I think your experience reflects high expectations that these CS students will be academics first and foremost. Also, if you have a big brand degree, you get aw

I think your experience reflects high expectations that these CS students will be academics first and foremost. Also, if you have a big brand degree, you get away with knowing less. The expectation that you will learn on the job is higher among people that care about such things. If you go to a lower-ranked school, it is full of working-class students who need to hit the ground running. So there is less abstract stuff and more practical stuff IMO. I've never been to a top school but I can tell you my program at a bargain state school was excellent and practical. It had theory as well but the university consulted industry people often to get feedback on the program.