Q: Can a CS grad get a hardware job, and vice versa?
A: There’s some overlap and sometimes graduates from both majors will be applying to the same positions after college. That said, Computer Engineering provides more direct training for hardware jobs.
Q: What courses should you take in high school?
A: Students interested in studying either Computer Science or Computer Engineering should build a strong foundation in mathematics and the sciences. It can be a good idea to prioritize taking physics early on in high school and to be on track to take calculus.
Typically, a competitive applicant for either major will have completed the highest level of math offered at their school, with AP Calculus BC by junior year being preferred. Furthermore, students often benefit from taking the most advanced science courses available, such as AP Chemistry, AP Physics C, AP Computer Science A, and any available engineering courses.
If advanced math or science courses are not available at your high school, you can consider taking it online or at a community college.
Q: What kinds of clubs and organizations are good for high school students interested in CS or CE?
A: There are many options for students. The following are a few examples:
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Coding Club: Exploring CS concepts and coding.
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Robotics: Hands-on design, building, and programming of robots.
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Cybersecurity Club: Learn about online safety and network security.
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Math Club: Develop problem-solving and logical reasoning.
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Science Club: Learn broader STEM foundations.
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Girls Who Code/Black Girls CODE: Participation of girls and Black girls in computer science.
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And more.
Q: What are some relevant competitions for high school students interested in CS or CE?
A: There are many STEM competitions available for students to participate in. Here are some to consider:
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Programming Competitions: USACO, ACSL, HP CodeWars, Harker Programming Invitational
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Robotics Competitions: FIRST Robotics, VEX, Botball, RoboRAVE
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Cybersecurity Competitions: CyberPatriot, PicoCTF
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App Development Challenges: Congressional App Challenge, Technovation Challenge
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Maths and Science Competitions: AMC, Science Olympiad, Biology Olympiad, Chemistry Olympiad, F=ma
Q: Is it harder to be admitted to CS and CE programs than to other college majors?
A: Some universities have “direct admit” majors, which means a student is evaluated for that program of study at the time of application. Others prefer that students study more broadly for their first year, take prerequisite classes, and then apply to their major.
Direct-admit programs are often highly competitive and expect that students have very strong academic and experiential preparation in high school.
Because Computer Engineering is almost always part of a university’s School of Engineering, students may be admitted to a First Year Engineering program or direct to major.
Computer Science is often housed in a university’s Division of Arts and Sciences or its own College of Computer Science.
It is very important for you to look at these differences between universities to see which are a good fit for you and not out of reach in terms of the competition for admission.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to an Admission Counselor at a university that interests you to talk about your background and fit for different academic programs.
Q. What’s the best way for me to apply to college if I’m not sure which one I prefer, but I know I want to work with computers?
A: Highlight your general interest in computing and any related projects or activities in your application.
Apply to programs that offer a flexible first year, allowing you to take introductory courses in math, computer science, and engineering before declaring a major.
Additionally, consider colleges known for allowing students to easily switch into Computer Science and Computer Engineering programs later on. (Not every college will do so.)
Q. If I don’t love math, what’s an alternative to these majors in the tech field?
A: There are several tech-related fields that require less emphasis on advanced math. Here are some options:
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User Experience (UX) Design/User Interface (UI) Design: Create user-friendly interfaces. Relies more on design and user research.
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Web Development (Front-End): Build visual parts of websites. Primarily uses HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
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Digital Marketing: Uses online strategies for promotion, focusing on data analysis and online platforms.
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IT Support/System Administration: Maintains computer systems and networks.
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Project Management: Organizes tech projects, using organization and leadership.
Hopefully, this helps you get a better handle on the differences between Computer Science and Computer Engineering. Both are great fields to study with lots of opportunities in the future!