Someone from Columbia sent me this article:
https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/03/which-college-and-which-major-will-make-you-richest/359628/
How is Columbia’s CS #2 and CMU #10 for the second bar graph? I’m so confused.
It’s just another set of assumptions.
It just demonstrates that we are talking about two fine schools and programs.
The student herself determines success ultimately at this level of excellence.
Don’t get too caught up in the rankings rat race.
Price. Passion. Place.
Net costs are affordable and wise
It will bring out the best in you.
The location, facilities, culture and activities suit you well.
Rank each category 1 to 5. Add them up and see what it says to you.
Columbia grads are probably more likely to live in a high cost of living area (eg NYC) than CMU grads. Higher pay does not necessarily translate into a better lifestyle. The cost of living in NYC is 2.2X that of Pittsburgh.
The numbers in the PayScale study seem to be too low. The highest values for a 20-year return are reported at about $1.5 million, which translates to $75,000 per year. However, the average mid-career salary for all workers in computer science is above $100,000. Also, CMU reports statistics on their own graduates here
https://www.cmu.edu/career/about-us/salaries_and_destinations/2018.html
and the average starting salary for a B.S. graduate of SCS in 2018 was $113,630.
So I would have some doubts about the validity of the PayScale study.
First it’s a self serving article that is 5 years old. Second, the methodology described seems a bit loose, especially as the income levels are self reported and we don’t know where the reporters are living/working so COL isn’t accounted for. Third, the difference in return on investment between Columbia (little under $1.6million)and CMU (little under $1.2 million) over 20 years is around $400,000. The author of article doesn’t really explain what that means specifically but assuming he’s referring to income that equates to an $20,000 extra per year in salary over the 20 years. A difference for sure but not a meaningful one IMO.
Still comes down to where you feel you’ll fit best given the various factors…I.e. Pitt vs NYC, curriculum requirements, other opportunities if you decide you don’t like CS or want to double major, or minor or double minor, student body vibe etc…
They cost literally the same ): I have NO idea what to do.
@deadgirl, although it might have been easier if the dollars ended up dictating your decision, the good news is that you get to decide with your own mind and heart! The especially good news is that you simply can’t make a wrong choice here.
One of the things I think people forget to think about in this sort of situation is that you will be in one or the other of these two excellent programs for a handful of years, and you will be an alumna of the institution forever. Have you had a chance to look into opportunities provided for alums? These vary significantly at colleges and universities around the country, and many people never realize this because their choice is more clear and they do not need to consider it as a factor. Also, if you ended up making a deep connection with the institution, and ultimately either staying additional years for graduate work or being hired on as an employee, which location is preferable to you? Are there particular clubs or intramural sports or annual social events on campus that excite you when you read about them? Lastly, do you have friends and/or family in the areas adjacent to either university?
Again, these are questions the students don’t necessarily need to consider if their choice is clear. But you have, in my opinion, two equally fantastic opportunities. Each has separate reasons why it might be the better choice, but you have considered these and have come away from the thought process seeing them as equally excellent. So, you have the luxury of considering other things, such as what I’ve offered above.
And you have the supreme luxury of knowing that, as long as you 100% set your mind to the choice you ultimately make and firmly decide to thrive there, you cannot go wrong.
Congratulations on your wonderful options. I look forward to hearing your decision.
My guess is that you want to attend Columbia and the cs prowess of cmu is giving you pause.
The ivy brand and nyc can be hypnotic to many at your age.
It really shouldn’t be that hard of a choice. In less the objective best choice is not the the subjective romantic choice. Imho.
Are you certain you want CS? How do you feel about living in NYC? Do you like the core? For my D the core was a huge turn off even though she loved other things about the school. Do you look better in light blue or red? Do you prefer lions or cute Scottish terriers ( just a little light humor there ?). I’m excited to hear your decision…either way it’s going to be a fantastic 4 years!
At Columbia, I’d most likely be doing the 3-2 double degree program between CC and SEAS so I would be able to do music and computer science and that would mean I would not only have to fulfill one core, but two cores for both CC and SEAS in addition to classes required for my major. Maybe summer classes would help me do it in a shorter amount of time? At the same time, I feel as though taking such a wide breadth of classes is good especially if I want to go to graduate studies (I don’t want to do them right now, but I might later?? :/).
At CMU, I’d be doing only CS and music and a few core classes. But I likely wouldn’t be able to double degree. But does a degree in music even matter? I looked up some Columbia music alumni and an alarming majority of them were now in finance and one was even a Starbucks barista. I feel a bit disillusioned. ):
Location wise, I love NYC! But I feel reluctant: Will I get bored of it after being there so long? Are most Columbians just stuck in their bubble? Is there a sense of “unity” or “community” on campus?
