Talking Computer Science Admissions on the College and Career Clarity Podcast

Mar 16

I was thrilled to be invited to speak on the College & Career Clarity podcast hosted by Lisa Marker-Robbins of Flourish Coaching. The podcast caters to parents of college-bound students, educators, and anyone interested in helping students navigate their path toward a successful college and career. Lisa curates conversations with guests that help overwhelmed families decide about college, major, and future career choices.

Lisa reached out to me after my session at the November 2022 IECA Conference session on Navigating the Computer Science Admissions Landscape. She had heard positive feedback about my presentation and was interested in talking to me because many of her listeners whose teens are interested in computer science don’t grasp the competitiveness for admission. On December 20, 2022, we had a conversation where I shared my insights from a career as a computer science professor, engineering dean, and IEC specializing in STEM.

The podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in computer science admissions, particularly parents whose children are interested in pursuing computer science as a major. I highlight how to have a strong computer science fingerprint on the college application, why creative students may want to consider computer science, computer science-related majors for students to consider, and advice for navigating this highly competitive major. The podcast is available on the Flourish Site, Spotify, Apple, Google, Amazon Music, Stitcher, or your favorite platform.

Podcast Highlights

Why do college admissions leaders look to me for expertise about computer science?

I currently serve as the Dean of Academic Advising and Undergraduate Studies for the School of Engineering at Tufts University. In this role, I guide approximately 700 computer science (CS) students majoring in CS and oversee all undergraduate degree programs offered by the six departments in the School of Engineering, including the CS department. Before joining Tufts, I spent over two decades serving as a dean and a professor of computer science at Wellesley College, where I collaborated with colleagues at MIT and Olin College of Engineering to support students pursuing computer science and engineering. With experience in dual-degree STEM programs and having pioneered multiple such programs between Wellesley, MIT, and Olin, I specialize in mentoring young students preparing for careers in STEM program admissions, including those interested in CS and engineering.

While at Wellesley, I taught, advised, and mentored hundreds of computer science majors. I also served on the College’s Board of Admissions, reading and evaluating transfer student applications each year, including those seeking to major in CS. My leadership roles in higher education give me a unique appreciation for how institutional priorities are reflected in admissions decisions – in this case, how the saturated field of CS manifests in a student’s chances of admission. Through my decades supporting college students majoring in computer science, I know what students may expect on their college campus and what they should consider to identify good-fit CS schools.

How competitive has CS admissions become?

Lisa and I covered a lot of ground; We began by discussing how competitive CS admissions has become and why. I explained that there has been a drastic shift over the past decade in the pertinence and popularity of the field of computer science. A 2017 publication by the Computing Research Association reports that the number of Computer Science majors was at its low in 2006. In 2008, the economic downturn struck. Since then, computer science enrollments have exploded, more than tripling by 2015, and continue to skyrocket. For example, the University of Wisconsin-Madison saw an 800% increase in computer science majors in one decade, growing from 200 to over 2,000 students from 2011 to 2021. The Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington experienced an over 400% increase in interest in a similar time frame. This demand fuels the competitive CS admissions landscape.

Why has CS admissions become so competitive?

One reason for this explosion of interest in computer science is the strong return on investment (ROI) of a CS degree. As we all know, college is expensive. Additionally, families want their children to be prepared to live independently in an uncertain world, and opportunities for CS majors abound.

To make clear the competitiveness of CS programs, I shared the example of the University of Washington, which houses a top CS program in its Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. In the fall of 2021, the US nonresident (OOS) direct-to-major CS/Computer Engineering admit rate was 3%, while the direct-to-college Engineering admit rate was 33%, and the overall admit rate was 51%. So, I always work to manage admissions expectations for my CS-interested students and families.

How would I describe the field of computer science?

At its core, computer science is about creative problem-solving. A lot of people don’t realize how much creativity there is in the field of computer science. At Tufts, there is a School of Museum of Fine Arts, a School of Engineering, and a School of Arts and Sciences. Students in the Schools of Engineering and Museum of Fine Arts are the makers on campus! CS is a very creative, problem-solving-oriented discipline.

