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#MajorSuccess - Shop by Major
The MajorSuccess Program
Iowa State University requires a laptop computer or other device appropriate to their discipline.
MajorSuccess is a program developed by TechCyte, in collaboration with academic departments at Iowa State University,
and is aimed at providing every student with an appropriate and accurate computer recommendation based on their major.
The Major Success Program enables you to:
New Cyclone students and their families love the Major Success program as it let's them:
- Browse and choose between the different Apple® and Dell® recommendations.
- Explore additional computer options from Microsoft®.
- Browse the recommended computer accessories for your laptop.
- SAVE 7% on your laptop and accessories purchase.
- Save up to $200 on computers through education pricing.
- Save up to $40 on manufacturer warranty-extensions.
- Demo your computer in-store before you buy it.
- Checkout a computer using the Laptop Loaner Program.
Ordering Custom-configured Computers:
If the model of the computer (from any manufacturer) you are looking for is not listed on our website or if you are interested in a customized order, we can special order a computer for you from Apple, Dell, Microsoft, and many other manufacturers tax-free (subject to a wait time of 2-4 weeks).
Contact us at techcyteorder@iastate.edu to place a special order.
Our knowledgeable and friendly associates are here to serve you so please feel free to contact us if you have any questions:
Email - techcyte@iastate.edu or
Phone - 800-478-0048, option 5.
Learn more about your College's recommendation:
- Minimum/Economical: Web browsing, Microsoft Office-type applications, connecting to a remote computer.
- Recommended: Programming applications and IDE's. Light video editing. Ability to install software that may have higher level requirements, such as some Adobe products.
- High Performance/Advanced: Running engineering applications for 3D modeling and Virtual Reality. Contact us at techcyteorder@iastate.edu to place a special order.
Order from TechCyte today with tax-free savings and education discounts:
The computers listed in the links below are based typical use recommendations and specifications listed on the CALS website for current computer models available to purchase at TechCyte.
Shop Tech for Ag & Life Sciences Majors
Windows can be run on a Mac using BootCamp or an application like Parallels or VMWare Fusion, but IT support for this will be limited and computer performance may be affected. The newest Apple M1 processor is not currently capable of running BootCamp. If you select an Apple with this processor you will need to utilize the College of Design computer labs to complete some of your classwork.
Some software within the Interior Design program (and possibly others) will require your computer to have a discrete graphics card. These can be found in the Dell XPS 15 and Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro. If you choose a computer without this style of card you will need to utilize the College of Design computer labs. We recommend speaking with your advisor or College IT staff to determine what will work best for your needs.
- Minimum/Economical: BPMI majors or those needing a computer until admitted into major program and wanting to participate in College of Design Laptop Program.
- Recommended: Matches the College of Design Laptop program specifications since these are the recommended minimums for most majors within the college.
- High Performance/Advanced: For majors that work with 3D modeling, animation, etc. to include additional memory, hard drive space, graphics card upgrades. Contact us at techcyteorder@iastate.edu to place a special order.
The computers listed in the links below are based typical use recommendations and specifications listed on the College of Design website for current computer models available to purchase at TechCyte.
Shop Tech for Design Majors
- Minimum/Economical: Web browsing, Microsoft Office-type applications, connecting to a remote computer
- Recommended: Running engineering applications for software programming, scripting, 2D modeling, and development IDEs
- High Performance/Advanced: Running engineering applications for 3D modeling and Virtual Reality. Contact us at techcyteorder@iastate.edu to place a special order.
The computers listed in the links below are based typical use recommendations and specifications listed on the College of Engineering website for current computer models available to purchase at TechCyte.
*Make sure to read through the Engineering computer requirements before purchasing a Mac.
Shop Tech for Engineering Majors
- Minimum/Economical: Web research, Microsoft Office-type applications, connecting to a remote computer/VDI.
- Recommended: Web research, Microsoft Office-type applications, connecting to a remote computer/VDI, video creation/editing, statistical software, Creative Cloud applications, etc.
- High Performance/Advanced: A computer with a dedicated graphics card is preferred for 3D modeling software run by some departments.
The computers listed in the link below are based typical use recommendations for College of Human Sciences majors for current computer models available to purchase at TechCyte.
Shop Tech for Human Sciences Majors
- Minimum/Economical: Web browsing, Microsoft Office-type applications, connecting to a remote computer. This is the minimum recommendation for all students in the Ivy College of Business.
- Recommended: Running applications for software programming, video editing, modeling, etc. A computer with these higher end options is appropriate for someone with a major or courses which involve more computation like Management Information Systems (MIS) or Business Analytics (BUSAN). Please verify with your department for any specific requirements to run specialized software.
The computers listed in the link below are based typical use recommendations for Ivy College of Business majors for current computer models available to purchase at TechCyte.
Shop Tech For Business Majors
- Minimum/Economical: Web browsing, Microsoft Office-type applications, connecting to a remote computer. This is the minimum recommendation for all students in LAS.
- Recommended: Running applications for software programming, video editing, modeling, etc. A computer with these higher end options is appropriate for someone with a major or courses which involve more computation like Computer Science, Statistics, BPMI, Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, etc. Please verify with your department for any specific requirements to run specialized software.
The computers listed in the links below are based typical use recommendations and specifications listed on the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences website for current computer models available to purchase at TechCyte.
Shop Tech For LAS Majors
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Deciding a major for your college can be challenging and we understand that! We also understand that buying a laptop is a 4-year investment and you want to purchase the right one to get you through college, and potentially longer. Our team can discuss the majors you are potentially interested in, and discuss your computer recommendations accordingly. Get in touch with us during your in-person orientation visit or reach out to us using the Contact Us button below.
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