To be honest, I’m truly indifferent to the choice of which college to go to. I wanted to go to Columbia for literally my entire life because I visited NYC a lot and thought it was so cool. But is location a trivial reason to like a school?
I’m not sure which one is worth the money. I feel sort of bad having my parents pay for me to study stuff not related to my major.
Location is not a trial reason to like a school. You will be living there.
Finance is big business in NYC. It makes a lot of sense that Columbia’s grads are working in finance.
Both schools are worth the money. Which one do you want to go to? It sounds like Columbia to me.
You poor thing. You are tormenting yourself over this! You can’t lose - both are excellent schools. Sounds like Columbia, but go with your gut!
Another important note: even these wonderful programs/institutions have drawbacks and flaws. Literally everything does, and if you are looking for perfection, you will not find it. Your final decision may need to be a leap of faith based on your own gut instinct. After that, it will be entirely up to YOU to make the most of whichever place you select. Make a choice and don’t look back. Get off CC and move forward happily and gratefully into your college adventure! And consider yourself warned: if you choose to do so, you can ruin everything once you’re there by wondering what might have been elsewhere and/or noticing and bemoaning the negatives of wherever you ended up. I guarantee there will be plenty. It’s a deliberate decision to focus on the good things; your life will be the better for it. This is an exciting moment for you. There are two amazing options in front of you, and there is no wrong choice.
Go to Columbia. Less likely to get bored in NYC than Pittsburgh. You can enjoy your music at Columbia without going for a degree in it abc the CS program there will not be as strung out as at CMU but it’ll get you an excellent job, I’m sure. You’ll have more flexibility at Columbia.
@deadgirl I agree with the other posters…you sound like Columbia is your preference and why not?! It’s an amazing school in an unmatched city. One quick response to your comment about taking summer courses: those course do cost extra and I don’t know if they would be covered by your FA package…my guess is they are not.
Location isn’t a trivial reason…you will be living there for a a period of time, but that argument goes both ways… You can live any where for 4 years (and actually its more like 2 1/2 yrs unless you stay at the school year round). Also if you find yourself “bored” at either school there’s always study abroad :).
As far as community and school spirit goes at Columbia and CMU, I’m not either school is a first rate example. However, I do think the kids that attend are extremely proud of their schools, it more that the type of student that chooses to attend doesn’t rank those qualities as highly desirable as perhaps kids that attend UVA, Duke or UMichigan.
I think your parents are funding a college education, not just your major. Many kids change their majors, at least once, if not more. Often subjects that seemed interesting in HS don’t maintain their appeal, or as my nephew who switched from CS to econ stated “CS got really tough after the first 2 years”, or you might change your mind as to career you want to pursue. Columbia will provide you with a wider breadth of subjects to choose from and you might appreciate that flexibility as you journey through your 4 years.
Lastly, one other exercise that might help, if you haven’t done it already, is to map out potential classes for your 4 years at both schools and see if the courses offered and/or available might give you additional info to break the tie. Additionally, although many classes at Columbia are taught by TAs, you can also take classes at Barnard which is more like an LAC with smaller classes and more direct contact with professors.
You could minor in music, or just take the classes you want after you’ve completed th pre-requisites (in addition to the CS major). This way you could get your degree in 4 years.
After reading all your posts I’d recommend Columbia for you. CMU is definitely not for everyone.
@Rivet2000 Really? How come?
It’s possible in the Engr and CS schools at CMU, that you pretty much have to be a STEM major. If you decided not to stay in CS, and you wanted to major in something like econ or poly sci or international relations, you’re better off at Columbia. If you know that CS is what you want to do, then it’s really hard to top CMU, wrt cutting edge research, faculty, placement in high tech. There is an opportunity, imo, and I mentioned this in the CMU vs UMD thread to make an impact above your job, as a woman CS grad from CMU. Columbia may be more intense than CMU as well and is less of a cohesive campus.
Although I think that @privatebanker is correct, and that you are letting the romantic notions of city and college name determine your choice, I think that Columbia’s excellent CS program, while not as good as CMU’s (because no CS program is as good as CMU’s), will still provide almost all the opportunities that CMU’s will.
So, if you choose CMU, and have regrets about not being in NY, it will stay on your mind. If you attend Columbia and regret not going to CMU, you can always tell yourself, “well, the CS program is still amazing”.
Basically, no matter what you choose, you will have buyer’s remorse and second guess yourself. That is simply who you are. I think that the regrets you will have from not attending CMU will be easier for you to silence that those from not attending Columbia.