<p>I seem to have trouble not only choosing, but also backing up my choice to my father.</p>
<p>From what I could gather, both departments are about the same level, but CMU is better. My personal choice rests in CMU, but my father keeps telling me that "IVY Prestige" counts for more and that I should go to Cornell.</p>
<p>I researched the salaries/employers of graduates and it seems that CMU has the most prestigious employers and higher starting salaries.</p>
<p>I am content with both school's social life and campuses, neither is giving me any financial aid of any sort and they cost about the same, so the only thing that really matters is academics. So current undergrads/alumni - which school is better for getting a job in the future?</p>
<p>If your personal choice is CMU go there, don't pick Cornell just because it's an ivy league. CMU's computer science program is very highly regarded; so if prestige is all you're worried about, it's there. However, you said "the only thing that really matters is academics" but in reality the difference in academics isn't that big. Put more thought into the campus life, location, and stuff like that, the difference between the two schools in those regards is far more significant than the difference in educational quality or repuation.</p>
<p>Cornell and CMU are both among the very best in CS. Pittsburgh is a nice city. Cornell has Ivy prestige and culture (which does matter).</p>
<p>You can't make a bad choice in this case. I tend to favor Cornell but I know more about Cornell. Cornell has a higher grad rate, better academic and social climate. Tough choice.</p>
<p>I think if you are pretty set on majoring in CS and getting a job upon graduation, CMU is an excellent choice. If there is any degree of uncertainty and the prospect of going to grad school, you might want to go with Cornell because it is academically very well rounded and has better prestige.</p>
<p>Are you sure you'll be doing CS in 4 years?
Are you sure you know what CS is about?
Are you sure you won't switch out of CS and regret not going to Cornell?</p>
<p>scorp:
Yes, I have been doing Comp Sci for at least 6 years and its hard to stop ;).
Yes, computer concepts and applications of concepts (programming, algorithms, etc)
I am sure I will not switch out of CS, but I might take a few EE classes on the side.</p>
<p>blukorea:
I will definitely be going to grad school to get my masters and maybe doctorate.</p>
<p>nameless1:
Is there anything in particular that would somehow tip the scales either way? E.G. I know Cornell has a internet bandwidth limit and limited wireless access, while CMU does not have a limit and a campus-wide wireless network.</p>
<p>If you know for sure you want to do computer science, then academically speaking carnegie-mellon is the place to be - they have one of the top CS departments in the world.</p>
<p>While cornell is an excellent school, and you can't go wrong going there either, it's just not known for computer science in the same way that CMU is.</p>
<p>FYI, I also started out as a computer science major at Berkeley, another top CS school. When I was only five courses away from graduation, I switched out to History, because--to make the long story short--I got sick of it. Don't get me wrong, I think CS is a great major. However, try to remember that the majority of freshmen don't end up retaining their original majors. There is a reason why the schools nowadays are increasingly resorting to the "undecided/choose-when-you-arrive" major system.</p>
<p>The reason why CMU stands out in CS is not because their CS is the best in the nation. It is 'one of the best'--Berkeley's and MIT's can certainly match it. Cornell's CS is right next to them in the running, yet their engineering and sciences are better in almost every other aspect.</p>
<p>Then again, if you will seriously adhere to the 'CS 4 life' philosophy, CMU is an excellent choice. For CMU = CS.</p>
<p>CS at CMU may be top 4 - Berkeley, Stanford, MIT, CMU.
CS at Cornell is top 10. I don't think there is much difference between these two departments academically.</p>
<p>
[quote]
nameless1:
Is there anything in particular that would somehow tip the scales either way? E.G. I know Cornell has a internet bandwidth limit and limited wireless access, while CMU does not have a limit and a campus-wide wireless network.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Lol, don't worry about that, it's just pocket change for every GB you go over, so you can download all you want for a few more bucks. </p>
<p>Hmm...cmu does have like half the population so the class sizes will probably be smaller (especially for intoductory classes) and it'll probably feel more like a private school, although I personally like the state-schoolish (except that everyone's crazy smart) feel of Cornell. If your having trouble deciding, consider which distance from home you prefer, and whether you'd rather live in Ithaca (where student life pretty much revolves around the campus), or Pittsburgh (where people can go out more). Cornell does have a better male/female ration, division 1 sports, nice housing, and really awesome food :D.</p>