Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Computer Support Specialists
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Santa Monica College, Pasadena City College, Berkeley City College, and Moorpark College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Mt Sierra College, San Diego State, Cal State San Marcos, and Bethesda Christian.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Mills College, LA College International, and Humphreys.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider ICDC, Rio Hondo College, Cal State L.A., and CSU Dominguez Hills.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Palo Verde College, Mendocino College, Brandman, and Monterey Peninsula College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of LA College International, Pomona College, Cal Tech, and Harvey Mudd.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Harvey Mudd, Pacific Union College, Claremont McKenna, and Pomona College.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Cal Tech, Harvey Mudd, Pomona College, and Stanford University.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Stanford University, Cal Tech, Pomona College, and Claremont McKenna.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at UC San Francisco, Cal Tech, Pomona College, and Claremont McKenna.
Spotlight Schools Search
Spotlight California Schools Related to This Career
- Locations: Alhambra, Anaheim, Bakersfield, Colton, Daly City, Elk Grove, Fremont, Fresno, Irvine, Long Beach, Palmdale, Pomona, San Diego, Sherman Oaks
- Programs: 2 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor
- Locations: Bakersfield, Beale AFB, Chula Vista, Costa Mesa, Culver City, Diamond Bar, El Centro, Elk Grove, Fairfield, Fresno, Gardena, Lancaster, Lathrop, Livermore, Los Angeles, Murrieta, Oakland, Ontario, Palm Desert, Pasadena, Rancho Cordova, Roseville, Sacramento, Salida, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Marcos, Visalia, Woodland Hills
- Programs: 4 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor, Master
- Locations: Clovis, Concord
- Programs: 4 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate
DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management
- Locations: Alhambra, Anaheim, Colton, Daly City, Elk Grove, Fremont, Irvine, Long Beach, Oakland, Palmdale, Pomona, San Diego, San Jose, Sherman Oaks
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Master, Post- Bachelor's Certificate
- Locations: Alameda, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Monica
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Doctorate, Master
- Locations: San Francisco, San Jose
- Programs: 2 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor
- Locations: National City, San Diego, San Marcos
- Programs: 6 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor, Master
- Locations: Santa Rosa
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Diploma
- Locations: San Francisco, Santa Clara
- Programs: 5 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor, Master
See these schools on a map
Study from Anywhere at Online Schools Related to This Career
- Programs: 5 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor, Master
- Programs: 3 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor
- Programs: 17 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor, Doctorate, Master
- Programs: 5 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor, Master
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor
Keiser University eCampus Online
- Programs: 3 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Modesto Junior College • Modesto, CA
Studying Computer Networking (completion in 2011)
• 8/11/2011
"My school had a good mix of professors who knew their material very well and knew how to explain it easily, with hands on learning that I feel benefits me most. The labs were very informative and definitely helped me understand the topics better than just by reading the book."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | MJC has helped me get a jump start on my career and I am now an IT Technician because MJC helped me learn the necessary topics required. If it weren't for MJC I would still have huge gaps in my knowledge of computers and how they work, and I would have a hard time trying to find a company that would be willing to hire me. |
| Program Reputation | 4 | MJC is known mainly for producing nurses and doctor's assistants. The school is in an almost rural setting away from a lot of high-tech companies, and therefore doesn't have much of a reputation for computer networking or computer science in general. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Although my school is in a fairly small city, they had a decent lab for us to work in. My favorite part of the school was my professor, though. Not only does he have a PhD, but he knows how to explain even the most obscure topic in a way that made sense to me. The computers in the labs were a bit dated but each student got their own computer to work on. |
| Instruction | 10 | My main computer science teacher has a PhD in computer networking, and I learned at least as much from him in two years as I did on my own in 10 years. He would answer questions students may have had, even if they were off-topic. They also had discounts for students on certain Microsoft products so the students could practice at home. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I found the work not challenging at all the first year due to previous experience, however by the end of the second year I almost had a hard time keeping up and had to study a couple of hours each night. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of my core computer science classes had either optional or mandatory labs coupled with the lectures. The lectures usually went over a certain topic, with the lab tying in how to use the technology in a work environment. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | MJC offers classes year round, including two condensed courses during the summer. They also have online classes for many of the courses I took. I was able to take computer science courses I already knew online while taking more challenging courses in person. MJC also offers courses Monday-Saturday during the fall and spring semesters and they have night classes for anyone that may work during the day. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | MJC has a decent sized library, with many videos and magazines as well as books. They have 3 or 4 different public computers labs, and at least as many classroom computer labs. MJC also offers study spaces around campus and each professor is required to stay before or after class for at least an hour so students can ask questions and get assistance. |
