<p>Lucky for me, I was accepted to CMU for Engineering (Undecided) :) Unfortunately, I did not receive any merit based or need based aide (my parents are in an income bracket where need-based aide will not happen, but the cost of CMU would be significant). I also got accepted to such schools as Cal Poly and UCSD for engineering, which are really good, and both are less than half the total cost of CMU. Does anyone know if CMU would be worth the high cost for engineering? My parents and I would probably be in debt for a while if I were to go. As a result of the cost factor, I have pretty much ruled out CMU, but I am curious regarding other people's opinion to this obstacle.</p>
<p>Large debt is not worth it when you have Cal Poly and UCSD for a lot less. I had the same issue and decided it was not worth it.</p>
<p>Anyone weigh in on CMU at $43K vs. RPI at $35K chemical engineering; seek coops.</p>
<p>I’m having the exact same issue. This whole process is so depressing, as I am unable to attend the colleges that I hoped to go to most solely due to cost.</p>
<p>I think I understand your stress from a Mom’s standpoint.
After revisitng both places this weekend, our son just decided CMU despite RPI costing 20,000 less/year due to merit aid.<br>
He processed the information and gravity of his obligation, as he knows we won’t be able to pay all of the difference between the two schools. In all likelihood he will be paying back a lot more than just the Stafford Loans. He’s OK with that, took a long time to think it over, and because of who he is and the major he’s chosen, I think he did make the right choice.
BUT I was very impressed with RPI when we met one on one with his department and I think that would be the right choice for a lot of people.
His debt is going to follow him around for a long while.</p>
<p>cal poly and ucsd engineering are both great too and you won’t be in debt as much as you would had you gone to cmu</p>
<p>As my parents and teachers repeatedly told me, you do NOT want to start your life after college with tens of thousands of dollars in debt. It will limit your opportunities hold you back for some years.</p>
<p>CMU is not worth it. And grad school is much more valuable than undergrad in terms of applying for jobs after graduation. Save your money as my family is doing and go to a cheaper school and then attend (hopefully) a top private graduate school for engineering like MIT, Stanford, Duke, or even Carnegie mellon.</p>
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<p>Cal Poly and UCSD are good schools, but CMU engineering is clearly in a different league. Employment and/or graduate school admission prospects are much better if you graduate from CMU.</p>