<p>Pat, unfortunately WUSTL only has a couple merit scholarships and as far as I can tell they’re super competitive and require a separate app. I submitted one last minute but didn’t become a finalist for it. :(</p>
<p>harukikara, go for it! You will get tons of helpful advice.</p>
<p>Just got a likely from Cornell, which is definitely a top choice. 
Plus, they guarantee to match financial aid from ivies + MIT and Stanford so that’s nice.</p>
<p>Accepted and Considering
Cornell CoE- waiting on financial aid
MIT - financial aid coming 3/18
Case Western - COA is ~26000, aid package could increase
University of Rochester - COA is ~36000</p>
<p>No Longer Considering
WUSTL - COA is ~62000, totally unmanageable
University of Pittsburgh
Georgia Tech
University of Alabama</p>
<p>Waiting On
Stanford
Princeton
Harvard
Yale</p>
<p>Rejected
Check back 3/28.</p>
<p>So I posted one as well if you want to check it out! And congratulations on the likely letter! Wicked awesome :D</p>
<p>Well final results are in. What do you all think? I don’t have financial aid from any of the top 3 yet.</p>
<p>Strongly Considering
MIT
Stanford
Cornell CoE</p>
<p>Only in Dire Straits ($$$)
Case Western - COA is ~26000
University of Rochester - COA is ~36000
University of Pittsburgh - COA is ~13000</p>
<p>Not Considering
WUSTL
Georgia Tech
University of Alabama</p>
<p>Waitlist (ain’t nobody got time for that)
Harvard
Princeton</p>
<p>Rejected
Yale</p>
<p>You have a great list! Congratulations! I don’t remember…what do you want to major in? </p>
<p>Of your top three, do you have a preference? I don’t know how you are going to pick, but you are in a enviable position.</p>
<p>MIT, Stanford, Cornell? You can’t make a bad choice. Pick on personal preferences or finances. The end. This isn’t a “problem.”</p>
<p>Two questions: 1. What do you want to major in? and 2. Where do you live? The weather in California is so hard to pass up, especially when compared to Cornell. Boston isn’t as bad at Cornell. Some might say location doesn’t matter, but you’re spending 4 years of your life there and when picking between closely ranked schools like you are, it’s a fine tiebreaker IMO.</p>
<p>Stanford will give you the best job prospects. But not everyone enjoys being in an upper class enclave. </p>
<p>MIT is close behind. Cornell, meanwhile, is a great school but is not as recognized.</p>
<p>Sure it is. You’re just in California, so Stanford has the biggest share of your mind. But Californians’ perceptions aren’t everybody’s (neither are Midwesterners, southerners, New Yorkers, etc.). </p>
<p>These are essentially 3 equal choices, so make a decision on finances (if relevant) and gut.</p>
<p>Stanford is in the middle of the richest metro area in the world. It is easy to find an internship/job at one of the top companies. Cornell is in the middle of nowhere, even if it is a great school.</p>
<ol>
<li>major is definitely STEM - put down physics but honestly undecided</li>
<li>raised in Texas - hate the heat but CA’s heat should be less oppressive BUT I also love skiing/snowboarding and don’t mind the cold. So that’s a toss up with the edge to Stanford.</li>
</ol>
<p>Cornell will match the aid of MIT and Stanford so that shouldn’t be an issue, for Cornell at least.</p>
<p>I do think MIT and Stanford are slightly more prestigious than Cornell. But between MIT and Stanford I don’t feel like there is any significant difference in academic strength (not sure about Cornell) although I don’t know about the prestige factor. How prestigious is Stanford engineering vs. MIT? I feel like Stanford is a great school, while MIT is a great engineering school. Can anyone speak to that?</p>
<p>Right now after talking to other students I’m leaning towards Stanford. I feel like I fit in better with the other students. But I am planning to visit all 3!</p>
<p>Stanford engineering is #2, after MIT. However, the bay area has a higher need for engineers, and you can probably make 100k+ easily right out of college with a Stanford engineering degree.</p>
<p>OK but is there any significant difference between #1 and #2? I have been viewing them as essentially equal academically, does MIT have an edge there?</p>
<p>Not really, although a MIT engineering degree might have slightly more prestige than Stanford’s. You could also easily make 100K+ coming out of MIT, so that shouldn’t be a huge worry. One thing I dislike about Stanford (there’s not much, so I have to nitpick lol) is the quarter system, although if you’re so inclined, you can take more classes. I personally feel it is crammed.</p>
<p>Wow congratulations on getting into such great schools
You have much tougher decisions to make, and I hope you don’t mind me asking for input on your thread since you also considered Case Western somewhat.</p>
<p>I’m interested in a STEM major as well, MAYBE Business, and there are only 2 schools I’m considering.</p>
<ul>
<li>University of Texas at Austin (Electrical/computer engineering)</li>
<li>Case Western </li>
</ul>
<p>Both schools will cost the same amount.
