Carnegie Mellon vs UVA where would you go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA is going to struggle in the coming decade. Parents will push students to get degrees in fields that are likely to be stable or grow - the areas that are not UVA's strengths.

Directly comparing the two schools, CMUs strengths, are those growing sectors. Additionally, even some of its arts programs - graphic design, architecture, will still be pretty stable.

That’s an absurd statement by someone who has an axe to grind. UVA has consistently been ranked as the no. 2 or no 3 public university in the United States. It has gotten to be almost impossible to get into unless you are in the top 5 percent of your class ( if not URM etc). I’ve watched the requisite GPA and test scores hit new highs every year while my DD was in aerospace engineering there. All the programs are excellent. The business and undergrad law programs are the best in the nation. A donation of $120M is building a new data science school (that has a Master’s program as well). All of my DC’s friends did extremely well landing great positions, especially from the business major. Three of her friends have Fulbrights; another is a Marshall scholar. One is a Rhodes. Two of her friends are going to Oxford for M.Phils. I’ve seen the engineering programs up close and personal and they are xlnt. I dint know why some bitter person has to come in her and say otherwise except to note that there are a lot of angry parents in NoVa because their student didn’t get in.

Every year I’ve seen the number of applications increase. UVA received a record 41,000 applications for class if 2024. Most educators believe that there will a
tremendous jump in interest for in-state schools because parents’ savings have been hammered by corona virus. [/quote


Your child then, is quite literally, friends with every kid that got one of these fellowships from UVA. If this is the case, might this be affecting your opinion of the school?

Sorry, your kid chose engineering at UVA- hopefully you only paid in-state tuition.

Anytime someone says something negative about UVA, Virginians say they are UVA-haters, non-Virginians just don't care that much.

No. DC is headed to Princeton for grad work in electrical engineering

Sure.

[Anonymous]

Carnegie Mellon is generally going to be much stronger than UVA in STEM fields. That isn't UVA's strongest area. You need to factor whether that outweighs cost differential.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Carnegie Mellon is generally going to be much stronger than UVA in STEM fields. That isn't UVA's strongest area. You need to factor whether that outweighs cost differential.

We are in the same boat, next Friday May 1 is deadline, gonna make decision now, most likely Carnegie Mellon

[Anonymous]

In this current unstable economic environment I would pick UVA and invest the difference for grad school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In this current unstable economic environment I would pick UVA and invest the difference for grad school

If your child is doing CS at CMU, they will never need to go to grad school. Entry level salaries at Google, Facebook, et al are well above $100K for a 22 year-old from a top-tier CS program (CMU is in the same league with Stanford, MIT, Cal Tech, etc.)

I'm a huuuuuuuuuuuge fan of bargain public schools like the UMD Honors College, but this one is a no-brainer. CMU without a doubt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In this current unstable economic environment I would pick UVA and invest the difference for grad school

If your child is doing CS at CMU, they will never need to go to grad school. Entry level salaries at Google, Facebook, et al are well above $100K for a 22 year-old from a top-tier CS program (CMU is in the same league with Stanford, MIT, Cal Tech, etc.)

I'm a huuuuuuuuuuuge fan of bargain public schools like the UMD Honors College, but this one is a no-brainer. CMU without a doubt.

My Dd is right now deciding between UMD Honors Colleges (with merit aid) and CMU (no aid). Comp Sci-Very difficult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In this current unstable economic environment I would pick UVA and invest the difference for grad school

If your child is doing CS at CMU, they will never need to go to grad school. Entry level salaries at Google, Facebook, et al are well above $100K for a 22 year-old from a top-tier CS program (CMU is in the same league with Stanford, MIT, Cal Tech, etc.)

I'm a huuuuuuuuuuuge fan of bargain public schools like the UMD Honors College, but this one is a no-brainer. CMU without a doubt.

My Dd is right now deciding between UMD Honors Colleges (with merit aid) and CMU (no aid). Comp Sci-Very difficult.

PP here:
That is a really difficult choice for your family. It is a blessing, but still difficult! Congrats to your daughter, she sounds like a very smart young woman.

Both programs are very challenging. I would go back to CMU and try to negotiate for more financial aid. UMD Honors College is very prestigious and well-known among other tech schools and tech companies. Your daughter is also a URM for CMU CS, so they should be giving you some money.

