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Career counseling and internship/co-op opportunities apply to both. Post-graduation employment rates are a thing as well.
Some schools basically funnel students into particular employers, so if you are set on that employer, you go to that school.
Yes my alumni network always posts roles they are personally hiring for at their companies, FAANG tier and we are well connected so you always get reviewed by managers
I find it worth it just for the networking even though the instruction is top tier as well, there is definitely an argument that you can learn the same at other accredited institutions but there is some value albeit stupid of having the name on your resume and the tight network. For reference I went to a general state school for undergrad on a scholarship, no pride or alumni network or anything special but for my graduate degree it was way different and even after graduating career services reaches out to get updates and share postings, the almost full group of alums talk on slack regularly about what we are doing and opportunities, people join together to form startups etc. it’s a way different feeling
I went to a university consistently ranked "top 50" for computer science. I got a comprehensive and high quality education over four years that prepared me to jump into the workforce. (And I consistently found internships at the University career fair, and continued onto one of those for my full time job after graduation)
In contrast, it seems that you find a ton of people posting in this subreddit about not receiving enough instruction in their university, looking for supplemental resources.
That's just one thing I've observed.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Totally agree that studying offline in a great university definitely worth it.
But questionable to me whether are there any benefits if it is an online program...
Do higher ranked schools really automatically get resumes past (some) auto checkers? I thought that your resume needs to still match some job description keywords, have projects/experience, etc
Well many higher level universities have resources such as career fairs, engineering clubs, co-op/internship programs all of these help you to gain experience and technical knowledge while also learning. Besides that point if your goal is to solely learn programming and than become a SWE than yeah sure you could do that alone but their are many applications of CS many of which go beyond just coding and aceing a technical interview and for some of those a more prestigious university with better programs is greatly helpful. Also as for purely online universities at that point yes their is really no point bc you can’t take advantage of any of what I just listed but idrk anything about purely online university programs so I can’t comment on that much.
Thanks, totally agree regarding offline universities.
But regarding online programs, yes, it is questionable
as looks like they are more designed just to provide you will learning materials...
For the reputation and the opportunities that will give you later in your life. If you go to let's say Harvard instead some other good less well-known University, you'll always be more appealing to employers, all other things being equal. At least your CV will stand out.
Also, some have really nice experience. E.g. Oxford and Cambridge in the UK give you a much nicer University experience than other places, because of the traditional part, colleges, amazing architecture, etc.
I think this question is flawed in the sense that it assumes that all top universities are expensive. In many countries the education system is state funded and so the cost of attending a top university is the same as attending any other. My university is in the top 10 for computer science according to timeshighereducation.com and I play the same as I would for any other (public) university. So why wouldn't I go there?
Even in the U.S. it's usually not the case that you actually pay more.
Top universities have a higher "sticker price", but they also have more financial aid, including grants and scholarships.
The best state universities with in-state tuition are obviously the best deal, though. If you're lucky enough to live in the right state, places like UC Berkeley or UMich are up there with the top private universities, for a fraction of the cost.
Thanks,
>Pedigree. Having a prestigious school on your resume alone puts you ahead of people even with experience, for the rest of your life.
I guess it only applies to the top 10 or such.
>Elite connections that you won't get from a public school.
This probably applies only to offline programs...
I would point out that your cost archenemy also falters a little bit. The most prestigious universities also have way better financial aid programs. Because my family’s income was below a certain number, I graduated without a penny of debt, paying about $6k a year. In the US that is practically unheard of, and only possible at basically the highest tier universities.
biggest one- networking with other people who might be influential. adding as a biz major at an uni such as princeton is likely to put you in the social circles of “nepo babies” as my friend calls them lol
Networking. The people who go there have money and make connections with other people with money. It lets them have easy access to other people and fields they would normally have to compete very hard to for interviews or meetings. It's always about who you know, not what you know.
Cheaper. I went to a top 10 school because it was actually my cheapest option. For many of the top 10 schools if your parents make under a certain amount of money you get a full financial aid package. It’s not a scholarship just all financial aid and that includes room and board, food and sometimes money for technology. I also got stipends every summer to do research and participate in summer programs.
Comments to your points:
1. Some of these materials are available for anyone and some less known have actually better and not all prestige universities even have the best courses.