I want to push considerations of location (I’d rather not live in Texas…) and the fact that many of my friends will be going to UT behind academics. </p>
<p>So between the two, considering Academics/quality of education/opportunities for medical/engineering as the priorities, and location secondarily, which is better?
I’d appreciate any advice at all. Thanks!</p>
<p>No worries, I’m familiar with both schools since I live in Texas.</p>
<p>Now, I have visited UT Austin and LOVED it. The weather is great, Austin is by far the best place in Texas, and I dropped in to a couple offices and the people there were crazy helpful (calling up profs for me to chat with, giving me degree plans, etc). I felt like I would have so many opportunities there and guidance, although it is a huge state school. </p>
<p>Now, there were 2 big things that held be back from applying. 1) as a Texas high school student, ~8% of my class attends UT Austin every year. 2) I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do natural science or engineering, and the hassle between having to switch colleges was unappealing. And some lesser reasons: I was still a little worried that I would get “lost in the crowd” at UT Austin, and I didn’t want to fill out ApplyTexas lol.</p>
<p>Now Case Western I have not visited, and don’t know a ton about. However, I don’t think Cleveland is a better college place than Austin, honestly. And academically, I think UT Austin is stronger than Case but with a big school like that you’re going to have to put in work to find opportunities.</p>
<p>I would probably pick UT Austin over Case. You should start your own thread and lots of posters will be happy to give advice, just title it “UT Austin vs. Case Western.” Hope that helps. :)</p>
<p>Thanks a ton for your advice 
It really helped, and I think what it boils down to is whether I want to go to a big school with more resources or a small one with easier access to opportunities.
Thanks again :D</p>
<p>Definitely take a campus tour of all three schools and see which one you get the best “vibe” from! I’m personally more biased towards Stanford - the campus is absolutely AMAZING and incredibly beautiful, plus they have so many resources for undergraduate students - but MIT has a really, really great engineering program. (Stanford does too - but it’s more known for CS, whereas MIT is more known for engineering.)</p>
<p>If it were my choice, I would automatically rule out Cornell. They have amazing academics and no one should take an acceptance into Cornell for granted, but it just doesn’t live up to the astounding programs offered Stanford and MIT. As someone mentioned before, you’re pretty much guaranteed a job if you’re a STEM major at Stanford. Stanford might require more financially lifestyle-wise, but it’s located in a great area and the weather is amazing.</p>
<p>Definitely update us on your decision! I’m curious to find out which school you decide to study at for the next 4 years!</p>
<p>I’m from the Bay Area and can honestly say there is nowhere more beautiful than right here. You will LOVE Stanford if you choose it! Don’t worry about the heat - it’s nowhere near as oppressive as in Texas. I think the hottest it gets in the summer is ~95 degrees, and that’s atypical. Autumn and spring are both lovely, and “winter” is easy. So, weather-wise, you’re good. Plus, as others have said, there’s the bonus of being near a ridiculous number of tech companies and startups.</p>
<p>All that said, not applying to MIT is the biggest regret I have from this whole process. It’s an incredible school full of incredible people - not that Stanford isn’t, but there’s something special about MIT. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you this.</p>
<p>Congrats on your acceptances, and good luck with the decision.</p>
<p>I HAVE FINANCIAL AID HYPE HYPE HYPE HYPE</p>
<p>I am seriously in love with MIT and Stanford… It is going to break my heart to turn one of them down. I didn’t feel that way about Cornell, so I took it off. Anywho, if the $$$ stays like this I’m off to MIT! However, Stanford says that “If another university has offered a need-based award that is significantly better than Stanford’s award, it may be that the other university has received new or updated information about your family’s financial situation. In such cases, it may be appropriate for you to request a revision to your award from Stanford.” Soooooo I’m thinking, hint-hint nudge-nudge, Stanford might match MIT. So we will see how that goes!</p>
<p>Strongly Considering
MIT - Total annual cost $14000
Stanford - Total annual cost $24000</p>
<p>Not Considering
WUSTL
Cornell CoE
Georgia Tech
Case Western
University of Alabama
University of Rochester
University of Pittsburgh</p>
<p>Waitlist<a href=“ain’t%20nobody%20got%20time%20for%20that”>/u</a>
Harvard
Princeton</p>
<p>Rejected
Yale</p>