Help DC decide for CS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CMU has the beat job prospects. The others are great programs, but big state schools don’t have the same loyalty in networking that small private schools do.

Michigan network is huge and second to none. But I agree with the PP, CMU for name or Wisconsin for value.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps that network is strong for undergrad...but I went to U of M for graduate school and it has never helped me get an interview or job (that I am aware of).

I run into graduates, but no offers of assistance or names were made to me upon graduation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you can swing the nearly $80K a year at CMU, go for it. The recruitment is out of this world. Students routinely get internships after freshman year.

This is definitely the case. In fact, I know know someone who did not want to deal with online learning so took his sophomore off for a highly paid job. Will return to CMU next Fall.

[Anonymous]

Have tread the whole thread but before you do anything contact the admissions contact at all the full pay schools and ask them whether they can provide a tuition discount in view of the full ride ptoviddd by Wisconsin. Do this tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Haven’t read the whole thread I meant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have tread the whole thread but before you do anything contact the admissions contact at all the full pay schools and ask them whether they can provide a tuition discount in view of the full ride ptoviddd by Wisconsin. Do this tomorrow.

I can't say this is a bad idea, because it isn't a bad idea, but it is unlikely CMU will move and that is where you should pick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congratulations on getting accepted into these fantastic schools. CMU SCS is super hard to get in. If your child has a true love for theoretical CS then this it the program bar none. It simply is one of the best CS programs on par w MIT, CalTech and Stanford. Given that you can afford the program, the only other advice I could think of is to assess the workload and pressure a program like that would bring. DH graduated from CMU w EE and ECE double major in the 90s. He has great respect for those SCS kids. To him it takes a certain type of genius to get through the rigor. But when you do, you seriously can create just about anything including the next programming language or push the boundaries of true AI/ML. I went to UVA CS and had the good fortune of studying w the late Rancy Pausch. If you Google him and watch his last lecture, you will know what CMU CS genius looks like. He was intense when he taught at UVA but I am a better person after that experience.

Michigan and GT CS are not easy but they will definitely be less intense and tend to have more focus on application than the CMU SCS program. Both are bigger state schools if that makes a difference to you DC. CMU CS has about 200 kids per incoming class.

No experience on Wisconsin. Full ride might be tempting but in the end where your DC can learn the most per his/her interest is the key.

Your DC is very fortunately to have supportive parents and to have schools recognize the unique talent your DC is. Very happy for you all. It is a good position to be in especially during this admission season.

Oh one last note, at CMU SCS, your DC probably won’t have much of a chance to double major. Each major is so intense and tough, double majoring and finishing in 4 years is just not feasible. So if You DC wants to branch out, it may not be so easily done at CMU.

Sorry for the long response. Our DS is in a similar boat w CMU, Michigan, and a few other places. So I know a fair amount about these two programs. Good luck to your DC!!

I've been in the business for decades & DS had nearly the same set of choices (with similar scholarship offerings) 10ish years ago - GT/UNC/UIUC/CMU SCS. Chose CMU. Was the definitely the right choice for him. Great education, alumni network, internships, first job doing hard-core design/development. But, given CMU's program, I really agree with the previous poster; unless your kid will thrive in a tough/math intensive/highly theoretical/great for future profs/PhDs/... program, he should go elsewhere. If elsewhere, given his choices, I'd take GT for the weather and the Wreck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have tread the whole thread but before you do anything contact the admissions contact at all the full pay schools and ask them whether they can provide a tuition discount in view of the full ride ptoviddd by Wisconsin. Do this tomorrow.

This is a worthwhile idea. Don't threaten them though. Just say that your kid is so torn, he loves CMU but feels a bit guilty turning down a full pay offer. Can they do anything to tip the scale? (Only do this if CMU does appeal strongly to your child.)

[Anonymous]

If your kid is good at handling high peer pressure from CMU, then go for it. Not only the name, but also the network. For big tech companies, internal referral is one of the most effective ways to land a decent job. The cost (tuition/scholarship) gap will be paid off in a few years if the kid is competitive. You may check software engineers compensation package from FLAG to confirm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Sorry for the long response. Our DS is in a similar boat w CMU, Michigan, and a few other places. So I know a fair amount about these two programs. Good luck to your DC!!

NP. So which school is your DS choosing?

Leaning towards CMU. Won't know for sure until he pays the deposit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CMU has the beat job prospects. The others are great programs, but big state schools don’t have the same loyalty in networking that small private schools do.

Michigan network is huge and second to none. But I agree with the PP, CMU for name or Wisconsin for value.

Huge networks do not equal solid connections. Smaller networks are stronger. When you attend school with 8-10k grads each year, that university name on your resume means very little and you are likely up against hundreds of others from your own school.

[Anonymous]

Carnegie - first choice
Wisconsin - if free college is attractive (which it should be).

You did well!!!
🦾🦾

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congratulations on getting accepted into these fantastic schools. CMU SCS is super hard to get in. If your child has a true love for theoretical CS then this it the program bar none. It simply is one of the best CS programs on par w MIT, CalTech and Stanford. Given that you can afford the program, the only other advice I could think of is to assess the workload and pressure a program like that would bring. DH graduated from CMU w EE and ECE double major in the 90s. He has great respect for those SCS kids. To him it takes a certain type of genius to get through the rigor. But when you do, you seriously can create just about anything including the next programming language or push the boundaries of true AI/ML. I went to UVA CS and had the good fortune of studying w the late Rancy Pausch. If you Google him and watch his last lecture, you will know what CMU CS genius looks like. He was intense when he taught at UVA but I am a better person after that experience.

Michigan and GT CS are not easy but they will definitely be less intense and tend to have more focus on application than the CMU SCS program. Both are bigger state schools if that makes a difference to you DC. CMU CS has about 200 kids per incoming class.

No experience on Wisconsin. Full ride might be tempting but in the end where your DC can learn the most per his/her interest is the key.

Your DC is very fortunately to have supportive parents and to have schools recognize the unique talent your DC is. Very happy for you all. It is a good position to be in especially during this admission season.

Oh one last note, at CMU SCS, your DC probably won’t have much of a chance to double major. Each major is so intense and tough, double majoring and finishing in 4 years is just not feasible. So if You DC wants to branch out, it may not be so easily done at CMU.

Sorry for the long response. Our DS is in a similar boat w CMU, Michigan, and a few other places. So I know a fair amount about these two programs. Good luck to your DC!!

Any input on CMU ECE? Is it worth paying full price for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have tread the whole thread but before you do anything contact the admissions contact at all the full pay schools and ask them whether they can provide a tuition discount in view of the full ride ptoviddd by Wisconsin. Do this tomorrow.

This is a worthwhile idea. Don't threaten them though. Just say that your kid is so torn, he loves CMU but feels a bit guilty turning down a full pay offer. Can they do anything to tip the scale? (Only do this if CMU does appeal strongly to your child.)

This works only for peer institutions. Are Wisconsin and Carnegie peers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is good at handling high peer pressure from CMU, then go for it. Not only the name, but also the network. For big tech companies, internal referral is one of the most effective ways to land a decent job. The cost (tuition/scholarship) gap will be paid off in a few years if the kid is competitive. You may check software engineers compensation package from FLAG to confirm.

What's FLAG? How is it different from FAANG?