| Social Life | 4 | MJC is a small community college, and as such, school spirit is barely present among most students. They do have competitive sports, and play other schools in their division. They have parties every month or so, but attendance is usually low. |
| Placement Services | 7 | MJC has a job placement office, but does not actively look for work for students. Instead they have a bulletin board with jobs the local companies have posted. When asked about employment, most students (myself included) are directed to the bulletin board. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I actually have not used many alumni resources from my school, and I was not fully briefed on all the resources the school offers. I do not know much about their alumni program. |
San Diego Mesa College • San Diego, CA
Studying History (completion in 2011)
• 8/15/2011
"I absolutely loved attending Mesa. I thought it was exactly what I needed."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | You can't beat Mesa for the combination of cheap education with quality teaching. The facilities are outstanding and the staff mostly cares. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | No school has a high degree of emphasis for History. Sad given that it is a great basis for knowledge. |
| Program Quality | 5 | It's a community college. I can't have high expectations. They do, however, focus on the students and their achievement. |
| Instruction | 5 | I had some instructors that were fantastic that I liked. I also had some that were fantastic that I didn't like. I had others that were poor and I did like. Kind of a mixed bag! |
| How Difficult | 5 | I got all A's. I don't have any basis for comparison. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It's a college and not a technical school. Books, tests, and papers are the order of the day. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Class sizes are large, but space is still limited. There are some classes that everyone needs which get filled quickly and others that get very little attention. Pretty standard. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The Library/LRC is amazing. The staff there is wonderful, and the atmosphere is one of genuine caring for learning. |
| Social Life | 5 | Social experiences are dependent on the people that are trying to make friends. That will be hard or easy depending on the person no matter what the school environment is. |
| Placement Services | 1 | Mesa has a website that is for finding a job, but it is run by another company. They have some career counseling but I don't know anyone that has used it. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There is no such thing as an alumni network at this college. There is some tongue in cheek allusions between graduated friends, but that's about it. |
DeVry West Hills • West Hills, CA
Studying Electronics & Computer Technology (completion in )
• 8/13/2011
"I got the training I wanted, but not what I needed. And for far less cost, you could do just as well at a local vocational college."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | DeVry makes a living off their name and their frequent TV ads. But the overall experience is not worth your money. |
| Program Reputation | 3 | Most firms see DeVry as a diploma mill. You can have a better rep going to a vocational school. |
| Program Quality | 2 | The ECT program provides enough training to be a computer tech, but just barely. Not enough time was spent on actual problem solving. |
| Instruction | 5 | They had good instructors with a wide variety of experiences. But the curriculum is designed to pump out grads, not to teach. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The compressed schedules used at DeVry can be tricky. If you can't keep up with the material, you can complicate your class schedules. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | All technical classes have a mix of coursework and labs. The two are designed to compliment each other throughout your training. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | Most campuses are too small to have more than a few of each classes, which only gets worse the higher up you go. This can add months to your training as the classes you want are not available at your convenience. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Libraries and technical materials are readily available. The instructors are helpful and usually easy to get access to away from class. |
| Social Life | 1 | Nobody goes to DeVry for social activities. Some clubs and such are encouraged, but the general feeling is that we're here to get training and get jobs. |
| Placement Services | 1 | You do all the work yourself. One may as well stay at home and peruse Monster.com for all the good they do. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | Once they have your money and you get a diploma, you may as well be invisible. Career help was miniscule at best. And the only contacts you get from them afterwards are to get you to sign up for more classes. |
UCLA • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Electrical Engineering (completion in 2009)
• 9/24/2011
"I was very satisfied. UCLA provided a very strong curriculum for solid-state devices. I got many opportunities to do research in this field."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes. UCLA has the resources to allow students to excel in science and engineering. The professors are very adamant that students learn and push every student to reach their maximum potential. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | UCLA has one of the strongest circuit program in the nation. In solid-state devices, UCLA has three fabrication rooms (clean rooms), which is rare for a university to have. Clean rooms cost several thousands of dollars to run. |
