<p>School reimbursement practices vary by company. When I was an engineer my cheap company only paid half tuition, IIRC, and that was for night courses while you were still working there, not if you went to school full time. But that was a really long time ago, and it wouldn’t surprise me if in the current era even that was less common. But I’ve been out of it for a long time, I really don’t know what current norms are.</p>
<p>CMU has an outstanding engineering school, BTW.</p>
<p>I think you misled people by calling CMU a “tech school.” It’s a university with strong technical / science programs and students, but also extraordinary in the arts, and with offerings in the humanities and the social sciences as well. Nice campus in a wonderful city. It seems to me like your reason to apply to Oberlin in the first place was a bit odd: so you could have “an academically selective school in your back pocket.” Not really sure you looked at it as to whether it was a good fit or a place you could be happy.</p>
<p>Well, Cmu does have a great arts school, but it is comprised of I think seven (don’t quote me on that) different “colleges” with seperate admissions. I plan to go to their insitute of technology (CIT) so I don’t think I misled anybody. And you’re right, I didn’t apply to Oberlin because I loved it. I applied because it is a good school and at the time, I planned to major in physicsor chemistry. Not engineering</p>
<p>If you are 100% sure you will stick with engineering and want an intensive STEM-centered experience, CMU is great. </p>
<p>Knew many HS classmates and colleagues who went and enjoyed that aspect. However, while it does have other majors, nearly everyone I knew who went to CMU along with several HS guidance counselors did warn us that CMU’s strengths has been very uneven. </p>
<p>If you are in STEM or the Dramatic Arts, CMU is great. Business is good. However, everyone from CMU I’ve met has mentioned/complained that the quality of the humanities and social sciences is such that students who are seriously interested in pursuing those fields…even taking a few courses may be better off at other schools. They all regarded CMU’s humanities/SS as its weak link. Something to consider if you find engineering may not be for you and you feel a need to switch into a non-STEM field…especially when every CMU alum I’ve met said the STEM programs there are intense and extremely competitive. </p>
<p>On the other hand, if you have little/no interest in those areas…it’s great. Several hardcore STEM major friend/colleagues who were apathetic or disdainful of humanities/social sciences enjoyed those aspects. </p>
<p>If you want a more comprehensive experience in addition to your STEM focus, Oberlin has plenty to offer. Oberlin offers strong science alongside its arts, humanities, and social science departments. Several classmates ended up successfully completing the 3-2 program at Oberlin and the partner schools (Case, Columbia SEAS, WUSTL, and Caltech). However, Oberlin does not offer a hardcore Engineering/STEM-centered environment and does not encourage the levels of intensive competition one tends to find at hardcore STEM-centered institutions like CMU. </p>
<p>Visit both schools and carefully assess what YOU want out of your college experience.</p>
<p>Politically, being a conservative will cause you to stick out and sometimes you will have your politics debated by other classmates. However, considering Oberlin has become less radically liberal compared to my time there in the mid-late '90s according to more recent graduates I’ve met…you may not have as much of an issue. </p>
<p>However, you will be one of the few…which can be a negative or a positive depending on the way you look at it. If you relish the campus gadfly role as you seem to be with the “Trump/Palin 2010 shirt” gambit, you may actually enjoy your Oberlin experience…though you may not be very popular. You should also prepare to expect plenty of openly and sometimes spirited disagreement from your classmates. 
:D</p>
<p>Sent in my deposit to CMU. I did an overnight and found that I absolutely loved it. Plus, it was cheaper (surprisingly). Oberlin is really nice, but it wasn’t for me. Thanks for all the opinions. Good luck to everyone becoming an Obie. Hopefully my spot goes to someone who loves oberlin like i do carnegie mellon.</p>
<p>No shock there, but thanks for bringing closure.
There are so many times on CC when people share their thoughts towards someone’s decision, and then one never finds out what they decided. It sort of leaves you dangling.</p>