I was lucky enough to be taken off Cornell’s waitlist early last week - I am currently committed to the Turing Scholars program at UT Austin. I’m having a hard time figuring out which school to choose and would like to get people’s thoughts.
From the extensive research I’ve done, both schools wouldn’t have much of a core curriculum for me (can take summer classes / take placement tests & APs), which was one previous worry I had about Cornell. In terms of research opportunities, both of them again seem to be pretty well matched, as they both have professors/research groups that work in my research groups. Internship opportunities also seem to be similar (I know Turing scholars get private recruiting opportunities etc, but it seems Cornell’s brand also attracts a lot of recruiters).
I like the Turing program because of its location (Austin is a very urban and bustling tech town compared to Ithaca), and its weather is really nice. That said, I’m not sure how much this would affect my college experience (probably my mental health?). On the other hand, Cornell’s name and prestige is definitely much higher than UT Austin, and I would be able to make a lot more connections there.
So - if you were in my situation, what would you choose and why? Cost is fortunately not a problem for me.
Turing is a full-ride scholarship, correct? If you have that, the decision is a no-brainer. You have a tangible accomplishment you can put on your resume. That puts you at the front of the line with internships and job prospects. That’s the goal, right? Debt free is a great start to a career.
This much I do not agree with. UT Austin is a very good university. The Ivy League in general is not all that well know for computer science. My understanding is that the high tech industry is doing well in Texas right now. Also while rankings do not matter much in CS, US News has Cornell and UT Austin immediately next to each other in the rankings for CS (one spot does not make a meaningful difference, and they could easily switch places by the time that the next ranking comes out).
I think that you are comparing an excellent university with an excellent university. In terms of “prestige”, for computer science I think that they are equal and are both very, very good. I think that you will make very good connections at either university.
I think that you should forget about “prestige” and decide based on other issues.
I also think that the Turing Scholars is a big opportunity.
Personally I would be fine with the winters in Ithaca. I grew up well to the north of New York and was very much used to it. However, winters are dark and cold in the north. The first time that I visited Cornell we got a couple of feet of snow in one weekend. Some people like this and some do not. It is however a real issue for some people. The summers in Texas might similarly be an issue for some people.
Congratulations on having this choice to make between two excellent, and equally excellent, universities. If I were making this choice, I would choose whichever one would be more comfortable (or more affordable). From you post it sounds like for you this might be UT Austin.
Your post-graduation opportunities will be determined by your accomplishments over the next four years rather than which one of these fine schools you attend.
And your accomplishments will be made within the context of the university you choose.
Do a side by side, semester by semester comparison of the academics you are most interested. Inquire about the opportunities you will have to participate in research. That should help you decide.
UT Turing Scholars specifically is as prestigious as Cornell for CS and full of amazing opportunities so unless you want to get out of TX for any reason, I’d stay put.
Sorry; I missed that. For an instate student that’s the only reason I could think of, because Turing Scholars is an amazing program.
If OP is OOS for UT then it really becomes a matter of personal preference. Both will have great outcomes.
Cornell is the exception among the Ivies for engineering, and it is up there with the most prestigious CS programs. In CS, Cornell is alongside UIUC, Berkeley, GTech, UW, etc.
Cornell is very different than all other Ivies, from the fact that it is partly public, it’s a land grant, and is structured more like public land grants than like the older colleges which make u the rest of the Ivies, including having an Ag school.
Just so the OP is aware, Turing is a more research focussed program. The general vibe of the kids in the program will be that away. Make sure you are comfortable that way. Cornell is also a very strong school, but it is a big cohort, and you will find your tribe. If theory type stuff (read math) is not your cup of tea, you may not be comfortable in the small 50-60 sized cohort at Turing.