UCSB (CCS computing) vs UCI (CSE) vs Purdue (FYE honors) vs UIUC (EE)

[kidded]

Can switch to CE at UIUC but OOS hence can cost 55k/year vs 30k/year at UCs. First choice at Purdue is CE but will only know after first year but cost is comparable to UCs

[ucscuuw]

If cost was the same I would have said UIUC. But given the cost differential I would go with UCSB CCS.

[aquapt]

CCS Computing at in-state rates is a great opportunity, but it seems that he wants engineering. There is CE in the engineering school; would he be able to supplement with CE coursework? The full ABET degree might not matter if he’s CS-focused but wants some hardware background as well.

He must have gotten a nice merit award at Purdue, if the cost is comparable to UCSB; and Honors makes it even more attractive.

I would eliminate UIUC. Why pay almost double, pass up the nice honors programs, and have to switch majors? It’s a good school but I don’t see what about it would justify those tradeoffs.

[tamagotchi]

@aquapt

CCS Computing at in-state rates is a great opportunity, but it seems that he wants engineering. There is CE in the engineering school; would he be able to supplement with CE coursework?

It looks like the OP’s son was first notified that they were admitted to UCSB CE and then notified that they were admitted to CCS.

I do not know how it works with being admitted to another UCSB major + CCS, do they have a choice of the two majors?

From what we hear about CCS, it sounds wonderful and it sounds like they do have a lot of freedom to take courses in other departments.

@kidded

Decision: Accepted
Merit scholarships awarded (if any):
Major (and division if applicable) applied to: CE

[lkg4answers]

@tamagotchi

I do not know how it works with being admitted to another UCSB major + CCS, do they have a choice of the two majors?

Students submit the UC application and a the CCS supplemental in the fall. They are notified of admission into the university first and then find out if they were accepted into CCS a few days later.

From the UCSB CCS Computing webpage.

The program provides well-prepared students an accelerated path through the lower division curriculum so that they can move quickly into advanced courses offered both in the CCS and the College of Engineering’s Computer Science (CS) Department, which is one of the highest ranked CS departments in the nation. The goal: early involvement of students in research and creative activity.

CCS comes with priority registration. No limit to number of units taken per quarter and the ability to drop a course without penalty until the last day of instruction. CCS students are able to take graduate courses as an undergrad.

CCS Computing offers a 5 year BS/MS with the COE