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I am a high School Grad. Please help me select my college

I just graduated from high school. I am planning to attend an online university because I don't want to waste my years waiting for the pandemic to be over. Can someone suggest me which online university is the best for Computer science? Is the degree worth it that I can get a job after I graduate.

#college-major #college #distanceeducation #covid19

I am planning to apply to

1. UFL
2. FSU Online
3. Cal State Monterey Bay
4. The University of Illinois Springfield.
5. AUBURN UNIVERSITY

Thank you comment icon Hey you! Yeah you! Don't you worry about college, worry about your life long dreams/goals. Think about what you want to do for a living, and then find a college that has a major of what you want to do. I wish you luck, stay safe Mochi

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Subject: Career question for you

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Doc’s Answer

Vidhi, I recommend staying with a 4-year university, all classes are online now. The university of UNLV is going to have far better resources for Job Placement, Career Counseling, Internships and Mentoring Professors.

The combination of a difficult labor market and increased scrutiny by all levels of government on the performance of colleges and universities has placed career services offices and career services professionals directly in the crosshairs. Higher education universities are being forced to pay more attention to the employment and income outcomes of their students that you will not get with a online institution. Career services offices are being held to account for knowing the destinations of graduating students and getting those graduating students into positive career positions.

Although job outlook for Computer Science degree-holders is phenomenal, having a strong job placement or internship program at your university will help you when graduating to secure positions with higher pay after graduation. Many universities partner with local businesses who recruit students for internship positions, usually over the summer. These internship positions allow a student to develop valuable experience working with computers and developing software, which can translate to more job opportunities with greater salaries after the student graduates with his or her degree.

Internships also allow you the chance to network and develop connections within the industry, which is an important part of working in any field. Many companies will hire interns as full-time workers after graduation, since after an internship the student will be well-versed in the working environment and the company’s policies and procedures. Students who want to work for a particular company should search for universities that have partnerships with that company.

UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA LAS VEGAS (UNLV) – Offers both a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in computer science. Both require a total of 124 credits. Courses topics include computer coding languages, multimedia design, computer networks, database management, data structures, and computer security. Students in the B.S. program must also take advanced courses in software design, algorithmic analysis, and compiler construction.
• Program Length: Four years full-time
• Tuition and Fees: $7,985 per year in-state, $23,132 per year out-of-state (2018-2019)
• School Type: 4-year, public; 30,457 students (25,282 undergraduate)

POPULAR COMPUTER SCIENCE CAREER OPTIONS
There are several potential entry-level careers available for graduates of a bachelor's degree program in computer science.

NETWORK ENGINEER – Network engineers, sometimes referred to as computer network architects, design, build, and operate computer network hardware, software, and servers. Although these engineers mainly plan networks, they might also perform job tasks like deciding which types of hardware are needed to support a network, designing the layout for data communication networks, and determining what types of security the network needs.
• DEGREE – Bachelor's in Computer Science, Information Technology or Engineering.
• CAREER INFORMATION – Analytical, customer-service, organization, leadership, and problem-solving skills; attention to detail and ability to work in teams; familiarity with field-specific software, such as administration, network monitoring, network security and configuration management software; ability to use related tools, such as network analyzers and network switches.
• AVERAGE BASE SALARY – $74,500

SOFTWARE DESIGNER – Software designers, also known as software engineers, develop computer programs and interfaces. They may develop computer applications or the underlying systems software. This career involves a lot of teamwork, as software designers often have to cooperate with computer programmers and others in order to create strong software. Designers who want to stay ahead of the competition will likely need to keep up on the most advanced designing and programming tools, and continuing education may be necessary.
• DEGREE – Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field.
• CAREER INFORMATION – Knowledge of web platform development, program testing, database management and operating systems software; solid skills in computer programming languages; familiarity with computer equipment such as CPU processors, servers, integrated circuit testers and mainframe computers; stamina and willingness to work more than 40 hours a week.
• AVERAGE BASE SALARY – $92,800

COMPUTER SYTEMS ADMINISTRATOR – Computer systems administrators are employed in all types of workplaces to oversee the operation of an organization's entire computer system, including the installation, updates and maintenance. They usually need a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field, although a certificate or an associate's degree is acceptable in some cases, and other jobs call for a master's degree. Employers generally require computer systems administrators to complete certification programs with manufacturers as well.
• DEGREE – Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related field.
• CAREER INFORMATION – The administrator works to ensure that the computer systems are kept working in an efficient manner. This can include fixing any issues with the design of the network, software and computers of the company's computer systems. Maintaining these systems, answering questions, monitoring them and issuing upgrades are all duties a computer systems administrator performs to meet the computer needs of the company.
• AVERAGE BASE SALARY – $87,000

