guide in the mail. Send off for it. You got to be in it to win it!
https://www.collegexpress.com/science-colleges
DC also received the magazine, Science and Engineering Colleges and Universities. It's pretty good and gave DC other colleges to look at for CS. There's also a good article about majoring in CS. I'm not sure how they got our address (probably from the College Board) but it's one of the few mass mailings that has been beneficial.
Anonymous
03/02/2016 20:59
Subject: Re:if you hire people with computer science BSes
Umbc, jmu, Elon, odu
Anonymous
03/02/2016 20:43
Subject: Re:if you hire people with computer science BSes
Anonymous wrote:Re: Salisbury. A friend's son graduated from there about 2-3 years ago with a CS degree. Has done very well with a huge company in CA.
Yes, if you want a job in high tech, but didn't go to a top univ, go out to SV. Many companies will hire CS degrees from B State Univ.
Anonymous
03/02/2016 20:37
Subject: Re:if you hire people with computer science BSes
Re: Salisbury. A friend's son graduated from there about 2-3 years ago with a CS degree. Has done very well with a huge company in CA.
Anonymous
03/02/2016 20:08
Subject: if you hire people with computer science BSes
Here are the current stats from the CMU website.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yes, but not impossible.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I recommended Carnegie Mellon because my nephew was admitted with a B/B+ average, 2250 SAT, unhooked, and a powerhouse in math and sciences. Humanities was his Achilles heel but I guess CMU overlooked it.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I don't hire but what about Carnegie Mellon?
Carnegie Mellon isn't a school for B students. I was going to say Pitt instead, but the average weighted GPA of this fall's entering class was 3.98.
Maybe George Mason or Temple?
The computer science at CM is very tough to get into.
CMU will be very very difficult for a B student - how about VTech, UMD, Penn State, Pitt, WVa, UMBC. Mason and Temple recommendation is a good one too.
I'd say impossible. The acceptance rate into the School of Computer Science at CMU is about 6% (2012 Statistics: 5071 applicants, 345 admitted, 138 enrolled).
http://admission.enrollment.cmu.edu/pages/undergraduate-admission-statistics
Anonymous
03/02/2016 19:59
Subject: Re:if you hire people with computer science BSes
My godson is a student perhaps like your son, B student, but with excellent math but not verbal SATs. He ended up at Rochester Institute of TEchnology (RIT) and has loved it, done great, and already has had wonderful internships (paid!) at good companies, and a job offer for post graduation already (he is now a senior).
Anonymous
03/02/2016 19:53
Subject: if you hire people with computer science BSes
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yes, but not impossible.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I recommended Carnegie Mellon because my nephew was admitted with a B/B+ average, 2250 SAT, unhooked, and a powerhouse in math and sciences. Humanities was his Achilles heel but I guess CMU overlooked it.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I don't hire but what about Carnegie Mellon?
Carnegie Mellon isn't a school for B students. I was going to say Pitt instead, but the average weighted GPA of this fall's entering class was 3.98.
Maybe George Mason or Temple?
The computer science at CM is very tough to get into.
CMU will be very very difficult for a B student - how about VTech, UMD, Penn State, Pitt, WVa, UMBC. Mason and Temple recommendation is a good one too.
I'd say impossible. The acceptance rate into the School of Computer Science at CMU is about 6% (2012 Statistics: 5071 applicants, 345 admitted, 138 enrolled).
Anonymous
03/02/2016 19:49
Subject: if you hire people with computer science BSes
Anonymous wrote:I don't hire but what about Carnegie Mellon?
CMU has about a 5-10% acceptance rate for CS; it only get top students.
I'd suggest UMBC. Good program, not super hard to get into. I've hired a lot of UMBC grads and they've been very good.