Purdue University

Date: Feb 28 2018
Major: Computer Science (This Major's Salary over time)
Purdue computer science is not all it is made out to be. Sure it has name recognition, but any school worth their salt will have a career fair.

Purdue doesn't seem to be a place where the academically brilliant come to be challenged. Instead, the general feeling towards academics seems like one of listlessness. Here you will find plenty drinking and clubs to get involved with, but do not pick a school for its clubs. These things are present in any school. What is painfully not present is academic enthusiasm. The labs are scarcely full of anybody who genuinely appreciates Computer Science, if they have anybody present outside class at all. You will not find many students working hard alongside peers, bonding with each other over the intricacies of difficult material. The homework is swiss cheese at best; it is purposefully easy so as not to be too much of a challenge. The tests so far reflect this, as you will find the test problems are very similar to your homework problems.

You will not find a TA that attends class with a smile. They are not rude, but they do not radiate enthusiasm for their courses and they do not care if you see the beauty of the material. Instead they give off a feeling of being present because they have to be. Most TAs do not take the time to provide even the simplest feedback as to why you got a problem wrong. This is also reflected on Piazza and online discussion boards: an instructor response is rare once they are over a 25% response rate quota. Once in a while its okay to have a jaded TA. But it should never be as wide spread as it is here.

Many of the professors here are under the impression that simply reading from pre-written notes is enough. This does a fine job at making the material as far from engaging as possible. From "required" $180 paperweights to convoluted diagrams to literally mumbling for an hour, their influence takes hold on everyone present. By requiring attendance through clickers, they take away student accountability and turn lecture into a chore. They remove incentive to explore the "why" behind a concept by assigning simple homework problems or busy work.

In terms of facilities, you get what you pay for. The tuition is very low compared to many of the "big" schools, but you will see the difference in your equipment.

As for the town, if you like the smell of sewage after it rains then come here! The city of Lafayette has no plans to improve the easily-overflowed sewer system. Rain water will continue to turn the Wabash River into shit creek until the end of time. I have to say though, the on campus dining is quite outstanding. And if you're into coffee, Fuel coffee gets an A+ from me.

Do yourself a favor and find a school where the people genuinely love what they do, not the money behind it. Find a place where the city is full of life, where individuals feel conviction for their impact on others, the environment, and things bigger than themselves. Computer Science is a rich subject, but it is easily tainted by those who rush to the idea six figure salaries in silicon valley. Find a place where the CSE community is cherished, and where discovery and learning are truly valued.