The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 4 (of 5)

Quality of CS Department

Anybody know anything about the CS department at the University of Pittsburgh? Is it a good place to get a Masters? Thanks.

bob
Monday, April 12, 2004

Could you post with an email address please. Thanks.

Lou
Monday, April 12, 2004

However good it may be, it aint as good as Carnegie Mellon University.

BlankMan
Monday, April 12, 2004

"However good it may be, it aint as good as Carnegie Mellon University."

True, but CMU doesn't offer a MSCS - only a PhD.

bob
Monday, April 12, 2004

I sit corrected, sir bob.

Here's the 2003 graduate school rankings for computer science programs, courtest of US News & World Report magazine:

http://lazowska.cs.washington.edu/usnews2003/cs.htm

University of Pittsburgh was tied for 49th place.

BlankMan
Monday, April 12, 2004

Thanks BlankMan. Guess I'm showing how little I know, but is 49th place good, bad, average? Where would the cutoff point be for a good MSCS?

bob
Monday, April 12, 2004

The US News & World Report rankings are totally suspect - colleges do a lot to cater to them, which often doesn't have much to do with the quality of education you get.

The best CS school is:
1) the one your interviewer went to
2) a CS program your interviewer has heard of
3) a school your interviewer thinks is top-rate
4) a school your interviewer has heard of

You may notice some subjectivity here that is out of your control... [grin]

You should review the course listings, then find people that actually went through the program and ask their thoughts. Talk to the admissions office, and maybe try to talk to one or more professors.

Grad school can cost 3-4x as much as a car; might as well do as much work as you'd do buying a car...

Philo

Philo
Monday, April 12, 2004

I got my CS degree from the University of Pittsburgh. They did a good job of preparing for the real world. I graduated ten years ago and if you have any specific questions feel free to email me.

Bill Rushmore
Tuesday, April 13, 2004