<p>I will add a little insight for UW’s CS program, since I have a few friends in (and out) of it: if you don’t get directly admitted into the major, you basically have to kill it freshman year. You’ll definitely want As in all of the CS classes you take and a GPA of at least 3.7. If you’re up for the challenge, though, it really is an excellent program with great surrounding job/internship prospects and an amazing variety of courses. </p>
<p>UCSD and Maryland’s CS programs are held in slightly lower regard, but they’re still both great. Assuming it is equally difficult to get into the CS major at each (and that is probably a very wrong assumption, based on the above posts), I might be tempted to go with UCSD due to the great location, but you’re not going wrong with either in terms of their programs.</p>