WEB ADMINISTRATOR – Website administrators, also known as web developers, are responsible for developing and maintaining specific websites. Upon a site's inception, they perform programming and coding. They ensure that sites are functioning properly and analyze layout and content regularly to maintain and increase user-friendliness. They also handle network security, technical troubleshooting and customer support.
• DEGREE – Bachelor's Degree in Web Design or Computer Science.
• CAREER INFORMATION – Website administrators are responsible for the setup, development and continuous maintenance of websites. They oversee site layout, design and programming, ensuring that a finished website will be easy for users to navigate. Once a website has been conceptualized, they play a major role in its setup, with relevant duties including network and router configuration, image placement and editing, HTML scripting, cascading style sheets and other assorted programming duties.
• AVERAGE BASE SALARY – $93,000

Vidhi, Computer Science is a growing field with great job prospects for degree-holders. The average worker with a Computer Science degree makes a salary of $74,000 a year, and there are many positions available in software development. Computer Science graduates are not limited to only working for software companies; many corporations hire software developers to write specialized programs to manage their businesses.

Hope this was helpful Vidhi
Thank you comment icon I am sorry. But I wanted to attend an online university (distance learning). I am planning to apply to these universities. Could you recommend which one is the best university? 1. UFL 2. FSU Online 4. The University of Illinois Springfield. 5. AUBURN UNIVERSITY Vidhi
Thank you comment icon Vidhi, Here are the top online degree programs rankings for 2020 by US News Report. My recommendation, from your choices would be the University of Illinois-Online with a 66% Acceptance Rate. 3) University of Illinois-Online (UI) • Acceptance Rate 66% 4) University of Florida-Online (UFL) • Acceptance Rate 48% 57) Florida State University (FSU) • Acceptance Rate 56% 104) Auburn University (AU) • Acceptance Rate 78% Vidhi, If the schools above don’t fit your goals, I would recommend the University of Cincinnati-Online with a 73% Acceptance Rate. 1) Ohio State University–Online (OSU) • Acceptance Rate 52% 2) University of Cincinnati-Online (UC) • Acceptance Rate 73% Thank You for your Support Vidhi. I appreciate opportunity to help you with this Doc Frick
Thank you comment icon Thank You Mochi. “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” — Mahatma Gandhi Doc Frick
Thank you comment icon Thank You Joseph. “Our generation has the ability and the responsibility to make our ever-more connected world a more hopeful, stable and peaceful place.” — Natalie Portman Doc Frick
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Margaret’s Answer

When determining where to attend college, an important aspect to consider is which school fits you the best. Not just in regards to the academic programs but socially, geographically, and makes you feel the happiest just thinking about it. Of course academic programs are extremely important, but when narrowing down a list, take all aspects into account. It's four years of your life, which will go by so quickly and so slowly at the same time, so make sure you're somewhere you are passionate about and proud of.
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Deb’s Answer

You may want to had SNHU to your list. They have great online degree programs.
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Laura Cobb’s Answer

Hi Vidhi (and all),

I spent 12 years in college. As for which university, any one will likely suffice. You may want to consider that the first two years pursuing your B.S. are primarily spent on what are called university studies. These are general classes that all students have to take to create an overall "general" education. That said, to save money and build your G.P.A. you may consider a community college to earn your A.A. and then transfer to finish your B.S. If this is not an issue, by all means choose a larger university.

I did not attend a larger school for my B.S. or M.S. (Illinois State University) and still earned assistantships and awards as a result of my effort in my major classes. I then attended Purdue for my doctorate and University of Maryland for a second master's in counseling. It's not necessarily the school that matters unless you are aiming for MIT or a medical degree like John's Hopkins, etc. The difficulty resides in the coursework and balancing school and all of your other commitments.

Online universities are fine as long as they are accredited. I've taken classes and taught for both. Each (online and ground) are valid. Consider asking someone who goes to the university, an instructor, a student (past or present) for an informational interview about their experience.

I earned a 3.67 for my B.S. and 4.0 throughout the rest of my three degrees Please don't forget about extracurriculars and volunteer work. I really makes a different on your resume.

Best,
Laura Cobb, Ph.D., LPC
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much for your suggestion. It was of great help. So after reading your answer I think that UF or FSU would be a great university for computer science. Vidhi
Thank you comment icon If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. One thing I forgot to mention is start building your LinkedIn profile now. I'm not kidding about this. The time that you have now--even 15 minutes a day will help you so much. Plus, consider taking some of the classes they offer. If you have ANY questions--just find me on LinkedIn. ;-) https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-cobb-73b41a29/ Laura Cobb Ph.D., LPC
Thank you comment icon IMHO--the university doesn't matter as much as the degree. Yeah, "podunk" state college with a 4.0 isn't as impressive as Yale with a 3.97. I went to Illinois State (not a bad school by any means but it's not Northwestern or The University of Chicago) and have a Ph.D. and 2 master's degrees. Also, I had NO DEBT when I graduated. I took out a loan, invested the $ and MADE $ off the investments. Bonus!!! Plus, opinions are just like arse--holes--everyone has one. It's good to get other's feedback; just make your own decision. You already know your answer. ;-) Laura Cobb Ph.D., LPC
Thank you comment icon It's me again--don't forget the extracurricular (I don't mean the parties). Volunteer work takes you so much further than you might realize. Laura Cobb Ph.D., LPC
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Katya’s Answer

Hi Vidhi, congratulations and welcome to your new and exited journey. I recommend that you do some universities based on your major. It’s a great field that you chose especially if this is your main interest.