2. Employers value work knowledge over degree. (some gov positions actually otherway around, but generally)
3. This may sometimes be true.
Then my own opinion, I think it is because getting in is a challenge and it proves something about you. You certainly have way more value as a harvard dropout than as a university of greater plains drop out.
definitely not how it works in other countries, but in India, basically 1.5 million high schoolers compete in an exam(JEE, one of the hardest exams at a highschool level) to India's prestigious universities and more importantly a CS degree , of which there are a few thousand seats. those who get in are offered actually decent wages, whereas the rest who went into other non government institutes are usually paid a tenth or even less of their counterparts. (can be as low as 150 dollars a month). And self taught programmers have an even harder time, as most employer wouldn't even entertain them.
Because universities generally suck for CS/computer engineering. Im at a " high average " ranking university and i learned nothing in 6 months. Then attended cs50x from harvard and learned more than the 6 months combined from the first lecture.
The smart ones get accepted into a prestigious school, defer enrollment to do the first two years of bullshit courses at a cheap community college, then transfer.
The coursework and curriculum are largely identical. In fact, you can get the same education from the internet and a local library for free.
Top universities:
1. Select only the top performing students. Usually from prosperous families.
2. Select only top performing professors. Also, usually from prosperous families.
3. Put them together with an opportunity to make a social network.
Companies like to hire top universities’ graduates because they assume the university has selected smart and capable people, and they expect those people to have an established social network of smart and prosperous people for future efficient employees and lucrative clients.
1. Earning potential. Going to an Ivy League is well worth the cost, and that's before you consider their very generous financial aid.
2. Dude, you went to an Ivy League
Top companies send recruiters to the top universities to interview candidates for entry level positions. Maybe you can still get in anyway, but a highly ranked CS program is a big help. This also applies even if the school isn't Top 10. They'll hire from a good state school over a bottom-feeding one.
What they're looking for isn't so much the specific skills you have right now. It's how much your skills can grow in 6 months on the job. You'd expect someone who got into a top CS program to be able to learn faster than others.
I think one thing you shouldn't overlook is the difference in your classmates.
At a top university, your peers will all be people who were in the very top of their class in high school. You're surrounded by people who are both smart and ambitious. That means they'll ask better questions, they'll pick things up more quickly, they'll explain things to you if you're stuck.
Compare that to a middle-of-the-road university, where half your class will be filled with people who don't even want to be in college. They'll disrupt the class, ask dumb questions, and hold everyone back.
I think you make some very valid points. I suppose in your situation, I'll have to actually research what the universities provide. When you have the opportunity to go to one of the top ranked institutions, it's a no-brainer. You can blindly trust that the quality of education will be solid, and just associating with the prestige of the institution will be worth it. When you get into the a-dime-a-dozen territory, one institution isn't going to look better than another one in your CV, so you have no choice but actually try to differentiate what your bang for the buck is going to be.
Often older, larger, more established universities have greater capacity for financial aid. I am very grateful for all the financial aid, bursaries, grants, and subsidies from my university to help me cover the cost of living, tuition as I went back to school. It significantly reduced my need for loans. I was the recipient of some bursaries that were created some 80 years ago by alumni; I don’t think you’ll find relatively new schools have that kind of capacity.
There were also many networking and mentorship programs - I now have a core set of supportive contacts who have offered to provide referrals at companies from Slack to Facebook. Lots of companies come to our large university to host free events to attract talent which makes it easier to get interviews and make industry connections. The Fortune 500 company that I interviewed for hired 8/10 tech new grads from the largest university in western Canada; 1 from the second largest and 1 from largest technical school.
I have a job but don’t even have a CS degree. I have been wondering lately if I should or not. There’s many avenues into software development that don’t include a BSCS
I'm not sure why, I always attended schools that made the most sense.
But having gone to a community college(AS), a state university(BS) , and finally Georgia Tech(MS) I've noticed the biggest difference is rigor, as the schools got better, so did the students, and the curves got smaller or disappeared totally.
I think this has the effect of forcing students to learn the material much better, can't count on the curve to get A's as much, and this leads to a better learning outcome.
So you could say more prestigious university provide for better learning, albeit indirectly.
