CS major between GMU and University of Pennsylvania

[Anonymous]

DD who graduated in Game Design at GMU is now at Microsoft. Computer Science majors do very well. The kids who can really cash in are the CyberSecurity majors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD who graduated in Game Design at GMU is now at Microsoft. Computer Science majors do very well. The kids who can really cash in are the CyberSecurity majors.

Did your DD get a BFA in Game Design, or a BS in Com Sci with a minor game desgn, (or ABS in Com Sci/game desgn)?

I have real issues with paying $120K for a BFA in Game Design. I know it's fine for other families. I just can't get on board with that... and I have a kid who thinks that's his plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok I know a lot about FAANG salaries and there is no way a new grad is getting a $195K salary. Maybe that’s including all stock that will best but otherwise no.

you know nothing.

A friend's kid graduated in CS from SMCM, and is making $195k at FAANG. Top of class, PBK.

In 15 years, no one will care where this kid went to college. If this is something you care about, stop living in the past!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is definitely possible. Of all degrees, CS might be the least affected by university prestige. Tech companies DO pay 300-500K for TOP Phd talent right out of school. Sounds crazy, but they do. Plus options. It's just a different world.

But not every CS grad will get that. 125 is sort of expected TBH for a good student. That 125 could easily be located in Philly or Nova while Goggle 195 is in the valley and that is just COLA.

But the the crux of the issue, yes, GMU CS grads with excellent grades and solid skills can do as well or better than ivy leaguers. No question.

As a matter of fact, you don't even need a GMU degree. Steve jobs, Zuckerberger, Gates are all college dropouts. They are just HS grads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I went to the graduation party of my nephew who just graduated from University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Computer Science (3.7 GPA), and accepted an offer to work at AWS for 125k. DS just also graduated from GMU with a degree in Computer Science (3.9 GPA) and he got an offer from Google for 195k. My SIL paid almost 300k for her son to attend UPenn while I paid about 52k for GMU (DS lived at home while attending GMU).

You son will be known as a commuter school graduate for the rest of his life, and your nephew a Ivy League grad.

STFU

Your lack of pedigree is showing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friend's kid didn't even go to college and landed a FAANG job. Moved up pretty quickly too.

+1

Obviously OP should have sent her kid to a 12-wk SWE boot camp and saved the GMU tuition and 4 years of living at home for the same paycheck.

+1

Yeah. I’m sure the kid would have been happy to get out of that household.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why compare apples and oranges, just enjoy your own fruit. Living at home and attending GMU vs living on campus at a selective elite school are two completely different learning and living experiences. It may not be worth it for you but could be for next person. Be happy both kids did well.

+1. This. Your nephew attended school in an environment with better students and has them in his peer group. The network effects will pay dividends over time.

You wish, parents who paid $80K to send Larla to a T20 college!

But not so much, in reality. I'm an Ivy grad, as is DH. We have many friends who are Ivy grads. Most are plugging along in pretty decent jobs, but no one is a superstar. I also know some superstars who went to state U's and are doing really, really well in their careers.

Cling to the old cliches if it makes you feel better, but reality is different these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I went to the graduation party of my nephew who just graduated from University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Computer Science (3.7 GPA), and accepted an offer to work at AWS for 125k. DS just also graduated from GMU with a degree in Computer Science (3.9 GPA) and he got an offer from Google for 195k. My SIL paid almost 300k for her son to attend UPenn while I paid about 52k for GMU (DS lived at home while attending GMU).

You son will be known as a commuter school graduate for the rest of his life, and your nephew a Ivy League grad.

As shallow as it may sound, it’s a social reality.

Only among the affected and those who care about such pettiness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I went to the graduation party of my nephew who just graduated from University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Computer Science (3.7 GPA), and accepted an offer to work at AWS for 125k. DS just also graduated from GMU with a degree in Computer Science (3.9 GPA) and he got an offer from Google for 195k. My SIL paid almost 300k for her son to attend UPenn while I paid about 52k for GMU (DS lived at home while attending GMU).

You son will be known as a commuter school graduate for the rest of his life, and your nephew a Ivy League grad.

STFU

Your lack of pedigree is showing.

GMU grads need to curse at the top of their lungs just to be heard.
UPenn grads (Trump tribe, Elon musk, warren buffet) speak softly and carry a big stick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who the hell even compares GMU with UPenn?

For education quality? No one.

For outcomes? Everyone.

It has been established that you can graduate from GMU And get hired by FAANG. That being said, not many enjoy that type of college experience and who has the long term promotability?

What everyone seems to be missing is that FAANG jobs out of GMU are an exception and not the rule. The fact that this kid got one means he has the smarts to have done well at Penn if he had applied/gotten in. Outcomes long-term will be the same for him compared to the Penn kid. Besides, after your first or second job, no one gives a rat's a** about where you went to college.

You should have said "if his parents could afford it"

My kid got into T25 colleges, and went in-state only because of cost. She's at the #1 grad program in her STEM field now, despite the "handicap" of going to a state school with no prestige. I'm pretty sure she's going to do just fine in her career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD who graduated in Game Design at GMU is now at Microsoft. Computer Science majors do very well. The kids who can really cash in are the CyberSecurity majors.

Did your DD get a BFA in Game Design, or a BS in Com Sci with a minor game desgn, (or ABS in Com Sci/game desgn)?

I have real issues with paying $120K for a BFA in Game Design. I know it's fine for other families. I just can't get on board with that... and I have a kid who thinks that's his plan.

Did you miss the part about being hired by Microsoft? Gaming is a huge $$ industry

[Anonymous]

Speaking of FAANG….

https://fortune.com/2022/05/14/why-are-tech-stocks-down-end-faang-era/amp/

[Anonymous]

I didn't miss that part. I'm still not supporting a BFA.

Kudos to the PP whose kid is gainfully employed. That's why I asked the question of whether it was a BFA or a BS degree.


I'm ok with my kid getting the BS degree and choosing to use it in video game design, although I have significant concerns about the industry as a whole. I'm not o.k. with the BFA....but I'm open to hearing more from the PP.

[Anonymous]

By BS degree, I'm talking about the BS in com sci.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who the hell even compares GMU with UPenn?

For education quality? No one.

For outcomes? Everyone.

It has been established that you can graduate from GMU And get hired by FAANG. That being said, not many enjoy that type of college experience and who has the long term promotability?

What everyone seems to be missing is that FAANG jobs out of GMU are an exception and not the rule. The fact that this kid got one means he has the smarts to have done well at Penn if he had applied/gotten in. Outcomes long-term will be the same for him compared to the Penn kid. Besides, after your first or second job, no one gives a rat's a** about where you went to college.

You should have said "if his parents could afford it"

My kid got into T25 colleges, and went in-state only because of cost. She's at the #1 grad program in her STEM field now, despite the "handicap" of going to a state school with no prestige. I'm pretty sure she's going to do just fine in her career.

I stopped at "gotten in" because several kids do get in but don't end up going for a variety of reasons including affordability. The fact that your kid got into to top school shows they have the ability of those kids at that T25 school.