| Program Quality | 7 | UCLA prepared me for a good career in Electrical Engineering for solid-state devices. They gave us a mix of hands-on (lab) experience and theoretical concepts. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instructors were very knowledgeable and very helpful during office hours. The instruction was typically fast-paced, but that is how it had to be in a quarter system. |
| How Difficult | 9 | In the classroom we were always challenged by our homework and exams. We were ranked based on how well we did on the homework from moment we submitted our first assignment. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | UCLA works hard towards teaching the theory and tries to get students hands-on experience with laboratory courses. The laboratory courses serve as the foundation for hands-on learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | UCLA has extension courses and some online degree courses. Overall, their online degree system is fairly new. For Electrical Engineering, there are few options - pretty much a set schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Libraries were extremely convenient. They are open 24 hours during finals sessions and staff is always willing to help you find something or point you to the right resources to do your research. |
| Social Life | 5 | I wasn't very social during my time at UCLA. I spent a lot of my time working in the lab and studying for classes. I went out maybe once or twice a quarter with friends. |
| Placement Services | 7 | UCLA holds career fairs every spring and fall quarter to help students find jobs. They also have companies hold information sessions every month. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Alumni network hosts several events to benefit the community throughout the year. They also hold special alumni job networking services for those looking for work. |
San Jose State University • San Jose, CA
Studying Computer Engineering (completion in 2009)
• 9/23/2011
"I was able to get internship after 2 semesters of coursework. Also, in my current job I am still applying the concepts I learned."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The evening classes let you work during the day. Coursework helps you improve in your current job or learn a lot of new skills/technologies to get a new/better job. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The program is very well received in the industry. Most graduates find internship or jobs during or soon after the completion of the degree. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The program was very good and very relevant to the current needs in the industry. But, I wish some of the teachers were better. |
| Instruction | 8 | Curriculum was very relevant to the software industry requirements. Quality of instruction was good, but could have been better. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Work load was as heavy as expected in a graduate program. Academic challenge was difficult as projects and assignments required one to quickly learn new technology, which sometimes was not mature and had issues, leading to wastes of time. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The courses require learning new technologies and applying them in the assignments/projects. Learning is mostly hands-on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Most classes were in the evening, so that was helpful. Sometimes 2 courses were at the same time, so someone interested in both had to wait to take one of the courses in another semester. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Great library with helpful resources. All students required to have personal computing resources, so no media/lab was required. Classrooms are sufficient. Advisors/teachers are generally available during their office hours or after class and are very helpful. |
| Social Life | 5 | Not much of a social experience as it is a commuter's college. I was working full-time along with taking the classes, so there wasn't much time for social events at the school. |
| Placement Services | 8 | School regularly held placement camps and provided training and help for better resumes and interviews. More companies need to be attracted to the job fairs. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | There is an alumni network and support system in place. But, I do not have enough information to evaluate their role and significance. |
Mendocino College • Ukiah, CA
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2010)
• 9/21/2011
"I am not satisfied, but I did get a good job from the degree. The campus is good, the teachers are nice, but the money just isn't there, so the teacher motivation is minimal and the resources are scarce."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Go to a real school! Some good options are UC Berkeley, UC Irvine and UC Chico, all of which have much better computer science departments. Mendocino College is only a good option if you don't have enough money to move somewhere else or can't get the right amount of financial aid. |
| Program Reputation | 1 | Every student knows that the computer science department is largely discarded, that it has been replaced by self-teaching at home or on a job. My school is known for its football team and not much else. |
| Program Quality | 2 | The school I attended used to be decent, but after budget cuts over the past few years the CS department took a huge hit, and lost three full-time teachers. The networking classes, MCSE certification, and C++/Visual Basic programming classes were the first to go. |
