sharjil333

I am planning on getting my undergrad in Computer Science or Computer Engineering. I know that the best choices would be Michigan Ann-Arbor or Michigan State. However, they are pricey and I may want to pursue medical school after undergrad, and I know that getting a good GPA is important. So between U of M Dearborn and Wayne State, both of which offer full-tuition scholarships, which one would be the better engineering school. How competitive would Lawrence Tech or Oakland be with these programs in comparative difficulty and reputation? (I realize that none of them will be "easy," but I heard getting above a 3.5 at Ann Arbor is almost impossible)

ucbalumnus

Accredited Program Search can help you find ABET accredited computer engineering and computer science degree programs. While ABET accreditation is not considered essential for these majors (some very good degree programs are not ABET accredited), it does indicate meeting a reasonable baseline level of quality (so it excludes very bad degree programs in these subjects).

ucbalumnus

National Trends in Grade Inflation, American Colleges and Universities can give some idea of grading at various universities (see list of universities at the bottom).

mom2collegekids

What are your stats? GPA? SAT/ACT score? What is your M+CR SAT?

If you can get a large scholarship OOS would that be ok??? Or must it be a Mich school?

BeanTownGirl

For whatever that is worth, Dearborn seemed to be higher ranked overall and for engineering according to US News.

sharjil333

My GPA weighted is 4.175, unweighted 3.95. My ACT composite is a 33.

I want to stay in Michigan, so that I can either transfer to U of M Ann-Arbor for the last two years and get my MS from there, or I may take pre-med courses and try to enter medical school.

ucbalumnus

From the ABET accreditation listings, the following schools in Michigan have ABET accreditation in both computer science and computer engineering:

Grand Valley State University
Kettering University (private)
Michigan State University
Oakland University
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
University of Michigan - Dearborn
Western Michigan University

For computer engineering only:

Lake Superior State University
Lawrence Technological University (private)
Michigan Technological University

For computer science only:

Calvin College (private)

sharjil333

Would you say UM Dearborn or Wayne State?

ucbalumnus

University of Michigan - Dearborn has ABET accreditation in both of your majors, while Wayne State has it for neither. So University of Michigan - Dearborn is a safer choice for your majors.

Here are the computer science course listings, if you want to compare them:

University of Michigan - Dearborn: College of Engineering & Computer Science
Computer Science Courses (CSC)

sharjil333

Do you know any differences in reputation or difficulty between the two?

ucbalumnus

You should ask students or employers in your area about your question.

Published information at University of Michigan - Dearborn Overview - CollegeData College Profile and Wayne State University Overview - CollegeData College Profile indicates that Dearborn is somewhat more selective (higher GPA and ACT ranges), and has a higher 6-year graduation rate (49% versus 26%, presumably reflective of admissions selectivity; however, if you are a good enough student to get a huge merit scholarship at either school, you are much more likely than the average student to graduate, and in 4 years). Wayne is about three times as large.