So, make sure this is something that you really want to do for your job. Now-the world is so technological -any computer field would give you differ ways to spread your career.

Start by researching each university that you chose and read reviews, read about how much time they spend on your major and which major they are actually focusing the most.

You want to choose the one that has video leaning and not most learning is reading. I prefer interaction via video with the professors.

Also, compare tuitions- this is also a important portion.

From my experience-I found that if you want to do good-weather online or face to face-it shouldn’t matter which universities you choose -as long as you focus on your subject matter and get good grades. After graduating-it’s about getting as much experience as possible an later on you could continue your education and get a master degree if you interested.

So, research first-once you start reading and calling the universities you will learn more and you will find the one the suits you the best.

Good luck.
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Blake’s Answer

Hey Vidhi,

I would definitely recommend Auburn University, but I'm biased because that's where I attended haha. From what I found online, UFL was ranked the highest (couldn't find Cal or Illinois). However, I think Computer Science is a great degree! You could work in IT, Cybersecurity, etc. There are many opportunities in that field.

Thanks,
Blake
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Philip’s Answer

Hi Vidhi,

I agree with others that mentioned that a lot of universities will start off with remote courses this year so that might not be an issue. It is still ideal to attend in person for your bachelors degree but I know that it's much more expensive due to housing and other living costs. I would recommend applying to the best universities for computer science that are closest to where you live. It seems that you are in Las Vegas, so schools in California or Washington state may be ideal.

If you are still interested in an online degree only then I would suggest: Bachelor of Science in computer science from University of Maryland Global Campus. My company hires many graduates from the University of Maryland and they are well prepared to launch their careers after graduation. I wish you all the best in you university choice and your future endeavors!

Philip recommends the following next steps:

Research the Bachelor of Science in computer science from University of Maryland Global Campus: https://www.umgc.edu/academic-programs/bachelors-degrees/computer-science-major.cfm
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Joshua’s Answer

Hello! As an RIT grad I would suggest them, they're a great school for computer science and software engineering.

I know that they offer online courses at the moment but you will most likely be required to attend classes in person to graduate in the future.

If you're serious about computer science it's one of the better schools int he country for it and software engineering.

https://www.rit.edu/

If you're looking for some online specific degrees only they do offer those too.

https://www.rit.edu/ritonline/programs

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
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Benson’s Answer

As long as you believe that knowledge can change your destiny, no matter which online school you choose, it is also a good thing for you. Please find your passion. Set a goal, we call it Smart go. You have to go to the end.
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Rohit’s Answer

1. The University of London (in association with Coursera)
2. University of Florida (UF Online)
3. Trident University
4. Oregon State University
5. Old Dominion University
6. Florida State University
7. University of Illinois Springfield
8. DePaul University
9. Regent University
10. Southern New Hampshire University
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Helen’s Answer

1 University of Florida Gainesville, FL
2 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL
3 University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO
4 Auburn University Auburn, AL
5 Oregon State University Corvallis, OR
6 DePaul University Chicago, IL
7 Florida International University Miami, FL
8 Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA
9 Regent University Virginia Beach, VA
10 Concordia University-St. Paul Saint Paul, MN

Hello! We are dealing with unprecedented times. So, take time to reflect on what you like the most and focus on it!
Thank you comment icon Hey Helen, can you please elaborate why you picked these schools or link your sources? Gurpreet Lally, Admin
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Roddrick’s Answer

I would recommend talking to the advisors to see if the school would be a best fit for you. They would love to talk to you. With a computer science you will always be able to get a job as long as you build your portfolio. It is such a growing profession especially in this day and age.
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Theodore’s Answer

I would seriously consider looking at a four year university. Everyone is going online right now and the benefits of prestige and recruitment at a four year university are hard to devalue. The other plus to a four year university is that you can take classes online while COVID is a problem and transition to in-person once we shift back to normal. I understand how frustrating it can be to go to and pay for a four year university during these interesting times but in the long term you may be happy to have gone to a four year university. Hope this helped!
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John’s Answer

Vidhi,

I would recommend reaching out to the student advisors at the colleges you have decided to narrow it down to. My sister is currently a student at FSU and I have attended many of their football games so my response of FSU is bias. One important consideration is how you are going to finance your classes. Ensure you are paying attention to cost per credit hour.

I have added the link to Computer Science program at FSU below.

https://www.cs.fsu.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/
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Gabi’s Answer

I know a lot of people who are actually going to smaller community colleges during this time. It is a lot cheaper for your first 2 years and it seems to be the smarter option due to COVID issues making universities online and still the same price. Doing this can save you a lot of money and by the time you are finished with community college you can attend a University and take your necessary courses there. Usually your first years of college are spent taking general required classes so paying less money for those classes at a community college will save you a lot!
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