| Instruction | 3 | I did not get my career until after graduation, as it required a degree to apply. The degree is largely worthless in what it taught me; the teachers were quite miserable (although occasionally enthusiastic about the subject), and most of what I learned was simply teaching myself via doing local tech support for anybody I knew who needed it. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The difficulty is rated a six, mostly because of the incompetence of the teachers. The work load was average for the classes I took, but the teachers were extra critical because there were so few people taking the classes in the rural community I live in. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The book learning is almost practically unavailable. The program is very hands-on and the professors advocate hands-on learning whenever possible. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The classes offer a wide variety of weekday, weekend, evening, summer, and online options. The one problem is that there is usually only one time that the class goes, not several options. So if you want to take a given class, you must sign up for the day and time of their choosing. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Facilities were surprisingly good! The library is well-stocked, computers are good and labs are often available. Classrooms are roomy and comfortable and the professors are all accessible by phone, email, or in person. |
| Social Life | 1 | There is no school spirit except at football games, and there is no on-campus housing dorms so there isn't much going on socially on or around the campus. |
| Placement Services | 2 | I don't know much about this, which is a sign itself. I know it exists but I do not know if it works well. I didn't use it. I know that the school has a really unlikable person in charge of this department, and that can't be good. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There simply isn't one. It's a community college and the alumni network consists pretty much only of your teachers remembering your name when you visit them years later. |
Heald School Of Technology • Concord, CA
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2006)
• 9/28/2011
"I like my school overall. They provided me with my first career."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I think I would recommend my school if someone wanted to have a quick education. But if they wanted to get a four year degree, I would have to send them elsewhere as Heald does not offer a BS. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The rating I chose was because of two reasons. First, because my own experience with them, and second, because in two jobs that I have had since graduating, both employers took into account that I attended Heald when they hired me. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The classes provided allowed me to have the best education possible. The teaching staff were all people who had been in the industry for years. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instructors always gave real world examples of situations that we might run up against. The curriculum taught was diverse enough to allow me to choose my career path of choice. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The program that I chose was difficult yet fun because I really love working with computers. Again, it was very diverse and moving from one course of study to the next was sometimes overwhelming. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Almost every class had something hands on. All the instructors made sure of it. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | There was a rigorous schedule of classes that we had to follow. There was no flexibility in the hours. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | We had access to excellent laboratories and study facilities. While there were no tutors, we did have some great TA's and the professors always had office hours. |
| Social Life | 3 | The only social activities were ones that students put together. They usually happened after big tests. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I found that at best, my college was able to provide leads to potential jobs. I had to venture outside of this service in order to find adequate employment. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I received minimal support from the alumni staff for help with resumes. They were, however, helpful in providing job leads, so I guess it all evened out. |
Riverside City College • Riverside, CA
Studying Business Administration & Cisco Systems (completion in 2012)
• 10/5/2011
"My school is pretty affordable. It is also where I have learned everything I know about Computer Networking."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would Recommend my school to anyone who is good at learning material at a fast pace. I would also recommend this school to anyone willing to dedicate their time to Cisco networking, because the program at RCC is helpful. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | My school has a great reputation as an affordable way to earn an Associate's degree. My college is also an accredited two year college and offers many ways to learn a variety of subjects. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Riverside City College was very affordable and offered all of the courses required for my Associate's degree. |
| Instruction | 7 | In the Cisco courses my teacher and others around me offered support in helping to learn the course materials. Other RCC courses were taught more out of the book, which I found to be a bore sometimes. |
| How Difficult | 9 | There was a very high dropout rate in my Cisco course. I have been told from others who have dropped out of Cisco that the concepts were too difficult for them to understand. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Classes at RCC tend to be taught out of the book, but at the Cisco program, more of the material was taught with a hands-on approach with real world routers and switches to help assist is students how to learn the material. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Cisco is once a week at the class. the rest of the class and all tests are completed online at your convenience, and are available throughout the semester. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | RCC offers many accommodations to students. The library is two stories and offers access to over fifty computers. |
| Social Life | 9 | My two best friends I met in the Cisco learning academy at RCC. Without these two friends, I would probably not have found the resources they had that gave us the ability to more efficiently learn the Cisco material. |
| Placement Services | 8 | There is a job placement department at RCC. The Job placement department in the Cisco academy connection is very helpful as well. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | Cisco has a great Alumni connection for the learning academy, including RCC. |
