Tell me what college to transfer to. (Or, Decloaking, part 2)

[kpreid]

As I wrote before, I am currently attending MVCC, a two-year college, and need to choose a college to transfer to (for a bachelor’s in computer science).

So, tell me what college(s) I ought to consider.

(I have of course also heard the advice that it doesn’t matter that much, but I've got to choose from some short-list...)

I am willing to consider any location in the contiguous US, but have been looking mostly at New York choices as a way to make the research list manageably short.

I am not looking for vocational training; I can learn this year’s or last year’s hot technologies just fine by myself, thank you. I’m looking for general education (“well-rounding”, shall we say), useful theory, and practice in thinking. I wish to avoid a high-pressure or competitive academic environment. Also, at MVCC, I have greatly appreciated the instructors’ approachability, availability, and even willingness to acknowledge mistakes.

Outside of education, I am particularly interested in there being social opportunities for the socially awkward; chances to talk to like-minded people (i.e. total geeks), and opportunities to talk to unlike-minded people (for the practice!).

Please give me your recommendations. Just a name, your personal experience, comments on others’ recommendations, whatever info you’d like to share.

(On the other hand entirely, I’d also consider going directly from MVCC to a full-time job given the right opportunity. This will be the topic of an upcoming post.)