As a high schooler in New York, I'm exploring community colleges offering computer science. Does anyone know which colleges have the best programs or resources for computer science students in the area?
Let's start with the City University of New York (CUNY) system which has multiple community colleges offering comprehensive programs in computer science. Two notable ones are Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) and Queensborough Community College (QCC).
BMCC offers an Associate in Science (A.S.) degree in Computer Science which prepares you for transfer to a four-year institution or for entry-level jobs in IT support and programming. They also have a state-of-the-art computing laboratory.
QCC, another part of the CUNY system, offers an A.S. in Information and Internet Technology which can be a good foundation, too.
On the other hand, LaGuardia Community College has an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program in Computer Science which prepares students for a variety of computer technology-related positions.
Outside of the CUNY system, Westchester Community College has a robust Computer Science - Information Technology A.S. for students wanting to transfer to a four-year institution for a B.S. degree in fields such as computer science, information technology, and networking.
One thing to remember is that the strength of a program often depends on the faculty, curriculum, hands-on opportunities, and job placement rates. So, it would be good to get in touch with the admission offices or advisors at these schools to learn more about their offerings. It might also be beneficial to talk to alumni or current students to gain a first-hand perspective on the program.
Lastly, many community colleges have articulation agreements with four-year institutions, which means if you perform well in your community college classes, you can seamlessly transfer to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor's degree in Computer Science after graduation. So, it may be worth exploring community colleges that offer such paths.
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