Situated at the confluence of two great North American rivers - the Mississippi and the Missouri - the St. Louis region has been a favored destination since Lewis & Clark began their historic westward "Corps of Discovery" here in 1804. Today, the pioneers of St. Louis are the engineers, scientists, business leaders, educators, artists and other innovative and creative professionals who are working at the forefront of a multitude of fields and endeavors. Thanks in large part to Washington University, other regional universities and key Fortune 500 corporations, St. Louis has developed into a national hub for important research and business development, especially in the fields of biotechnology and plant science. Consistently ranked among the nation's most affordable and best places to live and raise families, the St. Louis region offers many opportunities to watch or participate in a wide range of sports, recreational activities and cultural events.

Founded in 1868, Wayne State University is a nationally recognized metropolitan research institution offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students. Wayne State is dedicated to preparing students to excel by combining the academic excellence of a major research university with the practical experience of an institution that by its history, location and diversity represents a microcosm of the world we live in. Reflecting its location and the excellent international reputation of its graduate schools, particularly in the sciences, Wayne State boasts the most diverse student body among Michigan’s public universities. As an urban research university, our mission is to discover, examine, transmit and apply knowledge that contributes to the positive development and well-being of individuals, organizations and society. Wayne State University is a national research institution dedicated to preparing students to excel in an increasingly advanced and interconnected global society.

Wellesley is known for the excellence of its education, the beauty of its setting, its gifted faculty, and the uniqueness of its campus culture. But most of all, Wellesley is known for the thousands of accomplished, thoughtful women it has sent out into the world for over 100 years—women who are committed to making a difference. The CS department is made up of faculty with a range of research interests and a dedication to teaching undergraduates. They have developed a broad and complete curriculum that covers the "big ideas" of computer science from hardware to software and from application to theory. Their goal is not to teach students how to use current computer applications, but rather to educate them so that they understand how these applications work and can design and build the computer applications of the future.

Wesleyan University is known for the excellence of its academic and co-curricular programs. About 2,900 undergraduates—and some 200 graduate students—from around the world pursue their classroom studies, research projects, and co-curricular interests in ways that are demanding and intensely rewarding. Here, on a beautiful campus overlooking the Connecticut River, students learn to do productive and innovative work that makes a positive difference in the world—that’s what Wesleyan is about. Wesleyan University is dedicated to providing an education in the liberal arts that is characterized by boldness, rigor, and practical idealism. At Wesleyan, distinguished scholar-teachers work closely with students, taking advantage of fluidity among disciplines to explore the world with a variety of tools. The university seeks to build a diverse, energetic community of students, faculty, and staff who think critically and creatively and who value independence of mind and generosity of spirit.