San Mateo Community College • San Mateo, CA
Studying Computer Support Specialist (completion in 2005)
• 10/24/2011
"I was satisfied with the courses because of the mix of excellent students and facilities and the instructors weren't awful. I would recommend that they keep their courses up to date."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | For the pricing it is a good school to attend. I would probably base my decision on how much money a student is able to spend on education. |
| Program Reputation | I haven't been back to the school or talked to any current student at the school so I'm not really sure. Maybe if I contacted one of the current students I could give a more complete response. | |
| Program Quality | 5 | It seems like the program is very cookie-cutter in nature. They don't teach you real world skills. Of the things I learned in school I maybe use 20 percent at work. I do admit that it laid a solid groundwork on which to build on. |
| Instruction | 3 | The quality of instruction is low in comparison to real world skills. The career preparation aspect of it needs some updating as well. |
| How Difficult | 3 | I have quite a bit of experience in the computer field, specifically hardware. Because of this, the course seemed very easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The courses used lots of text book training which limited our real world experience to what was relevant 5 years ago. In the computer industry it is extremely important to keep courses fresh due to constantly changing technology. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | Their schedule was fixed for the classes I took. I did take a couple of online courses that were completed at my own pace so there was a bit of flexibility. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | In this respect the college was very accommodating. I had tons of time to access computer resources and the library. Study groups were great and tutors were always available. |
| Social Life | 6 | These activities were always available and school spirit was high. I didn't dedicate much after school hours to these activities though. |
| Placement Services | 2 | As with most community colleges job placement is virtually nonexistent. I had better luck finding a job by going at it myself. I found a job within a couple of months using Craigslist. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | One thing I really enjoyed was the other students and the ability that we had to network and help each other out. The facilities were always available to us. |
Heald College • Rancho Cordova, CA
Studying Information Technology (completion in 2003)
• 10/24/2011
"I was not impressed with the school. I am disappointed that I wasted my money there instead of going to a real university. That's why I am going back to college to do it right this time."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | You're not going to get what you pay for at Heald. I would never recommend it to anyone. I always steer people toward real colleges. |
| Program Reputation | 2 | Since I have left, they stopped providing the Information Technology program. Also, considering it's not a true university, people look down on it. |
| Program Quality | 4 | The classes were way too easy. It was all very basic and could have been much more challenging. |
| Instruction | 4 | In some classes I seemed to know more than the teachers. There definitely wasn't enough hands on experience which would help you out in the real world job. |
| How Difficult | 3 | I was working full time while going to classes and it wasn't a burden at all. I feel like they could have been much more challenging with schoolwork. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was way too much book. Not enough hands-on at all. This poses a problem especially in the technology field because everything you do is hands-on. You can read something in the book on how to fix it, but actually being faced with the situation is much different. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | They provided classes at all times. I was able to go to work full time while going to school at night. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | There isn't much to Heald College. It's run more like a business than a school. |
| Social Life | 2 | Everyone who goes there attends simply to get in and out. There isn't much of a social aspect there. There are no sports teams, no clubs. You're there to get your degree and leave. |
| Placement Services | I do not know to be honest. I never used their services to help me find a job. | |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I honestly don't even know much about their alumni network. Once I graduated I never looked back. The degree there didn't really help me get my job now, it was the knowledge I already had and the way I answered the questions in the interview that did it. |
ITT Tech • Corona, CA
Studying Information Technical Training (completion in 2014)
• 11/3/2011
"I feel great pride for myself and so does my family. It was a wonderful school and I learned a lot."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, this school is amazing for those seeking a technical career. The atmosphere is wonderful and you will definitely learn a lot during your time there. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | All of the students felt a lot of pride being in a great school such as ITT tech. I've heard many great things from people outside of school. |
| Program Quality | 8 | They had a very nice program and taught us many things. Though it did take quite a while to get a doctoral degree, it was well worth it. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instructors were very nice and helpful. They definitely were trained to a full extent. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The field did require a lot of work. It was worth it, even given the number of late nights. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Both of these were available. We had textbooks to learn from and hands on experience with technology. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | It was hard to find flexibility in the courses so I could budget my time properly. It was hard because classes were limited to first come first serve. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | They had very nice academic facilities and a wonderful library. The tutors were available during school hours which was nice in case we needed any help. |
