What university to go to for Computer Science? (Sydney)

[Deactivated] on 30/04/2020 - 21:12
Last edited 19/05/2020 - 20:28 by 1 other user

Hey fellas,

I would like to study CS, and i completed my UAC application last week, today in the morning I received an offer for Bachelor of computing science at UTS (4 yrs - including honours). I've accepted the offer, but after doing some research tonight, it seems that UNSW is a much better university for CS. But I wasn't given an offer as I wasn't "competitive enough".

But on the other hand I have heard that UNSW is a lot harder and they teach at a much faster pace, and most of the time you have to teach yourself things, whereas UTS isn't overly challenging.

Are there any other universities I should consider for CS? for example UOW, WSU, MQ where I do have a chance of getting an offer. or continue with UTS? I don't really like the fact that Honours is embedded into the degree, and I'm not really fond of that. What are my possible options?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! I'm fairly new to all of this, and its a bit overwhelming. thanks all.

Education & Work

Comments

  • MarsTitan on 30/04/2020 - 22:35
    +4

    Congrats, UTS is an excellent university. It is good to do a 4 years Bachelors with honours in the long run.

    • [Deactivated] on 30/04/2020 - 22:41

      thank you. and I just found out that there is another benefit, doing a 4 year degree qualifies you for the E-3 visa (allows you to work in the US with ease). So it might just be beneficial to push through the additional added year.

      • Donaldhump on 30/04/2020 - 22:46
        +2

        You want to work in the USA? I’d stay clear of that place while trump is in charge

        But with any it degree getting e3 visa be same regardless of institution

        Why not just do a 3 years bachelors, why the extra year?

        • follow on 30/04/2020 - 22:50

          isn't it 3 year degree and 3 years experience?

          • Donaldhump on 30/04/2020 - 23:05

            @follow: No idea, my point was I doubt institution makes a difference.

      • POSITIVEVIBESONLY on 01/05/2020 - 11:23

        Coding ability will go a long way more than if you're qualified for a visa.

  • [Deactivated] on 30/04/2020 - 22:50

    Can you ace first year and shift?

    • Donaldhump on 30/04/2020 - 23:06

      Then you lose your gpa

  • Mysterious on 01/05/2020 - 01:43

    This won't answer your question and I'm not saying don't invest time into finding the right uni, but a lot of what you get out of uni will be based on your effort in your work and extracurricular activities such as joining societies and volunteering. Make sure you immerse yourself in the whole uni lifestyle by taking on challenging subjects, attending events etc

  • Evoque10 on 01/05/2020 - 09:52

    Speaking from my own experience with my friends (circa 2007), UNSW was harder because they taught basic programming without holding your hands. You really need to do your own research in order to keep up with the course.

    They might be teaching you (in theory) about syntax and how to code in best practice, then comes assignment time.. voila, enough to keep you blankly stare at your screen for 2 weeks :D. The assignments themselves might include maths (trigonometry), web development, gaming, etc without them ever being mentioned to you during the lecture.

    Back then some of my friends from UTS sometimes asked for my help for their programming assignments.
    They were basically UNSW weekly tutorial level

    I dont know how good UNSW and UTS now, but what I'm trying to say is no matter which uni you go to, you need to push yourself outside the boundary of the course. Back then, UNSW did this so you really have to go along with it. UTS probably did not.

    • POSITIVEVIBESONLY on 01/05/2020 - 11:21

      I will second this comment, UNSW's computer science course was much more indepth and forced you to totally commit and I did some hard yards to make it. But I will say there was an awesome culture and defs lots of help from other students and tutors if you were willing to dedicate yourself to the cause.

      I think UTS's computer science course is relatively new but don't know how it does compare to UNSW's today. TBH I do think UNSW is better but it will be mainly depending on how much effort you put in.

  • scotty on 01/05/2020 - 12:11

    If you have 4 years and like challenges, UNSW also offers Computer Engineering and Software Engineering courses. Also keep in mind that with uni courses, it's more than just the course material but the community — people you hangout in your course. Choosing a harder course might also mean surrounding yourself with other people who like challenges, smarter, more entrepreneurial, etc.

