My neice took merit aid and goes to a not very prestigious university. Much less prestigious than CMU Business school for sure. She has a very prestigious IB job this summer. It is not about where you go, it’s about what you do when you get there. She is an example that you do not have to go to an Ivy League school to get that great summer internship.
In the other thread, I had previously advocated in favor of Cornell. After reading this thread, I strongly suggest that you stay at Carnegie Mellon.
- You had previously mentioned that you wanted an IB job, in which case Cornell AEM would be worth the extra money. Now that you aren't interested in an IB job, the value of a Cornell education is similar enough to CMU that it is not worth the extra $30k.
- You had previously stated that you could afford the $30k without going into debt, but after reading this thread, you clearly don't have the luxury to afford it. There are valedictorians that are passing up Ivies in favor of state schools to save money. You get to attend CMU for less than the price that most people pay to go to a state school. Don't let your ego or prestige of an Ivy get in the way.
In the end, you have to make a decision for yourself, but consider the advice that the people on this thread are giving you instead of being blinded by Cornell’s marginal prestige. If you especially won’t pursue IB, the value of a Cornell degree is only marginal at best compared to CMU. It is especially not worth financial instability, potentially jeopardizing your parents’ health ,or limiting your brother’s future!
“If you want to be a businessman, it’s time you started to think like one.”
Exactly. Well said.
@MathFudgy the post grad median salary out of CMU Tepper is $75,000 whereas the Cornell AEM post grad median salary is $70,000. What is it that you value more about Cornell than CMU other than the Ivy prestige, which is essentially just a pat on the back.
Think about it. You will essentially make similar amounts of money and get to the same place in your career/life except you will be DEBT FREE at CMU vs be in a TON OF DEBT ($90k) if you go to Cornell.
If your parents are chronically ill and can’t work anymore, aren’t you going to be the breadwinner of the family? Who will be paying for your family’s expenses if your dad can’t work? Who will pay for your brother’s college education? Would you rather take care of your family or spend your paycheck on paying off your student loan debts?
Plus…Pittsburgh vs Ithaca? Pitt has got to offer superior in-term co-ops and internships, no? Free bus service all over the city too, for CMU students.
I wouldn’t switch even if the price was exactly the same but to go into huge debt for, IMO, the lesser option? I don’t get it.
I wouldn’t transfer in that situation.
You said you were going to plea for more FA because - “the two reasons boil down to: the severe extent of my father’s cancer, and my family’s inability to work because of it”. Yet, you will make your FAMILY go into debt so you can attend a school that you perceive as being much better when it’s not. Please don’t fool yourself into thinking this is going to pay off in the long run.
PLEASE be honest with yourself about how you feel about Cornell and why you are doing whatever you do. It’s a very very important life skill to be honest with yourself, it allows you to learn and grow as a person. I cannot emphasize this enough. Right now you’re making excuses about why CMU won’t work for you - yes you’re making excuses. As @123Mom456 mentioned, you really contradicted yourself with your reasons for more FA from Pitt and what the move to Cornell would mean to your family. That’s the big clue for me that you’re not being honest with yourself.
From what you’ve posted here, it seems Cornell is a total fixation for you - you’ve built it up so much (really fallen in love with it) such that NO OTHER SCHOOL WILL DO. Doesn’t matter if it’s the best decision for you financially or academically, it’s Cornell or bust. Very much an emotional decision - that will definitely change your life for bad or good. So ADMIT IT - you have to go to Cornell period end of story. Doesn’t matter if it has a significantly poor financial ramification for your family who’s on the hook to pay, your sibling’s options for their future, etc. It’s something you have to do. And if you can’t find the money to finish (parent’s can’t qualify to cosign, etc) you’ll deal with it and move on. In the future, I would strongly suggest you not get yourself so wedded to something that you have to have it in order to feel whole… very difficult to make good rational decisions that stand the test of time in that circumstance.
But be honest with yourself if not us. And I hope things work out for you