Best schools for computer science?

Hi there, I've always been passionate about technology and want to study computer science in college. Can anyone recommend some top schools for computer science, either nationally or regionally? Additionally, are there any cool clubs or extracurriculars at these schools that involve coding or computer science?

Certainly! There are several excellent schools for computer science, both nationally and regionally. Here is a list of some top schools for computer science at the national level:

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

2. Stanford University

3. Carnegie Mellon University

4. University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley)

5. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

6. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

7. University of Washington (UW)

8. University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)

Keep in mind that the best fit for you may depend on factors like location, financial aid, and campus culture. Different schools also tend to have various strengths within computer science such as artificial intelligence, graphics, human-computer interaction, and networking, so researching each school's particular strengths will help you find a program that aligns with your interests.

In terms of cool clubs and extracurricular activities at these schools, many of them have their own chapters of prominent CS organizations such as the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), Women in Computing (WiC), and Hackathons (where students compete in a marathon-like coding event). Some schools also have more specialized clubs, like:

- MIT's TechX: A student-run group that works on organizing tech-related events, hackathons, and other programming initiatives.

- Stanford's Computer Science Club: Offers various resources for students interested in CS, including tutoring programs and tech talks.

- Carnegie Mellon University's Build18: A week-long hackathon focused on learning and experimenting through building hardware and software projects.

- UC Berkeley's Codeology: A group that teaches members valuable computer science concepts through workshops and project-based learning.

- Caltech's Coding Club: A community for fostering a passion for coding through workshops, industry talks, and project collaborations.

Researching clubs and extracurriculars at each of your target schools can provide a better understanding of how these communities support your interests and passions in computer science.

Good luck in your college search, and I hope this helps you find the right school for your computer science education!