UMD full-ride BK for CS OR MIT at full pay — which would you do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are doing CS and get into MIT, CMU, or Stanford (these are consistently tied for #1 and within the industry are considered miles apart from all others) and you want to get a full-ride PhD or are willing to work hard for lots of money - then you should always go that route. If your goal is 9-5 topping out around $150 -any of the top 25 schools are good.

CS topping out at $150K? That's pretty funny, I wish I could find talent at 150. Our average developer with 10+ years exp makes 200K with bonus at my company in Virginia. Directors and above are around 300. The difference with MIT is the increased potential to get involved in equity arrangements that can easily land in 7 figures.

But can you get in on those equity agreements if you don't already come from a family that is wealthy and connected?

Yes, if you come from MIT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can I ask OP how their kid got into MIT and UMD with BK? What was the hook?

OP here.
If only we knew what worked — your guess is as good as mine! But I can provide some stats, ECs…

SAT = 1600, GPA 4.0, 10 APs, Community service (Not done as a box to check, but out of genuine desire to help other during the pandemic), usual CS activities like robotics with some awards, small Math award, some quirkiness that I don’t want to detail that might have appealed to MIT, lots of music related essays throughout MIT application although actual music experience was not mentioned. For BK, genuine desire to work in DC - as never thought HYPSM would come through.

Additionally, one recommender happened to tell kid recently that they were best of career, and counselor has called kid a rockstar for leadership — not sure if those went into LORs. Third recommender asked kid if they could write kid LOR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are doing CS and get into MIT, CMU, or Stanford (these are consistently tied for #1 and within the industry are considered miles apart from all others) and you want to get a full-ride PhD or are willing to work hard for lots of money - then you should always go that route. If your goal is 9-5 topping out around $150 -any of the top 25 schools are good.

CS topping out at $150K? That's pretty funny, I wish I could find talent at 150. Our average developer with 10+ years exp makes 200K with bonus at my company in Virginia. Directors and above are around 300. The difference with MIT is the increased potential to get involved in equity arrangements that can easily land in 7 figures.

But you are in the DMV where salaries are higher, as are job expectations. A lot of CS jobs are really just code monkeys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son with full B-K went to UMD for his CS degree and passed up MIT, Berkeley, and a few other top schools. No regrets on his part. He loved his time at Maryland & was a member of the Gemstone honors program community. He's now well-paid to do interesting work. Whatever your child decides, I'm sure he/she will thrive. Congratulations!

OP here.

I cannot tell you just how impressed we were with the UMD BK interview process. We didn’t even know BK existed so it was a pleasant surprise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC is MIT, and UMD Banneker Key as well. He will take MIT.
Congrats to your DC too!

OP here.

OMG — Congrats! Good to know that your DC will go to MIT. Leaning that way here too at this point.

My DC is MIT, UMD Banneker Key and Caltech! Will take MIT for sure. We will take some loans, but hard to pass off MIT!! Super excited!

OP here.

Congrats! Incredible opportunities, and totally get the excitement!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PhD is a very long route. I wouldn't do MIT and then get a PhD with all that debt. -- MIT grad with a PhD.

However if it's MIT, 5 year masters in CS -- all the way do it. It'll pay off.

Son's friend took MIT many years ago hoping to get PhD after undergrad. He couldn't get into a PhD program after undergrad. My son told me that his GPA wasn't high enough. Kid ended up going to law school.

OP here.

That’s interesting! DC has thought of law school as well, and will get work experience in b/w to fund it if it works out that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your child got an opportunity millions of kids kill themselves for. Do not let it go for any reason. MIT all the way !!

Congrats to your kid! That brand name of MIT will do wonders for your kid! Are they from MCPS schools?

OP here.

Nope, we are OOS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These are really wonderful options. My kid went to MIT for physics and I actually have a degree in CS from UMD from way back when. If you have the money, I recommend MIT. There is just no comparison between the kind of opportunities, internships, connections and the experience. There are some really excellent people at Maryland. But at MIT nearly everyone is excellent. The peer group and culture is unique. Your kid will get wonderful options coming out of Maryland as well. But part of life is the journey and MIT is a truly amazing experience.

OP here.

This is very helpful feedback. MIT has started their welcome sessions and DC has commented on the peer group, especially how it would be great not to have to hide their smarts because everyone else is 1000 times smarter!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC I have 320k for you to use.
1) Go to UMD and keep the money.
2) Go to MIT and spend it.

This is what I would do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP here.

This is very helpful feedback. MIT has started their welcome sessions and DC has commented on the peer group, especially how it would be great not to have to hide their smarts because everyone else is 1000 times smarter!

I think this part is why you should try to make MIT happen.

If your son was just an ordinary bright kid, Maryland might even be better than MIT. Maybe Maryland would be almost as good but not quite as stressful.

But it sounds as if your son is in pain from living around people who might as well be part of a different species. Going to MIT might be the only chance he’ll ever have to be be around a large number of people who are just like him. Even if he becomes a professor, typical professors at most universities might really be as bright as good MIT undergrads. So, this isn’t about return on investigation. It’s about a chance for your son to develop fully.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I ask OP how their kid got into MIT and UMD with BK? What was the hook?

OP here.
If only we knew what worked — your guess is as good as mine! But I can provide some stats, ECs…

SAT = 1600, GPA 4.0, 10 APs, Community service (Not done as a box to check, but out of genuine desire to help other during the pandemic), usual CS activities like robotics with some awards, small Math award, some quirkiness that I don’t want to detail that might have appealed to MIT, lots of music related essays throughout MIT application although actual music experience was not mentioned. For BK, genuine desire to work in DC - as never thought HYPSM would come through.

Additionally, one recommender happened to tell kid recently that they were best of career, and counselor has called kid a rockstar for leadership — not sure if those went into LORs. Third recommender asked kid if they could write kid LOR.

Congratulations!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Mit for certain

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD also got Bannker Key UMD and has Georgia Tech full scholarship, Caltech, waitlisted for MIT. Have money saved up, which one would you choose for CS?

Georgia tech

OP here.

Agree with GT if it is Stamps. Congrats!

Stamps isn’t out yet!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your child got an opportunity millions of kids kill themselves for. Do not let it go for any reason. MIT all the way !!

Poor choice of words. Be careful, OP. Best of luck to your DC, whatever they choose.

[Anonymous]

Are people getting full rides to UMD from MD?