If I choose Dartmouth, I will be taking out about 60k in loans (but from home equity so ~4% APR)
I plan on pursuing computer science/engineering, with the ultimate career dream of landing a job at Google (or any other top tech company in Silicon Valley), and slowly climbing the ladder.
Yet because of this, I am planning on going for a PhD in CS or CE after I graduate from Dartmouth (with a B.E.)
My question is, coming from Dartmouth, would I be easily able to find PhD programs that would give stipends sufficient enough to cover my loans? (so that they don’t keep accruing interest?)
Also, is a PhD really necessary to enter these major tech companies? I know Dartmouth also offers a 4+1 AB/MS in CS. Would this be sufficient?
It is highly unlikely that you will get a stipend from anywhere that will cover your student loans (if will not matter where you complete your undergrad. Don’t use this as a measurement to chose a school.
D has quite a few friends working at FB/Google, none of them have a PhD in computer science.
Random sample of one: I know a recent CS grad from a solid but not tippy top LAC who is happily working away at Google with just a BS in computer science.
iirc, CS stipends range from ~$18K (Rochester) - ~$38K (Brown).
The name ‘Dartmouth’ will not in itself make a meaningful difference to how easily you get into a well-funded PhD program: it will come down to your GPA & GRE, your research interests and especially your LoRs & research experience.
A PhD is a research degree, and you will inevitably specialize in some area of research. Imo, it’s very early to be making decisions involving a possible PhD when you haven’t started college yet. Get to college, start applying for summer research jobs/internships (be looking by Thanksgiving, as deadlines are often in Dec & Jan). Autumn of junior year - well into your major, with 2 summers of research under your belt- is plenty of time to be getting serious about deciding whether you want to do a Masters or a PhD- or go work full time with your BS. You will have learned a lot about your own interests, as well as the pros and cons of each of those pathways, and be better able to make a call.
@Paperapper I read on a different thread that you are also considering Georgia Tech. It’s a great school in a fabulous location (my husband is an alumni.) Do you qualify for in-state tuition at Georgia Tech? $60,000 is a LOT of debt.
For the finances portion of it, make sure you are calculating 4.5-5 years for the BE at Dartmouth. About 25% of students manage to finish the BE ahead of time in four years with advanced standing from AP/IB tests and/or taking extra courses during several terms, but most take 4.5-5 years to complete it. That can affect how much money you may have to take in loans.
If you’re doing computers, a PhD is about as overkill as you can get, not to mention EXPENSIVE; especially at a private university. Computers is driven entirely on experience. All the degree is really useful for is getting your foot in the door. 98% of the stuff you learn in computers will be on the job. You’re not doing yourself any favors by getting a PhD.
Also, Silicon Valley is shrinking in population. People are moving out vs moving into CA at a rate of about 10:1. That’s why we’re seeing a tech boom in cities like Austin, Columbus OH, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, and Phoenix…among other places like Dallas and Houston.
Take from a tech professional. If you go to Dartmouth and get a PhD so you can get into Silicon Valley, it’ll end-up being the most expensive mistake of your life. You’re far better off graduating debt free. Feel free to get a master’s degree, but you have to be prudent about that too. Let the company you work for pay for it. Too much debt will sink your career, especially in an expensive place like CA.
My husband has a Ph.D. in CS, a fantastic, high-level job, and he didn’t have to pay one penny for it, it was all covered by the school he attended; on top of that he had a small stipend for being a R.A. all those years as well. He could not have his research position without having that Ph.D. If you don’t want to go into research then I agree, no need for the Ph.D., but like researchers in most if not all fields, a Ph.D. may be necessary.