When I read that, I was thinking otherwise - in the sense the Raikes program might give more avenues.
Am I off in that thought? They talk about 4 key areas - CS, Data Science, Innovation, and Business.
They state this - but I was hopeful to find actual positions. I put a link to “partners” below - not sure if those are hiring firms.
I also put a recent article from the school newpspaer.
OP - if it were me, I’d ask the school for outcomes beyond the stats - job titles, organizations, and locations. My hunch is - the “outcomes” will be different in this regard than the UIUC.
I’m not sure I agree with going to UIUC because of a weakened economy. I’m personally not sure it’s the stronger choice. My belief is that it’s a different choice.
We let our numbers do the talking.
Raikes School students graduate with experience that puts them ahead of the average college graduate by two years.
100% of graduates have a job or are accepted into graduate school within three months of graduation
90% of Raikes School students have at least three internships
$104,200 average starting base salary of recent graduates
I am not a technology expert. But I will ask, what is it that you want to do for your career? What is it that interests you?
If the CS field is really what you’re passionate about, even if there’s a CS bust like there was around 2001 or so, then that tells you something important.
If, however, you’re interested in CS because it’s been a hot field with steady, well-paid employment for well over a decade, but you’re not necessarily that passionate about CS as a field in and of itself, then that tells you something different.
My guess is that if the CS field is busting and you’re determined that it’s the field for you, that UIUC’s CS program might be the better fit. If you’re more interested in a lucrative position and don’t care how much CS is involved with the position, then the Raikes program might be a better fit.
UIUC’s CS program is definitely the reputational winner in CS over UNL. But UNL does offer through a doctorate in CS, so if you are passionate about CS, I would certainly investigate UNL’s areas that are offered at upper and grad levels and whether you would be eligible to take them as an undergrad.
Additionally, you may want to think about your long-term goals. There’s more than a $100k delta between the two options for you. Do you have any desire to do something entrepreneurial? Would $100k in funding make a difference in being able to start your own company?
As I said earlier, I think that both programs are great, and you should be proud of having both of them as options. Just wanted to ask some additional questions that might help you as you deliberate on what choice to make.
I admit I haven’t done any LinkedIn or Google searches, so my perspective is limited to my firsthand experience.
The CS job market has tightened considerably in the past two years. The most desirable employers have far fewer internship and new grad roles than they previously had. In this environment, strength of program is very important because not everyone who passes the initial online coding challenge will be invited to the next round - there are far too many candidates applying to these roles. UIUC has an internationally renowned CS program, and hiring managers recognize this. If they can only invite one candidate to the next round, and they have to pick between a UIUC student and a student from College X which is very good, but not in the same tier, they’ll invite the UIUC student because there’s a presumption that s/he has a much stronger foundation and depth of knowledge. I agree this may be unfair, but in a tight job market, that’s how it works.
None of this means that the UNL grad won’t land a good internship or full time role. There are still plenty of CS opportunities out there despite the tightening. However, it will be much harder to get a foot in at the most sought after employers.
This is just one way to evaluate the two schools. I agree that OP needs to consider multiple factors before making a decision that works best for them.
Yeah this is where I stumble and @AustenNut brought up - is CS the true goal? By that I mean love.
I see it as a heads you win, tails you win case.
Each Raikes had 3 internships whereas most college students, even of high pedigree programs, don’t. Clearly its rep supersedes the school. Op noted this up front with theur comments.
But that’s where I think op needs to be honest - strip out rank and pedigree of either.
UIUC is a pure CS program whereas Raikes is a tech heavy business management program.
While UIUC is a world class CS program, you need to fully consider the negatives that you have identified.
Both programs lead to solid employment prospects, however, in different types of positions. Do you want to be a pure CS/quant jock or a business leader in management ?
The cost difference suggests that you can afford an extra year if you so desire at UNL to earn a second BA/BS or a master’s degree.
You need to understand yourself and your vision of your future professional life as these programs lead to different types of careers.
I concur with this post that housing isn’t bad as the OP thinks. Yes, freshmen dorms at PAR/FAR looks older that ISR. But the rooms are generally all the same. Dorms are generally for freshman year. Most students then move into private housing beginning Sophomore year. The apartment options are vast, modern, and affordable in my opinion. Lots of options esp near Engineering campus. My youngest is a CS major and lived at PAR his first year. He survived. He could have chosen private dorm option like his local HS peers, but he didn’t want to even if the private was supposedly going to be “better.” He did not have any regrets.
I don’t know anything about the other college you are considering. UIUC also has a good bus system that is free.
I concur with this post too about UIUC is pure CS, more theory based. (At least that is what I am told, lol.). I can’t give any info about CS classes, bc I am not knowledgeable about them in depth. Youngest son have navigated all on his own. The things I am aware of:
the number of students in the major is fairly low (fewer than 500 per grade?). Even if there is a waitlist for a CS classes, the college seems to figure out how to get them off the waitlist before the semester starts.
there is no hand holding through things. It is the students responsibility.
there are lots of opportunities out of classes to get hands on experience - clubs of all kind where they work directly with companies.
