Hello, I was admitted to CMU Early Decision but it is very expensive to go and my intended major would be mathematics. I was also recently admitted to the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor college of LSA(intending to declare computer science eventually) and that choice would be much more cost effective and since I ultimately want to end up with a CS job, maybe the more fitting school. I also fear for my own happiness at CMU, I feel like UMich may give me a more complete college experience and my major at Umich would be aligned with what I want to do in the future.
Is this a reasonable decision? I feel bad potentially turning down CMU because it is a really strong school but it is also really expensive and I think I’d be happier at Umich.
Unless you applied for FA and CMU did not meet your need, I am fairly certain that you are honor-bound to attend CMU. I am puzzled as to why you applied ED to CMU if you feel that Michigan is a better fit.
Although this point is most likely moot, choosing Michigan over CMU is perfectly reasonable if you were not obligated to attend CMU. The two universities are peers, albeit very different from each other. Ironically, Michigan is slightly better than CMU in Mathematics while CMU is slightly better than Michigan in CS.
Anyway, do not sweat it, I have several friends that went to CMU for college and they loved it. It is exceptional.
Better talk to your Guidance Counsellor ASAP about whether you have reasonable grounds to renege on your ED commitment, if that’s what you decide you want to do.
when the OP applied to CMU he and perhaps his parents signed an agreement that says
It sounds like the OP doesn’t mind ignoring the rules he agreed to. The sticky point may be the counselor. While the OP is never going to apply as a frosh to college again, his HS will be sending seniors on to college for years to come. The GC understands that CMU will probably never take another student from that HS again ED (and maybe not RD) if they can’t trust their partner in the school to enforce agreements. For the benefit of future students just as deserving as the OP the GC may tell the OP the only place his HS will send an official transcript will be to CMU. That could make enrollment at Michigan difficult since colleges typically rescind if a final transcript isn’t sent.
No, @TooOld4School, you don’t just get to compare to an EA or in-state school and say, “That one is cheaper, so I’m picking that one.” The time for that decision is BEFORE signing the ED agreement. It is obviously known that some schools (including EA schools) may be cheaper. That is not an excuse for breaking the ED agreement.
OP, did you run the net price calculator at CMU before applying? Does the aid package you were offered at CMU match it fairly closely? Or did you not apply for FA? Or have you had a drastic change in family finances since signing the ED agreement?
It seems like the OP is scared of being a math major and is just throwing the cost aspect out there as a red herring, but while the School of CS at CMU is almost impossible to switch in to, most other schools/majors at CMU are easier to switch in to and CMU has various CS-like majors.
My goodness, CMU wouldn’t even want the student to attend if they weren’t going to be happy there. Kids change their minds on this thing all the time. just explain why you changed your mind, they are reasonable people unlike some posters here lol.
The OP hasn’t said that the NPC is inaccurate nor whether they applied for FA at all. And in any case, it does not matter where else they applied and can compare it to now. ED is about the ED school, period. Not other options.
@Rollout, students who want the prerogative to change their mind should not sign a binding ED agreement. They should apply RD instead.
Just for clarity, at the time I was admitted(Dec. 10th) I was not offered FA at the moment. My family just received the FA offer extremely recently and the overall FA came in next to nothing, it will still be insanely expensive to attend. Also, before I signed the ED contract I called CMU and spoke with an admissions director about this concern, I told them that I couldn’t attend unless the FA was reasonable. I was told by CMU that every year a handful of kids back out of the ED contract due to reasons such as this. In this case, I received the FA and it made nearly no difference at all.
U.Michigan is a great school with a great computer science program. I have known (studied with and/or worked with) two graduates from there, one of whom was very good and the other was world class. CMU is also a very strong school for computer science. Academically either will be demanding and excellent.
If there is a major cost difference, go to the less expensive of these two excellent universities. OP, from what you said in post #15 it sounds like you can turn down CMU for cost reasons, in which case Michigan is clearly the better choice.
In that case 12345hello123, go to Michigan. Like I said above, Michigan and CMU are peer institutions. But as others have advised, you need to make sure you go through the required process. You must first communicate your options with CMU. Perhaps they will revise your FA package. If they cannot match Michigan’s offer, they will then release you of your obligation and you will be free to attend Michigan. First speak to your school counselor. Perhaps he/she can help.
Michigan also has a rather high OOS sticker price. So if that’s what you’d pay, and if CMU offered any aid at all, then it may be hard to argue that you can afford Michigan but not CMU.