| Social Life | 6 | Many of the students were focused on themselves. I was able to find friends and people I enjoyed spending time with. |
| Placement Services | 10 | I was able to find a job right away after I got my degree. They showed me all the directions I could go in. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | Many people seem to focus on themselves. I believe the support network should focus on those around them too. |
Folsom Lake College • Folsom, CA
Studying Computer Information Science (completion in 2014)
• 11/10/2011
"School is school. There's not really a sense of pride as at the larger colleges. But as a place of learning, yeah it's good."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I'd recommend a state school if the student could afford it. While the professors are excellent and the price is reasonable, you just can't get the same atmosphere that you can at a larger school. |
| Program Reputation | I don't really know how my school rates. I know that my campus has the best technology in the district , which would obviously place the school higher on the list. However, every school is good at something, and community colleges are more geared towards getting students the basic education requirements. | |
| Program Quality | 5 | It's a community college, so it's not the best college out there. The professors know what they're talking about, and they're helpful when you want to learn new skills. My favorite classes are the programming ones, but all computer classes are interesting to me. |
| Instruction | 10 | The professors are knowledgeable and helpful when you have questions. I haven't studied at a major university, but for my needs the professors do a fine job. They are always there to help me with any question that I may have. |
| How Difficult | 4 | I've been interested in computers since I was a young girl, so many classes are a review for me. I learn new bits every day. It's always fun to expand my knowledge and learn how to further fix a computer. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | In the computer science program, you take what you learn from the book and then write programs/websites/etc. based on what you learned from the book. Obviously, practice makes perfect so hands-on work is essential. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | Most teachers only offer their classes once a semester on certain days, usually at night. This is frustrating since you can only take one class at a time. So instead of taking several classes at once, you're stuck taking one computer class a semester and filling up the rest of your schedule with boring classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The computers are always up to date. However, the computer science section in the library is terrible and there are no computers set apart specifically for the computer science students. You often have to wait all day for a computer that you can program on if you don't have the resources at home. |
| Social Life | This rating is skewed because I'm not a social person. We did have cool events at the beginning of the semester, but besides those activities and the Transfer Days in October, there's really not much of anything going on on campus. | |
| Placement Services | 3 | There are no job boards on campus. You have to go through the counseling office, which always has a huge wait. It's better to just go on Monster or ask professors for job/experience opportunities than try to ask guidance counselors. |
| Alumni Network | I haven't had experience with the alumni network yet as I haven't graduated. I'm not sure how to get into contact with those in this group. However, I'm looking forward to helping other students work through this program. |
Santa Monica College • Santa Monica, CA
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2000)
• 11/29/2011
"I got what I paid for. I just wish that it had an ongoing component."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If you want to get a undergraduate degree in computer science from USC or UCLA, SMC is the school to go to. Just make sure you know what school you are transferring to so that you get the classes you need. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | They are number one in transfers to UCLA and USC. So if I wanted to transfer to a top local school, I went to the right school. |
| Program Quality | 10 | At the time the education was very relevant and would have made a good stepping stone had I continued. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instructors knowledge was a little dated but I learned a lot that I was able to use in the workplace. There was some repetitiveness but that's to be expected for the audience they are teaching (teenagers and 20's). |
| How Difficult | 5 | Some classes were difficult, and others were easy. It all depends on how much you know when you come in. I knew a lot. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a mix of book time and hands on, but I wish there had been more time in the lab. All book learning is theoretical and employers don't value that. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | They had nights and summer, but no weekend classes. I would have appreciated weekend courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | There was not enough technical resources available. I would have liked a fully-outfitted server lab with all the bells. |
| Social Life | 1 | The events were designed for new high school graduates not for people of all ages. There are quite a few adult students like me. |
| Placement Services | 1 | Only entry level positions seemed to be available, and none of them really required the degree. They didn't seem to have any industry relationships. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | SMC's alumni network seems to be a fund raising organization. They say they have events for graduates and students but it seems designed just to extract money from them, not to help them with their careers. |
University Of California Santa Barbara • Santa Barbara, CA
Studying Philosophy (completion in 2006)
