CMU is like my dream university and I really wanna do Computer Science out there so I kinda applied for the ECE program hoping that it would be easier to get into (2nd choice SCS). I was also recently accepted to Georgia Tech for Computer Science. If by some miracle, I do get into the ECE program and get rejected from SCS, should I still choose CMU over Gatech. Its not like I mind ECE, I think it would be a lot of fun doing a bit of hardware side. But I have virtually no experience and this is somewhat a whim. At Gatech I would have the freedom to dabble in ECE courses if I want to while being in Computer Science. But I am not sure if I would have the same flexibility to take CS courses at CMU while being in ECE. Also, I am worried that the software job/internship opportunities at companies like Google, Microsoft would slightly be tilted in the favor of SCS at CMU. Thoughts?
bump?
Assuming youâre not a GA resident, and ignoring financial aid (since you didnât mention finances), Iâd say go to GT and save yourself $80K or more over 4 years. Did you apply to CMU ED and get deferred?
Iâm an international so neither CMU not GA would give me aid anyway. I applied RD, thatâs why I was able to apply both to SCS and ECE @shortnuke
GA â EA
CMU â RDïŒ
Why not ED CMU? might more rate
If you truly want to do SCS, Iâd recommend GA. You can double major in ECE and CS, though that will be a fair amount of work, and you wonât be able to go much into the hardware side of ECE. Youâd probably be doing OS/Compiler kinda stuff, and youâd come out as more of a software engineer than computer scientist (if you want to do both).
If you are interested in ECE though, donât worry about having no experience! Very few have experience beforehand, and as long as youâre willing to learn, youâll be completely fine.
If youâre stuck between choosing ECE and SCS, ask yourself, do you enjoy theoretical mathematics or hands-on building/programming things more?
Also, donât worry about job interviews, as long as you work hard youâll do fine at either school. CMU might just be the better choice if you want a more theoretical CS approach, versus something closer to a software engineer.
many thanks, actully I enjoy hands-on building/programming things more.
and sorry, I am the newer, Whatâs then meaning of GA?
@peaceandface Its an abbreviation for Georgia Tech. Also, I didnât apply to CMU ED for the same reason, because I was not sure if Iâd rather do SCS or ECE. CMU makes you chose a single major while applying ED. Thanks @conecc makes sense to keep an open mind, and I have heard from a lot of people that its possible to double major worst case. I am interested in hands-on stuff/ programming things though.
thank to make sense to me, I might not suitable to ED CMU, and anther question, what is the possibilty to EA Georgia Tech. especially the Extracurricular activity, I am not good at being a leader, and I attend the school robotic team but not get awards yet.
Are you more interested in electronics/circuits or theory/mathematics? ECE and SCS curriculum, aside from some systems programming course, are pretty different.
actully, for me, the mathematics is better than Physics.
@peaceandface I attended Georgia Tech, whose huge rival is University of Georgia, and to avoid being confused with the less academically skilled âDawgsâ of UGA, Tech students abbreviate their schoolâs name as GT. 
@ram2621 Iâm confused by all the abbreviations and the content of your message. You seem to want to be a Computer Scientist but you applied to CMUâs Engineering and Computer Engineering (ECE) program as your #1 choice and the Mellon College of Science (MCS) as a #2 choice? If what you mean is that youâre hoping you can be admited to ECE and then transfer to Computer Science (SCS) then good luck. Iâve heard (on the campus tour) that it is extremely difficult.
Since May 1 has passed, this is for future readers: many many of CMUâs SCS graduates become software engineers as do some from ECE. They are graduating into careers doing âhands-on stuffâ having learned the theory to know how to approach a problem most effectively and efficiently.