Research Park also offers internship opportunities with companies during the school year and summers.
the college does not hold students hands to land internships. It’s the student’s responsibility. However, mine has landed 2 internships on his own (a part time 6 months one during this fall/spring school year and another full time for this summer). My child thinks the technicals he has to go through during the interviews are way harder than the classes.
there are some required Gen Ed classes all UIUC have to take - check out the school’s website. I believe he was able to apply a lot of the HS AP classes to meet the gen ed classes though.
He will have all his undergrad requirements for his major and gen ed by the end of this semester (3rd year). UIUC offers a one year MS in CS for current CS major students which they can apply entering their 3rd year to start in the 4th year.
500 is still a fairly large major. However, it is presumed that UIUC limits enrollment in the CS major (and */CS and CS+X majors) to keep the numbers within its capacity to instruct, so that CS majors can get into CS classes that they need. Since that capacity limit is smaller than the number of interested and capable students, that means that admission to the CS major is extra competitive.
OP - I forgot to post this before. When I looked into the CS program at UNL this summary of highlighted outcomes while good doesn’t compare well with the typical outcomes for a UIUC CS grad. If, as you say, you are interested in a high paying tech career Raikes looks like a high risk low reward option.
OP is seeking a CS career and Raikes just seems like a watered down CS degree with presumably lower CS cred. This is a big decision and from my pov Raikes just seems like a super risky option given the broader trends in the market where employers have more limited roles to fill and school name could be immensely helpful.
It appears that people are missing that the Raikes School is in ADDITION to another major: " and supplements the major-specific curriculum students receive". So one would have a choice in primary major and the OP would presumably choose CS to have more of the technical classes vs having a different major and only have the CS classes required in the Raikes School.
So it’s really CS at UIUC or CS at UNL with the additional Raikes School. I agree with previous posters that job opportunities have definitely tightened. I personally would advise my kid to look beyond dorms - particularly freshman year dorms - but the overall fit of the school and respective curriculums and opportunities. Good luck to you.
Late addition to the thread but the ‘Raikes equivalent’ in UIUC would be a Gies school business major + the Hoeft Technology and Management Program, which is widely considered UIUC Gies Business School’s most “prestigious” / sought after sub-program.
However, its outcomes are more of a business-y / tech consulting kind. If OP is looking at a traditional Software Engineering (SWE) or FAANG job, then it should be the CS degree no question
Raikes is well-known in the Midwest as an elite UNL program in CS+X (where X is Business). It’s the premier program at UNL, like Honors within Honors. Of course, it’s at UNL: UIUC is much more selective in general and for CS in particular, so the prestige is quite different. It’d have the advantage of more curriculum flexibility (through AP credit) and a more intense focus on CS. Getting into UIUC CS is itself a feat .
In the end, the key questions are
what job do you want? (Position, industry) - both will deliver but the positions may be different
how much of a CS focus do you want?
Did you get into Honors at UIUC?
A question I’d ask UIUC: would a UNL Raikes graduate (with CS major) have a shot at a Master’s in CS there, would the Raikes program’s preparation be considered sufficient for one of their Master’s?
Hey sorry for the late reply, but thanks very much for the info. I unfortunately did not get into Honors at UIUC, but if I decide to attend, I will reapply in the fall. I honestly really don’t know what job I want. I’ve been interested in technology and have been programming since I was in 5th grade, but I’ve never really thought about the career outcomes. I think I’d be willing to do just about anything in the technology space, besides web development. Raikes claims that those who choose to go to graduate school usually do it at UNL or the likes of Stanford. Although I don’t have an exact statistic for that.
I’ll take a contrarian position here: in a contracting CS job market, the existing jobs in the tech space are more likely to learn towards soft skills/business rather than hard programming skills (think project management/business analyst vs SWE). Therefore I would consider Raikes; try talking to recent Raikes grads (or stalking then on LinkedIn) to see outcomes.
I meant that you specifically should email UIUC to know whether Raikes graduates can and have been admitted to their CS Masters because 1) it means they consider it a strong enough preparation for them (UIUC CS is elite) which will give you an idea of the CS quality and reputation Raikes enjoys 2) because Raikes is much cheaper, you could have your cake and eat it too, ie., use the savings to have a Master’s from UIUC if you choose - best of both worlds. But that’s only possible if UIUC CS will consider Raikes prep (+ internship/experience) sufficient.
UNL itself is not top of anything, only Raikes is. UNL is a typical Midwestern flagship that serves its state residents well at relatively decent costs, similar to Iowa, Kansas or Wyoming.
Preparing a Master’s degree there vs. Stanford is … not in the same universe. Your undergraduate degree is what you make of it, especially if you’re part of a special program. Your Masters degree is an add-on and thus must be from the best program you can get into. So you need to know whether Raikes opens doors or pushes them further for you.
For UIUC graduate study in CS from UNL, the preparation would be based on the CS courses and experience done at UNL, not the business stuff in the Raikes program.
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