• 12/14/2011
"I can't complain about my college experience. It's a bad job market with or without a degree, but I met many cool people in college."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | IT does not always require a degree, so you may not need to go to college to get an IT job. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | I have heard UCSB has a pretty good reputation worldwide. I don't know whether my particular major is well regarded. |
| Program Quality | 5 | My major was philosophy, which does not improve my job prospects much over not having a BA. There are better, more employable majors, like engineering. |
| Instruction | 8 | UCSB instructors were among the best. UCSB has a well-deserved, good reputation. |
| How Difficult | 6 | My major was difficult, but not that hard. BS majors are much harder. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | UCSB tends to be focused on theory and book learning. CSU schools have a reputation for more hands on and practical learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Overall class flexibility at UCSB was pretty adequate. Classes tend to fill up fast for undergraduates at UCSB. Summer offerings were pretty good. UCSB doesn't offer much in the online course options at this time. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | Computer labs and libraries at UCSB are topnotch. I can't speak to the other aspects of the school facilities. |
| Social Life | 6 | UCSB has a reputation as a party school. However, this is an oversimplification, as many UCSB students are very serious about learning. |
| Placement Services | I never had to use UCSB's career counseling, so I can't say for myself. Most of my classmates had no trouble finding employment after college. | |
| Alumni Network | 5 | UCSB's alumni network is too big to feel personal. The only time I hear from UCSB is when they hit me up for money for their alumni association. |
San Jose State University • San Jose, CA
Studying CS (completion in 2009)
• 12/17/2011
"I'm very satisfied with the school. I'm very proud to say that I earned my bachelor's degree from San Jose State University."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, I definitely recommend this school to everyone who is interested in a career and sports. They will get all sorts of knowledge from this school. You won't regret your decision, just as I don't. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The reputation is not bad. |
| Program Quality | 8 | It was good going to college and learning the things that I learned. The college has very supportive staff and nice surroundings. |
| Instruction | 9 | It was not that tough for me to prepare for my career. I have learned a lot from the program. |
| How Difficult | 7 | It is not that difficult if you have a plan for what you do. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Some courses were book oriented and some were hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | There is not much flexibility, but it suits working students, so there is not much of a problem with the schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Academic facilities are really good. We have a very vast collection of titles in our library, and they fetch the books if we really need some. Labs are state of art in this college. There are also study groups, where the students in the program help each other if they have any doubts, and these are really very helpful. |
| Social Life | 8 | Sports are the most exciting part in the whole program of mine. I have been a participant of the marathon from the college, so you can understand how good we are at sports. Almost every individual from the college is involved in a sport. |
| Placement Services | 7 | Job placement is very good. They try very hard to help us get the jobs that we dream of. Career services assistance is really very good here. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I have been getting a lot of support from the alumni frequently, and that's very good to have. They are all very friendly. |
San Jose State University • San Jose, CA
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2009)
• 12/17/2011
"I'm very satisfied with the school. I don't regret the decision to enroll at all. I'm very proud to say that I got my Bachelor's here."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I recommend it to everyone who is interested in a career or the athletics. They'll get a great education from this school and won't regret the decision at all. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | It's not bad. It's challenging for us and there's a lot of competition within the college. |
| Program Quality | 8 | It was good going to college and learning so much. The college has very supportive staff and it's a fun area. |
| Instruction | 9 | It was not too tough for me to prepare for my career. I have learned a lot from the program and I rely on many relevant things from my education background. |
| How Difficult | 7 | It was not too difficult if you have a plan for what you want to do. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The course is very hands-on and we have theoretical knowledge. Some of the courses are book-oriented and some are hands-on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | There is not much flexibility but the timings can work for employed students. There are not many problems with the schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Academic facilities are really good. We have a vast collection of titles in our library and they fetch books from elsewhere if we really need them. Labs are state of the art and there are study groups where all students can get help if they need it. |
| Social Life | 8 | Athletics are the most exciting part of the whole program. I ran a marathon at the college! Almost every individual can be involved in some intramural or activity. |
| Placement Services | 7 | Job placement is very good. They try very hard and help us get jobs that we dream of. Career services assistance is really very good here. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I have been getting lot of support from the alumni network and that's very good to have. They are all very friendly. |
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