UMD vs MSU

[Anonymous]

My kid has a tough choice to make, both of which are great options. I am curious what others think - there may be perspectives we aren't taking into account.

Choice 1 - UMD College Park, accepted computer science and honors, already knows which LLP he is in. Merit aid of 5k per year. Total cost ends up being ~20k per year with remainder of tuition, fees, and room/board.

Choice 2 - Michigan State. Full ride, possible stipend. Major accepted into is Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Honors College.

I believe MSU will allow him to bypass most of his gen ed reqs and get a dual degree, likely in CS.

I FEEL like the obvious choice is MSU but I know that UMD computer science is highly regarded. However it seems like undergrad school matters little especially if one's trajectory is grad school. Also, I know this is his decision, not mine. I just want to be able to support and guide him from a more informed place.

I would love to hear other parents perspectives, particularly from those in positions of evaluating candidates for jobs. How much weight do you give the undergrad college name? TIA!

[Anonymous]

I'd go with UMD assuming your kid wants:

1) major in CS
2) you have money saved
3) your kid is open to attending local

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid has a tough choice to make, both of which are great options. I am curious what others think - there may be perspectives we aren't taking into account.

Choice 1 - UMD College Park, accepted computer science and honors, already knows which LLP he is in. Merit aid of 5k per year. Total cost ends up being ~20k per year with remainder of tuition, fees, and room/board.

Choice 2 - Michigan State. Full ride, possible stipend. Major accepted into is Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Honors College.

I believe MSU will allow him to bypass most of his gen ed reqs and get a dual degree, likely in CS.

I FEEL like the obvious choice is MSU but I know that UMD computer science is highly regarded. However it seems like undergrad school matters little especially if one's trajectory is grad school. Also, I know this is his decision, not mine. I just want to be able to support and guide him from a more informed place.

I would love to hear other parents perspectives, particularly from those in positions of evaluating candidates for jobs. How much weight do you give the undergrad college name? TIA!

UMD and MSU are "weighed" about the same. "Evaluating candidates" is hardly relevant because we are talking two wildly different fields. If he wants to do CS, UMD is a no-brainer. If bio, go with MSU. This is a weird question.

[Anonymous]

OP here. To clarify, I believe hw will likely get a dual degree in CS from MSU if he goes that route. I believe CS is on of those disciplines that can land you in a myriad of job types ultimately. He might end up bringing programming skills and machine learning to the table, but that could be for positions within the healthcare industry, or real estate, education , etc.

To the other question, if he goes to MD he will have to get some loans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd go with UMD assuming your kid wants:

1) major in CS
2) you have money saved
3) your kid is open to attending local

I would agree the questions are: how material is the $20k to you (would it be all loans?); what does he want to study, and where does he want to go to school and locate after college?

[Anonymous]

No one cares where you get a CS degree from. Take the full ride and pay for graduate school in full.

[Anonymous]

I disagree - totally go with the free ride. Who turns that down? Money saved can be used for grad school, deposit for house or whatever.

[Anonymous]

and if MD requires loans, I wouldn't even consider it. Congrats to your kid.

[Anonymous]

Have you been to East Lansing? Not that College Park is great but East Lansing is cold dark and not much around once you get 5 miles form campus.

also, they covered for the US gymnastics doctor who molested athletes for years and years., so there is that.

[Anonymous]

I think it could go with way and if money isn’t a factor, let your child decide. MSU is a nice place, it does get cold!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one cares where you get a CS degree from. Take the full ride and pay for graduate school in full.

This. Plus UMD has no community.

[Anonymous]

You are OOS for UMCP?

[Anonymous]

OP here. We are in-state for UMCP. We also have 3 kids coming up after him that we need to consider in terms of money available for school. That being said, I don't want to put him at a disadvantage when he could get some loans and get the degree from Maryland.

We are familiar with East Lansing - no issues there in terms of location.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We are in-state for UMCP. We also have 3 kids coming up after him that we need to consider in terms of money available for school. That being said, I don't want to put him at a disadvantage when he could get some loans and get the degree from Maryland.

We are familiar with East Lansing - no issues there in terms of location.

4 kids, little help from parents, only one real option. No on cares where he gets the degree.

[Anonymous]

Umd has the best intern opportunities in the United States. If your child is ambitious UMD is the best. Not good for shrinking violets though.