What does it take to have strong CS admissions outcomes?

I told Lisa that it’s not enough just to have outstanding grades in math and science classes. Students who have what I call a robust CS fingerprint have the best outcomes. And what I mean by that is their application is supported by CS-related or creative problem-solving activities. Some people think that for the best admissions outcomes, a student has to have all their activities be CS-related. To gain admission to the tippy top CS programs, a student who is “pointy” with CS-related activities will need to be at the very top - the best - of these activities, whether they be CS, robotics, or math competitions, to stand out from others who have done many of the same or similar activities. It’s great to have CS-related activities that demonstrate a genuine interest in the field. Still, if students extend themselves in ways that others haven’t, they may differentiate themselves in the application pool. I have a lot of success with students with essay topics that show creative problem-solving in unique non-CS ways or who do activities different from many other students whose extracurricular activities are all CS-related.

What else is needed to be competitive as a CS applicant?

Students should take a lot of math and science and do well in these courses. If sending test scores, the math scores should be strong. Students may augment their high school curriculum through MOOCs, Khan Academy, dual enrollment, or some local college courses outside their high school. It’s helpful to identify activities that genuinely interest a student and that they are excited about. It can be powerful if a student can generate something themselves rather than do something similar to what other CS-interested students do. I shared examples of how some of my students have done this with Lisa.

What are CS-related majors?

Lisa asked me to share other possible majors for CS-interested students that could help keep the career path of computer science open when they can’t get directly admitted into a CS program. I told her about one of my students who wanted to study computer science but was instead admitted to the University of Waterloo for their geomatics degree. Geomatics is the computer science-related field of data science that underpins Google Maps and those types of tools. Here are some other related fields:

computer engineering
electrical engineering
data science
robotics
geographic information systems (GIS)
human-computer interaction
computational biology
applied and computational mathematics
informatics
human factors engineering
digital arts and media
cognitive science, and
statistics and machine learning

Authenticity is Key for Success in Admissions and Beyond

Every student’s best chances of admission are through an authentic application. Lisa and I concluded with some remarks about how important it is that CS be a genuine interest on the part of the student. Otherwise, they won’t be able to make that authentic application to schools and see the outcomes that families hope for.

Also, they might not be happy! Most of us will be most successful if we’re actually pursuing what we really love, as opposed to what we think will translate into a job. As dean, I’ve worked with many students studying a subject for the wrong reason. I’ve had students tell me they don’t like engineering, but they’re majoring in it just because they will get a job when they graduate, to which I respond, “Well, by doing so, you’re likely signing up for a job that you won’t like.” I guide students to ask themselves: What do I love? What am I good at? What can I be compensated for? What adds value to society? The intersection of the answers to these questions - that should be their North Star.

CS in Engineering vs. Arts and Sciences?

Following our rich conversation, Lisa and I also discussed the differences between studying computer science within a school of Engineering vs. a School of Arts and Sciences, which I’ve also addressed otherwise. Our conversation will be available as another interview from Flourish Coaching in the future - stay tuned for details about accessing it.

Thank you, Lisa, for the opportunity to join you on your podcast and share my expertise with your listeners!

Listen to the Full Podcast on the Web

Fall 2023 update: New Course Announcement

I’ve created a new online course to help students apply to college as a CS major: How to Write a Standout Computer Science College Application. The course covers the components of a strong computer science (CS) college application and helps high school students increase their chances of gaining admission to CS programs. Students receive concrete and actionable takeaways, including guidance, resources, and reflective exercises through 70 lessons delivered through a mix of media: videos, audio and screen recordings, documents, and fillable PDFs. The first module (0) and its five lessons are complimentary via preview at the course site.

How to View Module 0 (Complimentary)

View the course outline and Module 0. If you’d then like to sign up for the course, click on the button labeled “Unlock the course to get started on your path to studying CS in college!” and you’ll be directed to set up an account and enroll. Or, simply click on the Get the Course button below.