Computer Science - Rutgers vs. NYU Poly vs. Georgia Tech?

College Search & Selection
1

I’m having a difficult time deciding between these schools.

Location wise, Rutgers and NYU are pretty close to where I live. I would definitely need to fly to Georgia Tech, it’s not a big deal but of course it makes it more complicated to visit my family.

Financially, Rutgers (Engineering) would cost me about $15k a year, while Georgia Tech and NYU would both be about $50k. I have gotten into the honors programs of Rutgers and NYU but not Georgia Tech (applied too late). The AP Credit policies of these schools are very similar for me.

My main goal for going to college would be to help me get a good job, not really thinking about grad school right now. Some other scattered thoughts I have about the schools:

Rutgers:
-Not so sure about how the quality of my peers here would be. The people who I know that go to Rutgers are kind of meh.
-It’s possible that I could transfer after a few years, thereby saving money and potentially getting into a better school than the other two choices? Should I bank on transferring out?

NYU Poly:
-I would be able to have a cross-school minor here at Arts and Sciences, probably in Econ or Finance.
-Presumably its location/reputation would make finding a good job in NYC very easy

Georgia Tech:
-Worried about the job prospects in Atlanta, especially considering the other two colleges are in the New York area
-Coop program sounds really interesting

Thanks for the feedback!

2

Unless your family is filthy rich (so $140K just doesn’t matter to them), I don’t believe that GTech and NYU are worth $140K more than RU for CS.

You could try to transfer out of RU as well if you keep your grades up.

3

I guess it’s good to look at it as costing $140k to go to NYU/Tech over Rutgers, I will consider that. If money were not a factor, how would you rank the schools?

Also, how would the job prospects compare for RU vs. NYU/GA Tech? I’m worried because RU has always had a negative connotation in my high school/community

4

Rutgers apparently is considered a highly reputable university (and CS is one of its good subjects) by almost everyone, except for many New Jersey residents, who seem to want to go anywhere else but Rutgers.

5

Rutgers is a very good school! Georgia Tech and NYU Poly are too expensive.

6

I would attend Rutgers, and do well in their CS program. It is solid. I would certainly not do NYU Poly for that money. If your family can afford Georgia Tech without student loans, and are willing to pay for it, that may be worth it. But generally for that amount of savings, Rutgers is really quite good – I would take it and not look back.