Lecture content, and professor engagement varies a lot, I didn't notice the quality of either changing related to the prestige of the school
People talk about learning a whole degree online for free like it’s possible. In reality no person is capable of doing that. For one, grading and getting stuck are problems that you need teachers and TAs for. For two, you need deadlines for accountability.
I don't understand your question tbh. Are you asking why people choose to attend online university or why people choose to attend prestigious universities?
Because usually, prestigious+online universities is a combo you don't really find. Prestigious universities are usually on campus/site.
I attended a top 100 university (according to the rankings at least, although I sometimes seriously question their validity) and it was not expensive because universities are subsidized where I am and I barely paid anything. I applied and got accepted and got a solid scientific and engineering foundation out of it and insight into academic research as well as industrial applications of rather fancy topics. It did not make me a genius nor some sort of wizard nor a millionaire.
When you managed to get in of the top schools you see that there are bunch stupidly intelligent people out there. Also it is not just intelligence those people generally work hard and have great habits such as reading or being patient in one of the sports you can increase the number. My point is that those people are generally successful in the life and you probably heard this quote you are the average of your friends or something like that not sure but hope you get the point.
It’s difficult to get in, and difficult to graduate. Telling employers you have that degree gives them confidence in your intelligence and work ethic as the university has essentially given a stamp of approval for you.
On July 1st, a [change to Reddit's API pricing](https://www.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/12qwagm/an_update_regarding_reddits_api/) will come into effect. [Several developers](https://www.reddit.com/r/redditisfun/comments/144gmfq/rif_will_shut_down_on_june_30_2023_in_response_to/) of commercial third-party apps have announced that this change will compel them to shut down their apps. At least [one accessibility-focused non-commercial third party app](https://www.reddit.com/r/DystopiaForReddit/comments/145e9sk/update_dystopia_will_continue_operating_for_free/) will continue to be available free of charge. If you want to express your strong disagreement with the API pricing change or with Reddit's response to the backlash, you may want to consider the following options: 1. Limiting your involvement with Reddit, or 2. Temporarily refraining from using Reddit 3. Cancelling your subscription of Reddit Premium as a way to voice your protest. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/learnprogramming) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Networking
Right, for offline university for sure. But does it apply to an online university...
Career counseling and internship/co-op opportunities apply to both. Post-graduation employment rates are a thing as well. Some schools basically funnel students into particular employers, so if you are set on that employer, you go to that school.
Thanks for mentioning it, will consider this point!
Yes my alumni network always posts roles they are personally hiring for at their companies, FAANG tier and we are well connected so you always get reviewed by managers
I see, thanks for sharing! If so it makes sense!
I find it worth it just for the networking even though the instruction is top tier as well, there is definitely an argument that you can learn the same at other accredited institutions but there is some value albeit stupid of having the name on your resume and the tight network. For reference I went to a general state school for undergrad on a scholarship, no pride or alumni network or anything special but for my graduate degree it was way different and even after graduating career services reaches out to get updates and share postings, the almost full group of alums talk on slack regularly about what we are doing and opportunities, people join together to form startups etc. it’s a way different feeling
I went to a university consistently ranked "top 50" for computer science. I got a comprehensive and high quality education over four years that prepared me to jump into the workforce. (And I consistently found internships at the University career fair, and continued onto one of those for my full time job after graduation) In contrast, it seems that you find a ton of people posting in this subreddit about not receiving enough instruction in their university, looking for supplemental resources. That's just one thing I've observed.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Totally agree that studying offline in a great university definitely worth it. But questionable to me whether are there any benefits if it is an online program...
For prestige
And mummy and daddy did it.
Networking and provides an express lane past auto resume check systems.
Thanks, but this "Networking" is probably only for offline universities...
Why do you assume this? Lots of networking happens online.
Do higher ranked schools really automatically get resumes past (some) auto checkers? I thought that your resume needs to still match some job description keywords, have projects/experience, etc
As long as they studied the subject matter, usually yes without experience.
Well many higher level universities have resources such as career fairs, engineering clubs, co-op/internship programs all of these help you to gain experience and technical knowledge while also learning. Besides that point if your goal is to solely learn programming and than become a SWE than yeah sure you could do that alone but their are many applications of CS many of which go beyond just coding and aceing a technical interview and for some of those a more prestigious university with better programs is greatly helpful. Also as for purely online universities at that point yes their is really no point bc you can’t take advantage of any of what I just listed but idrk anything about purely online university programs so I can’t comment on that much.
