Anonymous
03/03/2025 18:05
Subject: UMD CS or UVA CS?
Your kid’s not getting into UVA. UMD will be fine.
Anonymous
03/03/2025 13:38
Subject: UMD CS or UVA CS?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How does UMD CS OOS vs Virginia Tech CS in-state compare? IS it similar to that of UMD vs UVA?
For in state, I'd go with VTech. FWIW, my magnet kid who is a dual math/cs major at UMD with merit (in state) thought about Vtech but not UVA.
My CS kid at UMD applied to UVA (WL) and WM (accepted) but had no interest in Tech. Funny.
Anonymous
03/03/2025 13:33
Subject: Re:UMD CS or UVA CS?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My DS got into both schools for CS last year. He ultimately chose UVA, even though I wanted him to go to UMD since it’s closer to home. They’re both good schools, and there isn’t a significant difference between the two programs that I’ve seen besides a few places here and there in rankings. One of the few things I’ll note is that UVA’s CS curriculum was recently redesigned, and it seems to have more requirements than UMD’s. (For example, UVA BSCS requires two semesters of software development/engineering courses.) At the end of the day, they’re both good schools and fine choices for CS.
Even before the redesign, UVA has more core requirements in tough classes -- operating systems and a higher level algorithms.
maybe it will take time for that redesign to reflect in the standings, but UVA CS is not as highly regarded as UMD CS, both nationally and internationally.
Anonymous
03/03/2025 13:29
Subject: UMD CS or UVA CS?
Anonymous wrote:How does UMD CS OOS vs Virginia Tech CS in-state compare? IS it similar to that of UMD vs UVA?
For in state, I'd go with VTech. FWIW, my magnet kid who is a dual math/cs major at UMD with merit (in state) thought about Vtech but not UVA.
Anonymous
03/03/2025 13:25
Subject: UMD CS or UVA CS?
UVA is a great school with a pretty good CS program and UMD is a pretty good school with a great CS program. They are not very similar schools; they should go wherever they will enjoy their experience more and get the most out of it. The difference in the degrees they’ll get shouldn’t be the deciding factor in this case. That said, if they’re not set on CS UVA might give better alternative options.
Anonymous
03/03/2025 07:31
Subject: UMD CS or UVA CS?
Any of GMU, UMCP, UMBC, UVa, or VT will be fine if a BS in CS. My workplace no longer hires BA CS from any college based on negative experience with such new grads in the recent past.
Also, for CS particularly, the student’s choices for upper-level in-major electives will have much more impact on DC’s job/career options than the college attended.
Web programmers are in surplus. CS grads with knowledge of OS/network internals are in shortage. ARM assembly will have longer term value than x86. Take at least one cybersecurity course. Learn C programming and get comfortable using UNIX (Linux is ok). My guess is that AI will be in surplus soon if it is not yet in surplus.
Pick the college with best overall fit for DC.
Also, for CS particularly, the student’s choices for upper-level in-major electives will have much more impact on DC’s job/career options than the college attended.
Web programmers are in surplus. CS grads with knowledge of OS/network internals are in shortage. ARM assembly will have longer term value than x86. Take at least one cybersecurity course. Learn C programming and get comfortable using UNIX (Linux is ok). My guess is that AI will be in surplus soon if it is not yet in surplus.
Pick the college with best overall fit for DC.
Anonymous
03/02/2025 23:31
Subject: UMD CS or UVA CS?
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 $$ and go to VTech.
UMD is better for our child and that is the point? Why, because we are in-state and we have a pre-paid college fund so it's fully covered with extra for graduate school.
You are fooling yourself to think it's just about school branding. Maybe in the olden days but not now.
If all things being equal, I'd go with the one our child thinks would be the best fit.
Anonymous
03/03/2023 07:00
Subject: Re:UMD CS or UVA CS?
Anonymous wrote:40k for 4 years not every year
UVA instate tuition is crazy lol
Anonymous
03/02/2023 22:42
Subject: Re:UMD CS or UVA CS?
