<p>I want to do Computer Science, with a healthy dose of engineering, and probably some psychology and math in there too. I realize that Cornell is an Ivy and all that and has probably the best engineering of the Ivies, yet I've also heard people say CMU pretty much can't be beat in Computer Science. Both seem to be great places.</p>
<p>What makes this decision harder? I was admitted to Cornell; I was waitlisted at CMU. I don't even know if it's worth it to stay on it though. If I stayed, got in, and went to CMU, I'd be out $400 (Cornell's deposit) and I'm not really sure I'd pick CMU over Cornell (Unfortunately, I have not visited either school... bleah). CMU also has a priority waitlist that is binding, and I don't even know if I want to make that kind of commitment. I don't even know my chances of getting in, or whether I am being offered priority waitlisting...
So I basically am asking, is it worth it to stay on the waitlist? Should I be fully convinced of CMU's superiority over Cornell if I do decide to stay and wait, and otherwise stick with Cornell to save myself the trouble? Can anyone vouch for the strength of the Computer Science departments at these schools, or other factors that might help this decision?</p>
<p>I'd talk to my parents about this too, but unfortunately I can't get ahold of my dad, so that's not going to happen for a while. So I came here first. Any advice here would be appreciated; I will take your suggestions into account and make a final decision.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure that CMU's computer science program is top notch, but so Cornell's is good too. In addition, Cornell accepted you, and if I were in your position, I really wouldn't wait around on anyone's waitlist. </p>
<p>But, it's very important to visit the schools to which you've been accepted. You may go to Cornell, and hate it. You may take a trip to CMU, and decide that there waitlist isn't worth it for you. I'm a huge fan of campus fit, so try to visit both schools soon if you can.</p>
<p>I would definitely visit each campus to get a flavor for it if you can. That should be the first step.</p>
<p>One of the benefits to Cornell, in my mind, is that it is very good in a lot of different areas, so even if you decide you no longer want to go into CS, there are a lot of other great programs across the University. CMU's strengths are really in engineering and the fine arts. </p>
<p>And I don't think there is much of a distinction between CMU and Cornell CS at the undergraduate level.</p>
<p>Both schools rate equally the same in CS. CMU's has a separate school for CS, @ 76 kids/year. They are often housed near each other. Microsoft and other tech companies recruit there for internships and jobs. You will need a minor, and engineering and math are quite popular. I visited during accepted student's weekend, and was impressed with the kids and faculty. </p>
<p>I think a visit to the colleges will help you decide. Also, e-mail Mathmom, whose son is current student in CS at CMU. She may know more about the differences between schools (go to Parent's Forum).</p>
<p>Well, you are in at Cornell and are less than certain at CMU, so the question is probably moot, but here is my take.</p>
<p>Both are great schools for CS. My oldest, senior math/compsci major at Cornell, was told by more than one CS recruiter that Cornell, CMU and MIT students got the top job offers. He turned down CMU for Cornell - he preferred the size, natural beauty, variety and other options of the larger school, and wanted the Ivy name on his diploma, I suspect. Cornell held up its end by providing great internship contacts and on-campus job interviews for a number of CS companies - Invidia, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, many more.</p>
<p>CMU is much smaller and city-oriented. It is in lively neighborhood, buffered by U Pitt and some smaller colleges from the downtown section of Pittsburgh. My nice is attending and says it is much like her high school - not too big, not too small, and very intense. Her dorm is a 1-2 minute walk to campus; son's dorms at Cornell were always at least 10 minutes walk. Also, no class at CMU is over 250 or so students; most are much smaller. At Cornell, son had 1000 students in Chem 207 and has 700 plus in Wine Tasting (one of Cornell's signature courses for seniors!) He also had many advanced math course with enrollments of 15-20, so the variety is certainly there.</p>
<p>A lot depends on you and how you learn, and what options you want. At CMU, it is not easy to get off of your original "track" if you want to switch majors, and many liberal arts fields are not well-represented. Cornell offers a wealth of options if, like many students, you decide to pursue a different course of study.</p>
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I want to do Computer Science, with a healthy dose of engineering, and probably some psychology and math in there too.
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<p>CMU is strong in both engineering, psychology, and math, and beats any other school in the US for CS, except perhaps MIT or Stanford. Furthermore, CMU is probably one of the top feeders for computer-related companies like Microsoft or Google. </p>
<p>I'd pick CMU over Cornell for CS in particular, although Cornell is probably a better school overall (all majors included) than CMU.</p>