The most important component of a good engineering or computer science education is not what texts are used in the classroom, but rather, it's about who you interact with. This goes for both professors and your student colleagues. A top-notch CS program teaches you to think analytically. Interactions with faculty and the quality of lectures at these top tier institutions is what gives them their advantage.
Rather than simply 'telling' students, "this is how you do such and such", top professors 'develop' these ideas with the students.
Slashdot Mirror
The most important component of a good engineering or computer science education is not what texts are used in the classroom, but rather, it's about who you interact with. This goes for both professors and your student colleagues. A top-notch CS program teaches you to think analytically. Interactions with faculty and the quality of lectures at these top tier institutions is what gives them their advantage. Rather than simply 'telling' students, "this is how you do such and such", top professors 'develop' these ideas with the students.