40k for 4 years not every year
Anonymous
03/02/2023 22:42
Subject: Re:UMD CS or UVA CS?
UMD with $40k year scholarship for 4 years or Vtech/uva no aid ?
We are Virginia residents
We are Virginia residents
Anonymous
03/02/2023 22:21
Subject: UMD CS or UVA CS?
How does UMD CS OOS vs Virginia Tech CS in-state compare? IS it similar to that of UMD vs UVA?
Anonymous
02/26/2023 13:32
Subject: UMD CS or UVA CS?
Anonymous wrote:Well MD CS may not be as prestigious as you think based on [b]Niche and before you shoot the messenger please read their methodology page. For the record I think both are great options.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Besides CS, UMD is a far superior engineering school. So even if in CS they have options in other related areas such as robotics/industrial engg etc..
+1 UVA boosters are fooling themselves.
Do CS grads from UMD make more money than CS grads from UVA? The answer is no it is pointless to have this discussion.
Overall, yes, actually, they do.
Do CS UVA grads make more than CS VA tech grads? If the answer is no then why pay $$ for UVA when VTech is so much cheaper?
According to statistics they do and yes it does matter where you go to it has an impact on your lifetime earnings.
Ok. statistics are based on those who self-report so many don't self-report. We'd never report that kind of information. Both are excellent schools and OP should be proud. The decision should be personality based off the campus and what the school has to offer.
Then any metric that looks at earnings is questionable.
No, both are not excellent schools for CS. Only UMD is T20. UVA is not. That makes it fine, but not excellent for CS.
Some people like urban areas, and some don't. So why would UVA be better when it's in the middle of nowhere?[/quote
1) UVA is a great value when in-state Virginian
2) UVA is ranked 25 by USNWR for best national universities. UMD is 55.
3) UVA is ranked no. 3 for public universities in America. UMD is 19.
4) Charlottesville is a great town - lots of fun things to do. Great restaurants. Easy to get around. Easy train to D.C.
So if your child might change majors (mine did), go with UVA. The math is tough, BTW.
I guess if you are not sure if your child can hack CS degree then UVA makes sense. But if your kid wants a more prestigious CS school, pick UMD.
Anonymous
02/26/2023 13:21
Subject: UMD CS or UVA CS?
Just about every Big Ten school is better at STEM than Uva.
Anonymous
02/26/2023 13:19
Subject: UMD CS or UVA CS?
Anonymous wrote:Well MD CS may not be as prestigious as you think based on Niche and before you shoot the messenger please read their methodology page. For the record I think both are great options.
At my Amazon AWS SWE division, there are people who graduated from UVA and UMD, and they are very capable people. Interestingly, our boss graduated from GMU and his boss graduated from JMU. Based on this, I assume that GMU and JMU are better than UVA and UMD, no?
Anonymous
02/26/2023 13:12
Subject: UMD CS or UVA CS?
Well MD CS may not be as prestigious as you think based on Niche and before you shoot the messenger please read their methodology page. For the record I think both are great options.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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?
According to statistics they do and yes it does matter where you go to it has an impact on your lifetime earnings.
Ok. statistics are based on those who self-report so many don't self-report. We'd never report that kind of information. Both are excellent schools and OP should be proud. The decision should be personality based off the campus and what the school has to offer.
Then any metric that looks at earnings is questionable.
No, both are not excellent schools for CS. Only UMD is T20. UVA is not. That makes it fine, but not excellent for CS.
Some people like urban areas, and some don't. So why would UVA be better when [b]it's in the middle of nowhere?[/quote
1) UVA is a great value when in-state Virginian
2) UVA is ranked 25 by USNWR for best national universities. UMD is 55.
3) UVA is ranked no. 3 for public universities in America. UMD is 19.
4) Charlottesville is a great town - lots of fun things to do. Great restaurants. Easy to get around. Easy train to D.C.
So if your child might change majors (mine did), go with UVA. The math is tough, BTW.
I guess if you are not sure if your child can hack CS degree then UVA makes sense. But if your kid wants a more prestigious CS school, pick UMD.