If CMU will match or exceed the financial aid AND you can afford the remaining expenses, I'd probably recommend CMU. UMD CS is not in the same league as Stanford/CMU/MIT.

That said, as a woman in tech and coming out of UMD Honors with a degree in CS, she will still probably get lots of calls from Facebook, Google, etc. So the end goal may not be so different and you save a lot of money.

One thing to consider - if she dislikes the CS program, what would be her 2nd choice major? Could she remain in the UMD Honors College if she switches majors? You to need to play out all these scenarios with her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In this current unstable economic environment I would pick UVA and invest the difference for grad school

If your child is doing CS at CMU, they will never need to go to grad school. Entry level salaries at Google, Facebook, et al are well above $100K for a 22 year-old from a top-tier CS program (CMU is in the same league with Stanford, MIT, Cal Tech, etc.)

I'm a huuuuuuuuuuuge fan of bargain public schools like the UMD Honors College, but this one is a no-brainer. CMU without a doubt.

My Dd is right now deciding between UMD Honors Colleges (with merit aid) and CMU (no aid). Comp Sci-Very difficult.

PP here:
That is a really difficult choice for your family. It is a blessing, but still difficult! Congrats to your daughter, she sounds like a very smart young woman.

Both programs are very challenging. I would go back to CMU and try to negotiate for more financial aid. UMD Honors College is very prestigious and well-known among other tech schools and tech companies. Your daughter is also a URM for CMU CS, so they should be giving you some money.

If CMU will match or exceed the financial aid AND you can afford the remaining expenses, I'd probably recommend CMU. UMD CS is not in the same league as Stanford/CMU/MIT.

That said, as a woman in tech and coming out of UMD Honors with a degree in CS, she will still probably get lots of calls from Facebook, Google, etc. So the end goal may not be so different and you save a lot of money.

One thing to consider - if she dislikes the CS program, what would be her 2nd choice major? Could she remain in the UMD Honors College if she switches majors? You to need to play out all these scenarios with her.

Thank-you for your thoughts. I am doubting CM will every come close to instate MD + aid when they offered no aid. We are lucky to be able to even consider CM without aid but it would really change our lifestyle (affecting other kids) and retirement plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In this current unstable economic environment I would pick UVA and invest the difference for grad school

If your child is doing CS at CMU, they will never need to go to grad school. Entry level salaries at Google, Facebook, et al are well above $100K for a 22 year-old from a top-tier CS program (CMU is in the same league with Stanford, MIT, Cal Tech, etc.)

I'm a huuuuuuuuuuuge fan of bargain public schools like the UMD Honors College, but this one is a no-brainer. CMU without a doubt.

My Dd is right now deciding between UMD Honors Colleges (with merit aid) and CMU (no aid). Comp Sci-Very difficult.

PP here:
That is a really difficult choice for your family. It is a blessing, but still difficult! Congrats to your daughter, she sounds like a very smart young woman.

Both programs are very challenging. I would go back to CMU and try to negotiate for more financial aid. UMD Honors College is very prestigious and well-known among other tech schools and tech companies. Your daughter is also a URM for CMU CS, so they should be giving you some money.

If CMU will match or exceed the financial aid AND you can afford the remaining expenses, I'd probably recommend CMU. UMD CS is not in the same league as Stanford/CMU/MIT.

That said, as a woman in tech and coming out of UMD Honors with a degree in CS, she will still probably get lots of calls from Facebook, Google, etc. So the end goal may not be so different and you save a lot of money.

One thing to consider - if she dislikes the CS program, what would be her 2nd choice major? Could she remain in the UMD Honors College if she switches majors? You to need to play out all these scenarios with her.

Thank-you for your thoughts. I am doubting CM will every come close to instate MD + aid when they offered no aid. We are lucky to be able to even consider CM without aid but it would really change our lifestyle (affecting other kids) and retirement plans.

Given the other kids' need for college funds, I'd encourage UMD Honors College. If she graduates with a CS degree and good grades, she will be heavily recruited by top tech firms. And she graduates with little debt and you save a lot of money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In this current unstable economic environment I would pick UVA and invest the difference for grad school

If your child is doing CS at CMU, they will never need to go to grad school. Entry level salaries at Google, Facebook, et al are well above $100K for a 22 year-old from a top-tier CS program (CMU is in the same league with Stanford, MIT, Cal Tech, etc.)

