I just got into CU , which was totally unexpected since I was intended on going to UMD ( I didnt think I was gonna get in CU lol)
I would like some advice on choosing between these two schools. My mom really wants me to go to UMD ( closer to home and name brand cs) tho. However, I still want to do my research and pick the one thats best for me. I am going to see both schools next week.
Can anyone give me some advice?
CU is great price wise, while UMD I may have to take out a loan. My mom is willing to take out the loan to keep me close lol…
I value jobs/ opportunities/ internships outcomes for both schools and would like to hear some opinions. I don’t really mind the social aspect of both schools, just want a school that can prep me up in the future.
Don’t know anything about Cooper Union. But UMD CS does claim a very high placement rate.
There is also a very detailed graduate survey. When a school is this forthcoming, I trust their outcomes are very good. They do veer towards defence and banks for placement.
Have you visited? Cooper Union is a very special, somewhat quirky “fit” school. I think UMD with a much bigger student population and wide variety of disciplines is less of a “fit” school- I don’t know a single kid who didn’t find their people there.
Cooper Union has a tremendous reputation, but it is not a rah rah “work hard play hard” environment. Definitely a work hard place; kids take advantage of NYC, do all sorts of cool EC’s and activities, but not a traditional “let’s go to the football game and tailgate” environment.
Agree with @blossom . I know students who attended UMD and Cooper Union and they have done well and had great experiences. But they are two very different schools. UMD will give you a traditional college experience at an ecxellent large public university. Cooper Union is a small non-traditional school in the heart of NYC. Seeing them back to back is great and I expect one will stand out to you as the right fit. Congrats on having two great options.
If you have time, come back to CC with your thoughts on the two schools and your choice.
Founded in 1859 as The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art, it is a place of great historic significance. I encourage you to read about its history.
Peter Cooper’s vision was that it would provide free higher education to all who qualified independent of race, religion, wealth, sex, or social status. This was before the Civil War! CU continued to offer free tuition for more than a century and a half after its founding.
Established before the Civil War and the sprawling land grant colleges which followed, it was built as part of the city which surrounded it. So, you will not find anything resembling a campus there. Nor will you find much in the way of dorms although there is limited housing. Historically its students were commuters - as was the tradition at New York City colleges for a very long time.
What you will find is a superb education in art, architecture, and engineering. Of its tiny enrollment of 900, about 2/3 are engineers. It couldn’t be more different from the University of Maryland!
Located in the part of Manhattan which was New York City back in the mid 19th century, it is within walking distance of a number of other historic institutions of higher education. Its East Village location is only a few blocks from NYU. Only a few blocks farther north are Mannes School of Music and Parsons School of Design, both now part of the New School in the West Village. Cardozo Law School is in the same neighborhood. My point is that as small as Cooper Union is, it is in a neighborhood with lots of other college students, and many of them hang out in the same places.
As others have said, it’s a unique place, very different from almost any other college you’ve seen. You’ll probably know right away if it had your vibe or not. Enjoy your visit.
Hey everyone, Just got back from both visits and I liked UMD much more. The purple line running through campus was so cool and I definitely saw myself going there. Everyone was very friendly and the food was SO GOOD. Their CS program is much more structured and had a good support system. I can even graduate in 3 years if I want to with the amount of credits I have.
Cooper was great too, but I don’t know if I can see myself being in the city for the next 4 years lol. I still love NYC for a short vacation!
They said I could only do one specialization track, but I could take up a wide variety of minors like data science, which is already a track. They also have a new AI major coming 2026/2027 so we will see if I will be interested in that !