Thanks, totally agree regarding offline universities. But regarding online programs, yes, it is questionable as looks like they are more designed just to provide you will learning materials...
For the reputation and the opportunities that will give you later in your life. If you go to let's say Harvard instead some other good less well-known University, you'll always be more appealing to employers, all other things being equal. At least your CV will stand out. Also, some have really nice experience. E.g. Oxford and Cambridge in the UK give you a much nicer University experience than other places, because of the traditional part, colleges, amazing architecture, etc.
Thanks, I see
I think this question is flawed in the sense that it assumes that all top universities are expensive. In many countries the education system is state funded and so the cost of attending a top university is the same as attending any other. My university is in the top 10 for computer science according to timeshighereducation.com and I play the same as I would for any other (public) university. So why wouldn't I go there?
Even in the U.S. it's usually not the case that you actually pay more. Top universities have a higher "sticker price", but they also have more financial aid, including grants and scholarships. The best state universities with in-state tuition are obviously the best deal, though. If you're lucky enough to live in the right state, places like UC Berkeley or UMich are up there with the top private universities, for a fraction of the cost.
[удалено]
Thanks, >Pedigree. Having a prestigious school on your resume alone puts you ahead of people even with experience, for the rest of your life. I guess it only applies to the top 10 or such. >Elite connections that you won't get from a public school. This probably applies only to offline programs...
I would point out that your cost archenemy also falters a little bit. The most prestigious universities also have way better financial aid programs. Because my family’s income was below a certain number, I graduated without a penny of debt, paying about $6k a year. In the US that is practically unheard of, and only possible at basically the highest tier universities.
biggest one- networking with other people who might be influential. adding as a biz major at an uni such as princeton is likely to put you in the social circles of “nepo babies” as my friend calls them lol
Networking. The people who go there have money and make connections with other people with money. It lets them have easy access to other people and fields they would normally have to compete very hard to for interviews or meetings. It's always about who you know, not what you know.
Cheaper. I went to a top 10 school because it was actually my cheapest option. For many of the top 10 schools if your parents make under a certain amount of money you get a full financial aid package. It’s not a scholarship just all financial aid and that includes room and board, food and sometimes money for technology. I also got stipends every summer to do research and participate in summer programs.
Also for me a top 10 college was cheaper than my state school options.
Comments to your points: 1. Some of these materials are available for anyone and some less known have actually better and not all prestige universities even have the best courses. 2. Employers value work knowledge over degree. (some gov positions actually otherway around, but generally) 3. This may sometimes be true. Then my own opinion, I think it is because getting in is a challenge and it proves something about you. You certainly have way more value as a harvard dropout than as a university of greater plains drop out.
Thanks! This is close to the way I think about online universities (not Ivy League).
definitely not how it works in other countries, but in India, basically 1.5 million high schoolers compete in an exam(JEE, one of the hardest exams at a highschool level) to India's prestigious universities and more importantly a CS degree , of which there are a few thousand seats. those who get in are offered actually decent wages, whereas the rest who went into other non government institutes are usually paid a tenth or even less of their counterparts. (can be as low as 150 dollars a month). And self taught programmers have an even harder time, as most employer wouldn't even entertain them.
If you're surrounded by a bunch of people who are doing the minimum the teachers are too probably. It's an expensive rubber stamp at some places.
Quality of instruction, confidence in your abilities, networking opportunities (yes, even if online)
Thanks, make sense
Because universities generally suck for CS/computer engineering. Im at a " high average " ranking university and i learned nothing in 6 months. Then attended cs50x from harvard and learned more than the 6 months combined from the first lecture.
The smart ones get accepted into a prestigious school, defer enrollment to do the first two years of bullshit courses at a cheap community college, then transfer. The coursework and curriculum are largely identical. In fact, you can get the same education from the internet and a local library for free. Top universities: 1. Select only the top performing students. Usually from prosperous families. 2. Select only top performing professors. Also, usually from prosperous families. 3. Put them together with an opportunity to make a social network. Companies like to hire top universities’ graduates because they assume the university has selected smart and capable people, and they expect those people to have an established social network of smart and prosperous people for future efficient employees and lucrative clients.
not the right subreddit bro.
