@lvvcsf @simba9 I completely agree. People don’t necessarily underrate the schools themselves rather some of the unpopular programs at those schools. For example, LSU has, in my opinion, one of the best environmental/agricultural science departments in the country, but is overlooked by many of the Western and Eastern seaboard schools.
Not National Us, but in PA, two LACs I think are underrated are Washington & Jefferson and Juniata. One doesn’t need high stats to get in, but graduates seem to do pretty darn well coming out.
In our engineering circles (IRL - working life), Penn St beats Pitt so I’m not sure Pitt is underrated for engineering. They’re well known for pre-med and most majors associated with it along with decent merit money for tippy top students. Penn St wins for pre-vet, but again, Juniata tends to do well there too (and pre-med). Washington & Jefferson as well for pre-med.
I would add instate to Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia. The Hope and Zell Miller scholarships make those two incredibly affordable for instate kids.
@AlwaysMoving I agree. The hard part is getting in though. UGA has become so competitive nowadays.
Any historically black school by non black students.
I’m wondering what folks outside of Michigan think of Michigan Tech. My S has been rejected by MIT and UChicago and is deferred at UMich COE (still waiting…), but he’s already in at Mich Tech with a decent scholarship, and I’m starting to think it’s really his kind of place. (I think he’d choose MTU’s Winter Carnival over a UMich football game every day of the week, for example.)
I’ve also heard several times on CC forums that for a student who wants to study CS, the school you go to matters less and less after a few years out of college. And I’ve heard that MTU has a surprisingly good turnout from tech companies at their job fairs.
Any thoughts on MTU as an underrated college for a kid who’s got stellar stats and wants to study CS or advanced math?
How is University of Pittsburgh for CS? I know they have started the School of computing from this year but dont seem anyone recommending me this university.
@TwoHearted I’m from Georgia and I have heard some pretty good things about Michigan Tech’s CS and Engineering Schools. I also saw it at the top of some best value school list. I wouldn’t say that school doesn’t matter for CS, but more and more schools have up-and-coming CS programs. Michigan Tech on a football scholarship and some good aid sounds like a good plan to me. I don’t want to be your son’s deciding factor on where to go to college, but I have heard some great things about it from some friends who went to summer programs there.
@ppxyz123 Yes, Pittsburgh’s CS program is really new. But, from the research I’ve gathered from their website, it looks like they are gathering a group of strong affiliates with the CS program. I am sure this program could grow exponentially especially with Pitt’s great engineering program. But, I would still contact the school and ask around about how the CS program will grow. In my opinion, I can see that program growing alot in a few years.
@ppxyz123 And I have heard that all around Pittsburgh is a great university that gives a fair amount of aid (which is rare these days).
Use the net price calculator on each college’s web site to get an idea of whether it will be a good value for you.
For example, Pitt’s net price calculator is at https://pitt.studentaidcalculator.com/survey.aspx .
Thanks all. I was looking at Pittsburgh from employable factor and why no one was recommending it for CS and why so underrated? I am also considering Temple University in PA. I do see people with some good stats getting in but again not sure from an employment perspective.
It’s hard for me to imagine a hiring manager tossing away a resume because it said “University of Pittsburgh” on it.
Connecticut College- gorgeous campus, delightfully goofy traditions (camel mascot, Camelympics, Festivus), strong in theatre/dance as well as NESCAC sports, great internship program.
It should be spoken of in the same breath as its NESCAC peers Bates and Williams. And included on CC’s list of Top Liberal Arts Colleges (where every other NESCAC is included and it is not).
Colorado School of Mines and the former MU-Rolla (can’t remember what MU-Rolla is called now and the kid goes to school in Missouri).
I would agree with Hobart and William Smith. Number one school in NY State for Graduate Placement, Princeton Review #1 for study abroad, #7 in nation for quality of professors, , #15 for best alumni network,
Plus - Beautiful campus, merit aid.
Colorado School of Mines is not really underrated, since it is one of the more common suggestions when someone is looking for a small engineering-focused school that is not super-selective like Caltech or Harvey Mudd.
You may be thinking of Missouri University of Science and Technology, which is much less commonly mentioned and probably is significantly underrated.
I don’t think UW CS is underrated, haha…9 kids from my in-state HS applied and only 1 got in.
Champlain College in Burlington, VT for various concentrations in CS and especially Cybersecurity. My kid’s college counselor added it to her list… we had never heard of it. We were very impressed when we visited. Excellent facilities, and a super cybersecurity lab that looks like something out of a spy movie. The dorms were in beautiful old mansions, the campus is in a gorgeous location on the lake and adjacent to UVM. Kids take a handful of classes in their major in freshman year. Job placement is terrific, many have jobs lined up at beginning of senior year. The federal agencies like CIA and FBI like to hire graduates for cybersecurity jobs. Some of the school projects actually require the students to have a security clearance.
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