The point has already been well made that studying theory is vastly more important than applications. ..but as far as choosing a college, I would think about resisting the pressure everyone seems obligated to put on high-achieving high school students that they must go to MIT, Stanford, CMU, etc. There are many issues to think about:
Money. If you or your parents have $100,000 to throw at your undergraduate degree, go for it. Otherwise, you have to consider what kind of financial aid and scholarships you're eligible for and what you're going to be paying back in loans, and what this means to you.
Coursework. I'll be the first to conceed that you will definitely have more challenging required coursework at a prestigoius school. But that does not mean that you could not go to a school with less rigorous standards and learn as much by having some self-motivation and going beyond what you have to do in class.
People and Resources. The mix of kids at a school charging ~$30,000/year is going to be very different from a more "normal" school. You have to decide what type of people you want be around. ..But making contacts at these schools and the opportunities you will have will be very valuable. The conatcts and opportunities are at other schools, just harder to find.
There are many more things to think about (location, size, campus life, etc.). But ultimately it depends on what you want out of life. If you simply want a good job so you can eventually have a family, the demand for CS related jobs is so high that it probably does not matter where you go, as long as it is a respectable university. If you're very motivated and intelligent, it probably does not matter either. Self-teaching and exploration will do more for you than any structured course-work. . . Good luck.
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- Money. If you or your parents have $100,000 to throw at your undergraduate degree, go for it. Otherwise, you have to consider what kind of financial aid and scholarships you're eligible for and what you're going to be paying back in loans, and what this means to you.
- Coursework. I'll be the first to conceed that you will definitely have more challenging required coursework at a prestigoius school. But that does not mean that you could not go to a school with less rigorous standards and learn as much by having some self-motivation and going beyond what you have to do in class.
- People and Resources. The mix of kids at a school charging ~$30,000/year is going to be very different from a more "normal" school. You have to decide what type of people you want be around. .
.But making contacts at these schools and the opportunities you will have will be very valuable. The conatcts and opportunities are at other schools, just harder to find.
There are many more things to think about (location, size, campus life, etc.). But ultimately it depends on what you want out of life. If you simply want a good job so you can eventually have a family, the demand for CS related jobs is so high that it probably does not matter where you go, as long as it is a respectable university. If you're very motivated and intelligent, it probably does not matter either. Self-teaching and exploration will do more for you than any structured course-work. . . Good luck.