“I’m thinking of majoring in Computer Science.” When I hear a student declare this while discussing possible majors, I’m torn. Part of me is thrilled - the opportunities, challenges, and experiences available to Computer Science majors are amazing. The other part of me cringes - the reality is, computer science applicants face an uphill battle in college admissions.
By the Numbers:
University Overall Admit Rate CS Admit Rate
University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign 44.8% 6.7%
Purdue University 53% 33%
University of Washington 60% in state/ 27% in state/
51% out of state 3% out of state
Students pursuing a Computer Science degree at major North American universities have more than tripled since 2006. The University of Wisconsin-Madison increased CS enrollment by over 800% from 2011 - 2021. The University of Michigan saw its CS enrollment nearly quadruple since 2010.
So, how does this translate into admission?
OK - I know the numbers, now what should I do?
Once you have an understanding of the admissions landscape for Computer Science, I’d recommend considering the following two paths:
Path 1: Computer Science is right for me - how can I start preparing to apply?
Strength & Rigor of High School Coursework: You will want to demonstrate strength in all your coursework, but especially in your math and science courses. Take AP, IB or DE when available.
Demonstrated Interest in CS: Show that Computer Science is the right fit for you. Have you taken CS courses and/or participated in CS activities? How have you explored and started to understand this field?
Build a Balanced College List: Applying to CS requires adjusting your expectations. When building your college list, keep in mind a college that would be in your likely category if applying for a non-CS major may actually be a target - or reach - based on the competitive nature of this major.
Consider a Liberal Arts College: Many potential CS majors focus on large research universities and don’t consider the benefits a liberal arts college can provide. Check out this article on the CS major at Occidental College.
Path 2: I’m not convinced Computer Science is right for me - are there other options?
Yes! There are a number of great majors to consider that are related to Computer Science. University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign has a helpful article that introduces some of the following majors:
Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Data Science / Informatics
Information Science
Cybersecurity
Applied and Computational Mathematical Sciences
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
While some of these majors are also competitive (the admission rate for the engineering programs at UIUC is 23% vs. 44.8% overall), they are still worth exploring as an alternative field of study.
Where to go from here:
Computer science is a diverse field that allows students to work on emerging technologies and challenging, real-world problems. As the admissions landscape has changed over the past decade, colleges are constantly introducing majors in related fields that provide students with new and exciting opportunities. I hope you talk to your BCC counselor and take the time to explore all your options!
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