Computer Science for undergrad: UW or Urbana-Champaign?

Why don't you apply to both and then pick? Both schools are difficult to get into for CS, so statistically speaking you may not get into either school (although you seem to be very qualified based on your stats and extracurricular, the problem is they may have 6 qualified people for every one available slot).

I suggest you apply to both, see where you get in and then make a choice. If for some reason you can only apply to one of these, I would choose to apply to UW.

I think UW will provide you a better proximity to more interesting internships, since many of the companies you aspire to work for will have bigger headquarters located in Seattle, as well as Seattle being a more interesting city in general.

I noticed that you asked for some safety schools in your previous thread, so allow me to entice you with my recommendations (I am also applying for Comp Sci this year, but my stats aren't as great as yours).

Northeastern University (good safety for you) and Rochester Institute of Technology (super super safety school, there is no way you couldn't get in).

Both of the schools have good Comp Sci programs, but they are best know for having the best co-op programs in the nation. If you don't know what co-ops are I suggest you google them more in-depth. Co-ops are basically long internships which the universities help place you in. The difference between regular internships and co-ops and internships is that: *co-ops are 6 months long and you alternate between a semester of co-op and a semester of academics (depending on the number of co-ops you choose to do, you will have to take classes in the summer and/or graduate in 5 years instead of 4). *co-ops are usually paid, and paid quite well ($20+ per hour for Computer Science major co-ops), as opposed to internships which are paid little to none. (You also don't pay tuition while you are on co-op) *co-ops usually have you working on more important jobs than internships because it is considered an actual job. *co-op employers can range from start-ups to government agencies to large corporations such as the one you are looking to work for. *co-ops build up your resume, so by the time you graduate university, you will have 1 year to 1.5 years of experience in your your desired industry. For Computer Science your resume and skills are more important than your college.

TL;DR: I highly suggest you take a look at colleges with co-op programs! Best of luck!

/r/college Thread