The University of Nevada - Reno

Date: Nov 24 2005
Major: Computer Science (This Major's Salary over time)
The computer science department has done a wonderful job in the last ten years, or so, of turning into a real West-coast powerhouse. It's obvious that they are trying hard to expand their offerings and hire new faculty with exciting interests such as robotics. I think they'll have to get some more money, but it's a great time to get in on the ground floor here, especially if you're a graduate student.

I concur that the school, as a whole, is one of the great unknowns of the West, and, in fact, the country. It does have the typical public school problems, but I went to a top ten public, as well, and found that there will always be a dispartity between the top-notch students and the in-state ones who are just going to get a degree. The general ed requirements are fair, and relevant.

One thing I did notice, however, is that the university could do a little more to expand its Asian and Pacific Rim-related courses—it is a Western university, afterall, and could really benefit, as many of the coastal unis have, by offering more of this type of coursework.

The campus is incredibly beautiful—probably the prettiest I have ever seen. There is a lot of construction and expansion going on right now, so that's a bit of a downer, but when it's all done, I think it will look just wonderful. The town of Reno and the region surrounding isn't exactly set up for the college student, but if you're into outdoorsy things at all, this entire area can't be beat. Once you turn 21, this is actually a great town to live in.

I think the b-ball team's recent success might just show the rest of the country that there's a great school sitting out here in the Washoe.