<p>I'm currently debating between CMU and Cornell for computer science. CMU has arguably the best computer science school in the US, while Cornell, although up there in prestige, is not quite as good as CMU. However, Cornell has much better all round courses than CMU. I do like CMU's atmosphere a little better than Cornell's, but I figure that Cornell's big enough that I can find a little slice of CMU in it anyway. Added into this mix is the ever tempting full tuition offer from Pitt. Even though I don't like Pitt very much, it is a almost full ride.
Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations?</p>
<p>Your cost out of pocket for Cornell and CMU?</p>
<p>Another one of these difficult threads. Presumably Pitt was your safety school and now you find yourself with a free ride. If your parents have no objections to paying tuition at cmu or cornell, return the pitt offer with a decline so it can be offered to someone else.</p>
<p>CMU and Cornell -that is a thread that pops up here every year. Lots of good inputs on older threads.
Totally different environments - size, location, etc.
Cannot beat CS at CMU, Stanford or MIT-- cornell just a notch below that and very different. Is this for CS in engineering or arts/sciences at Cornell-- again, very different programs.</p>
<p>If your heart tells you will enjoy CMU and the fit, sounds like your decision is made. There is no slice of CMU at Cornell --cornell is 4x larger and a completely different place to be (but you already know that).</p>
<p>Read some of last year’s threads on cornell and cmu - -same issues surface every year.</p>
<p>If $$ is a factor -it’s hard to turn down 200,000, but you will not have the same educations, internships or job offers or research oppt at Pitt - no even remotely possible.</p>
<p>I agree with mom2012and14! You’re career opportunities are greatly increased with Cornell and CMU because they are very prestigious. If you are going for computer science you should go with CMU, imo. CMU is better known in the computer science community, which will yield better career opportunities.</p>
<p>I won’t go into Cornell vs. CMU. As far as Pitt goes…</p>
<p>If you make the most of it, and actively seek and obtain internships/jobs in CS most, if not all your summers, you will have no problems getting a job.</p>
<p>However, the quality of classroom instruction will be much lower, and your skill set will probably be less diverse than at the other two schools. You probably won’t be building operating systems, or taking advanced artificial intelligence classes, or anything of that nature. Your mathematical and problem solving skills will probably not be as sharp. This could limit you somewhat as far as what jobs you are qualified for.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Even if the quality is “much lower”, and despite the hyperbole there is no doubt Pitt doesn’t have CMU’s reputation in the field, the OP could take classes at CMU, because that is what he/she can do through Pitt…just like a CMU student can take a neuroscience class at Pitt. The OP will be in Pitt’s Honors College, which actually has a higher average SAT admission average (1457) than Cornell (1395). Is $200K for a CMU vs Pitt on a degree worth it? Only the OP can decide that. I’ve never know a Pitt compsci grad having any trouble finding a job. If the OP doesn’t “like Pitt very much”, then he/she probably shouldn’t go there. If there is any interest in grad school at all, it might be prudent to save that money and look to CMU at that point. All things being equal though, CMU over Cornell and Pitt.</p>
<p>All I’ll say is that there are a few Pitt CS students in CMU’s game design club, and they constantly lament how they don’t have the same opportunities that CMU students do. They have no problem finding jobs, but the top-tier recruiters are going to CMU, not to Pitt.</p>
<p>You can take classes at CMU as a Pitt student, but you will get last priority in registering after freshmen, associated faculty, visiting students, etc, etc. This means that pretty much any popular CS course that you’d want to take would be full when you tried to register.</p>
<p>With regards to CMU vs Cornell… They’re both great. Pick whichever one you feel suits your lifestyle better. Cornell is in the middle of nowhere (and anyone who says it’s not hasn’t lived there), CMU is in Pittsburgh, a medium-sized city. Cornell has great parties and frats, CMU’s party scene is more low-key. Cornell is freezing in the winter, and Pittsburgh is… also freezing in the winter. :p</p>
<p>"… Cornell (1395). "</p>
<p>FWIW, a CS major at Cornell can be undertaken only through the engineering college ( 1455) or the Arts & Sciences College (1415, under 16% admitted).</p>
<h1>s are midpoints of mid-50%ile ranges for class entering Fall 2010.</h1>
<p>Pitt! I’m sorry but you’d have to be crazy to pass that up! CMU’s tuition is brutal.</p>
<p>^
That’s what I said before I saw my financial aid package I thought would be nonexistent.</p>