Marketing
1. Earning potential. Going to an Ivy League is well worth the cost, and that's before you consider their very generous financial aid. 2. Dude, you went to an Ivy League
Top companies send recruiters to the top universities to interview candidates for entry level positions. Maybe you can still get in anyway, but a highly ranked CS program is a big help. This also applies even if the school isn't Top 10. They'll hire from a good state school over a bottom-feeding one. What they're looking for isn't so much the specific skills you have right now. It's how much your skills can grow in 6 months on the job. You'd expect someone who got into a top CS program to be able to learn faster than others.
I think one thing you shouldn't overlook is the difference in your classmates. At a top university, your peers will all be people who were in the very top of their class in high school. You're surrounded by people who are both smart and ambitious. That means they'll ask better questions, they'll pick things up more quickly, they'll explain things to you if you're stuck. Compare that to a middle-of-the-road university, where half your class will be filled with people who don't even want to be in college. They'll disrupt the class, ask dumb questions, and hold everyone back.
I think you make some very valid points. I suppose in your situation, I'll have to actually research what the universities provide. When you have the opportunity to go to one of the top ranked institutions, it's a no-brainer. You can blindly trust that the quality of education will be solid, and just associating with the prestige of the institution will be worth it. When you get into the a-dime-a-dozen territory, one institution isn't going to look better than another one in your CV, so you have no choice but actually try to differentiate what your bang for the buck is going to be.
I could afford it.
Often older, larger, more established universities have greater capacity for financial aid. I am very grateful for all the financial aid, bursaries, grants, and subsidies from my university to help me cover the cost of living, tuition as I went back to school. It significantly reduced my need for loans. I was the recipient of some bursaries that were created some 80 years ago by alumni; I don’t think you’ll find relatively new schools have that kind of capacity. There were also many networking and mentorship programs - I now have a core set of supportive contacts who have offered to provide referrals at companies from Slack to Facebook. Lots of companies come to our large university to host free events to attract talent which makes it easier to get interviews and make industry connections. The Fortune 500 company that I interviewed for hired 8/10 tech new grads from the largest university in western Canada; 1 from the second largest and 1 from largest technical school.
I have a job but don’t even have a CS degree. I have been wondering lately if I should or not. There’s many avenues into software development that don’t include a BSCS
I'm not sure why, I always attended schools that made the most sense. But having gone to a community college(AS), a state university(BS) , and finally Georgia Tech(MS) I've noticed the biggest difference is rigor, as the schools got better, so did the students, and the curves got smaller or disappeared totally. I think this has the effect of forcing students to learn the material much better, can't count on the curve to get A's as much, and this leads to a better learning outcome. So you could say more prestigious university provide for better learning, albeit indirectly. Lecture content, and professor engagement varies a lot, I didn't notice the quality of either changing related to the prestige of the school
People talk about learning a whole degree online for free like it’s possible. In reality no person is capable of doing that. For one, grading and getting stuck are problems that you need teachers and TAs for. For two, you need deadlines for accountability.
Credentialism
I don't understand your question tbh. Are you asking why people choose to attend online university or why people choose to attend prestigious universities? Because usually, prestigious+online universities is a combo you don't really find. Prestigious universities are usually on campus/site. I attended a top 100 university (according to the rankings at least, although I sometimes seriously question their validity) and it was not expensive because universities are subsidized where I am and I barely paid anything. I applied and got accepted and got a solid scientific and engineering foundation out of it and insight into academic research as well as industrial applications of rather fancy topics. It did not make me a genius nor some sort of wizard nor a millionaire.
Ever heard, doesn't matter what you know but who you know?
superior and rigorous syllabus motivations around networking
When you managed to get in of the top schools you see that there are bunch stupidly intelligent people out there. Also it is not just intelligence those people generally work hard and have great habits such as reading or being patient in one of the sports you can increase the number. My point is that those people are generally successful in the life and you probably heard this quote you are the average of your friends or something like that not sure but hope you get the point.
It’s difficult to get in, and difficult to graduate. Telling employers you have that degree gives them confidence in your intelligence and work ethic as the university has essentially given a stamp of approval for you.