    You might also want to look at alumni — where have the top tech founders/co-founders been graduated from? Just googled "top australian software companies" and got Atlassian, where both founders are UNSW grads (although BSci in BIT from Business School, not the School of CompSci).

    disclaimer: I'm also a UNSW grad :)

    • [Deactivated] on 01/05/2020 - 12:17

      Mark Bouris, Costa, Rebel Wilson and Arsalan Khawaja!

  • Cynicaloflife on 05/05/2020 - 01:45

    Look at the UNSW CS alumni, at least 40% are based in the states and a lot work for the FAANG. The CS grads at UNSW easily have highest opportunities.

  • lovetodiscuss on 16/05/2020 - 14:52

    Syd U or UNSW if you can get into them. If I were you. Then UTS if both failing. By the way, don't do 4 years, 3 years and get out to get a job. Hopefully one with good exposure and a big IT operation.

    • [Deactivated] on 16/05/2020 - 16:47

      that is what im stuck with now. UNSW and USYD havent given me an offer yet, so one way for me might be to try and get a credit transfer into second year. UTS and it's comp science doesnt have the best reviews (spoke to people studying it)

      • Icecold5000 on 16/05/2020 - 21:07

        Can you choose another degree where you can take 1st year programming and maths at usyd/unsw?

      • SnoozeAndLose on 16/05/2020 - 21:21

        Why comp science, do data science much better these day with big data everywhere.

        Programmer can be out scoured but data scientist can't need to have local knowledge.

        • Icecold5000 on 17/05/2020 - 08:03

          Isn’t data science just some programming and stats units cobbled together for marketing purposes as a major?

          • SnoozeAndLose on 17/05/2020 - 08:09

            @Icecold5000: What about CS? Surely you have DS degree will attract more job than CS. cS more IT and DS more business.

            • Icecold5000 on 17/05/2020 - 08:20

              @SnoozeAndLose: I don’t know. Data science degrees look they have been made up. Computer science is a fundamental academic discipline with some coherence. Having the ability and talent to code is better.

              • SnoozeAndLose on 17/05/2020 - 08:32

                @Icecold5000: It really depend on what selective subject to choose, I had an E-Business degree which I studied all programming subjects CS has plus some more BA, I found this look better on my CV for analyst role on business side. I was Software engineer too with E-Business degree so it is up to OP. DS tend to be more future and CS tend to more in the past. if OP want to work on IT forever.

                • Icecold5000 on 17/05/2020 - 08:41

                  @SnoozeAndLose:

                  DS tend to be more future and CS tend to more in the past.

                  If the OP has a real interest and talent in coding they can’t go wrong with computer science. It’s been around for 40 years. I can’t see Stanford dropping their comp sci degrees.

                  • SnoozeAndLose on 17/05/2020 - 09:11

                    @Icecold5000: Also surely wouldn't go wrong with DS, uni is just teaching the way how you solve problem,so if OP has a real talent, any degree will be fine.

                    • Icecold5000 on 17/05/2020 - 09:24

                      @SnoozeAndLose: Statistics is a real academic discipline, as is maths and computer science. Data science is an invention of university marketing departments.

        • chanhoz on 01/08/2020 - 18:36

          Data science is not easy to get into. Many job openings will require at least master degree.

  • Hans678 on 18/05/2020 - 22:23

    UTS is only good if you want to work as there are so few hours you need to attend, and you can choose to move all your classes at evening.

    Otherwise their curriculum is so (profanity), very easy or very hard, as they are not working as a team, each professor pulls different directions.

    Go for any major uni except for UTS.

  • emptypocket on 19/05/2020 - 20:05

    I didn't realise offers get released so early. Especially Go8 unis. I'd imagine the lower tier unis would be the first to dish out offers.

  • ryanzed on 01/08/2020 - 05:22

    Hi! I know this is a bit late, but a very good option is to apply for a science degree at UNSW and do all the subjects required for computer science. Then transfer at the end of the first year (with a decent WAM).
    Good luck!

    • [Deactivated] on 02/08/2020 - 17:11

      Hi, I unfortunately didn't get an offer for that from unsw, that is ok. I'm currently enrolled with UTS and have already started classes :)
      Maybe 2nd year I could look into a transfer. Thanks for your reply!

  • chanhoz on 01/08/2020 - 18:40
    +1

    UNSW is considered to be the best in Sydney. The most important for getting a job is networking. UNSW has better CS network/society than any other university including better connection with tech companies.

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