I'm a huuuuuuuuuuuge fan of bargain public schools like the UMD Honors College, but this one is a no-brainer. CMU without a doubt.

My Dd is right now deciding between UMD Honors Colleges (with merit aid) and CMU (no aid). Comp Sci-Very difficult.

PP here:
That is a really difficult choice for your family. It is a blessing, but still difficult! Congrats to your daughter, she sounds like a very smart young woman.

Both programs are very challenging. I would go back to CMU and try to negotiate for more financial aid. UMD Honors College is very prestigious and well-known among other tech schools and tech companies. Your daughter is also a URM for CMU CS, so they should be giving you some money.

If CMU will match or exceed the financial aid AND you can afford the remaining expenses, I'd probably recommend CMU. UMD CS is not in the same league as Stanford/CMU/MIT.

That said, as a woman in tech and coming out of UMD Honors with a degree in CS, she will still probably get lots of calls from Facebook, Google, etc. So the end goal may not be so different and you save a lot of money.

One thing to consider - if she dislikes the CS program, what would be her 2nd choice major? Could she remain in the UMD Honors College if she switches majors? You to need to play out all these scenarios with her.

Thank-you for your thoughts. I am doubting CM will every come close to instate MD + aid when they offered no aid. We are lucky to be able to even consider CM without aid but it would really change our lifestyle (affecting other kids) and retirement plans.

We are in the same boat, PP, will you pay deposit on May 1 or April 30? Is it ok to pay on the last day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In this current unstable economic environment I would pick UVA and invest the difference for grad school

If your child is doing CS at CMU, they will never need to go to grad school. Entry level salaries at Google, Facebook, et al are well above $100K for a 22 year-old from a top-tier CS program (CMU is in the same league with Stanford, MIT, Cal Tech, etc.)

I'm a huuuuuuuuuuuge fan of bargain public schools like the UMD Honors College, but this one is a no-brainer. CMU without a doubt.

My Dd is right now deciding between UMD Honors Colleges (with merit aid) and CMU (no aid). Comp Sci-Very difficult.

My son is in the same boat, and our finances sound similar. We've decided that CMU is worth it. The CMU CS degree opens many doors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In this current unstable economic environment I would pick UVA and invest the difference for grad school

If your child is doing CS at CMU, they will never need to go to grad school. Entry level salaries at Google, Facebook, et al are well above $100K for a 22 year-old from a top-tier CS program (CMU is in the same league with Stanford, MIT, Cal Tech, etc.)

I'm a huuuuuuuuuuuge fan of bargain public schools like the UMD Honors College, but this one is a no-brainer. CMU without a doubt.

My Dd is right now deciding between UMD Honors Colleges (with merit aid) and CMU (no aid). Comp Sci-Very difficult.

My son is in the same boat, and our finances sound similar. We've decided that CMU is worth it. The CMU CS degree opens many doors.

Agree, CMU CS ranks no. 1

https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/computer-science-rankings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In this current unstable economic environment I would pick UVA and invest the difference for grad school

If your child is doing CS at CMU, they will never need to go to grad school. Entry level salaries at Google, Facebook, et al are well above $100K for a 22 year-old from a top-tier CS program (CMU is in the same league with Stanford, MIT, Cal Tech, etc.)

I'm a huuuuuuuuuuuge fan of bargain public schools like the UMD Honors College, but this one is a no-brainer. CMU without a doubt.

My Dd is right now deciding between UMD Honors Colleges (with merit aid) and CMU (no aid). Comp Sci-Very difficult.

My son is in the same boat, and our finances sound similar. We've decided that CMU is worth it. The CMU CS degree opens many doors.

Agree, CMU CS ranks no. 1

https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/computer-science-rankings

College scorecard: UVA - 139 CS graduates with median earnings of $85,800 and average debt of $16,500; CMU - 184 CS graduates with median earnings of $138,900 and average debt of $20,510. I won't do the math for you beyond that.

[Anonymous]

Any updates to this topic? Like to see what decision people made.

[Anonymous]

Going full-pay CMU, despite multiple hefty merit offers at top 50 schools/strong state schools, and admittance into what others might consider better schools (no Merit $ though).

Relatively close to DC, great chance of a solid job regardless of economy in 4 years.