International Asian Sophomore looking for CS Schools

[grave thicket]

Location/Region: Preferably urban or suburban
Major: Computer Science or Applied Mathematics (Currently confused lol)
GPA/Test Scores (optional): 4.0 GPA, 36 ACT (My school does not do GPA but I found a calculator online)
APs(13) : CSA(5), Psych(5), Eng Lang(5), Env Sci, Stat, Physics 1, Human Geo. Planned: Macro, Micro, Calc BC, Phys 2, Chem, Bio
Curriculum: I don't want it to be a huge burden, the curriculum should be fairly easy-ish. I don't wanna grind my ass off just to graduate in college. I want research opportunities though!
Size: Not too small. Otherwise anything works
Costs: No aid required
Schools you're currently looking at (if any): Brown, GaTech, UT Austin, UIUC, UNC Chapel Hill, and UCLA
Additional: I want a pretty campus close to the beach!

Also I wanted to let y'all know that I'm Indian and have lived in India my whole life so if that'll have any effect please lmk

[fiery echo]

The schools you’re looking at are all very good. If you’re looking for a campus by the beach, UCSD has a solid CS program. Also consider some schools like UW Madison and UMD which have great programs but aren’t as selective.

Also, the CS curriculum will be difficult no matter where you go

[grave thicket]

thank you! i had considered UMD and UW Madison as well. Also UoW at Seattle!. Do you have any other unis with proximity to a beach in mind?

any uni with like a 1 hour drive to the beach also works

i just want the beach 🤩 🌊 🤽🏼

[grave thicket]

i think yale qualifies under this criteria

also UoW at Seattle

[fiery echo]

UCSB has a campus owned beach

Idk too many campuses near beaches but you’ll be good with any school in a coastal city/state

There’s also some schools in the Midwest like northwestern and Purdue that are close to beaches

[grave thicket]

thank you!

also guys the beach is just a preference pls dont hesitate to recommend other good unis. i'm more into unis with like nature-y campuses like those pink flowers blooming and all that. (fuck im weird) so like brown

[zinc sand]

FYI the GPA calculator is probably inaccurate. Colleges will either convert your grades using their own system or use your grades as they are

Have you considered USC (https://www.cs.usc.edu/) It's in LA, has a ton of research funding and a pretty campus. Very strong alumni network as well from what I know. And a top feeder to silicon valley big tech
In fact, they just allocated $10 mil to generative AI research like two days ago

the curriculum should be fairly easy-ish
This really depends on your skill, willingness to learn, and passion for your major. If you're looking to do CS at a top uni, you should expect to be challenged
Idk, USC might be a good fit for you. In their admitted student welcome webinar they emphasised that while we will be challenged, we don't need to be overachievers anymore

[zinc sand]

I know what you mean. Take a look at Cornell

[grave thicket]

thank you!

[ashen fulcrum]

Beaches in the northeast 💀

[sly saffron]

i see that ur interested in california

if ur applying to UCLA, u can apply to berkeley and UCSD too

berkeley EECS is in the conversation for the best cs program in the country so

but u said u dont wanna grind urself off and at EECS you'll have to grind and grind but the opportunities after graduating from EECS are endless

[bleak cradle]

UCSC is very nature based and close to beaches

They have a really good CS program as well

Could be a good safety for you with these scores (but again no school is really a safety for international CS majors)