So I’m looking to major in Economics and Mathematics even though I’m not sure at all as to what I want to do career wise. I’ve been accepted into UCSD and Carnegie Mellon and I keep switching back and forth as to where to attend. Carnegie Mellon is higher ranked and has a better name but its more than double the cost of UCSD and UCSD is a great school itself. Personally, even though my parents could afford Carnegie Mellon’s tuition, I obviously don’t want them to have to pay that much money if its not necessary especially since I’m still pretty lost in terms of what I want to do as a career. People are telling me that going to Carnegie would really help me with getting a job once I graduate. The thing is I’m unsure of whether or not I would attend grad school and from what I’ve been told if you go to grad school then where you attended undergrad isn’t that important. Anyways I’m just looking to hear other people’s opinions on what you think would be best or if you have any information about these colleges or my major that you think would help me. Thanks guys.
I don’t think Carnegie Mellon is all that much more prestigious than UCSD … although I really don’t know how one would measure prestige. What measurable effects would you attribute to it? How do you know CMU’s allegedly greater prestige does in fact produce those effects? What other objective basis exists to make CMU worth paying more than double?
FWIW, USNWR ranks graduate economics programs. It ranks UCSD slightly higher than CMU. For mathematics, too, US News ranks UCSD higher than CMU. I think much of CMU’s sex appeal comes from its strong CS programs. Not that it isn’t very good in other areas, too … but worth paying more than double? You said yourself that UCSD is a great school.
There are certain luxuries that you pay for at a private school that makes life a little easier but people have to make their own decisions whether the steep price to pay is ‘worth it’. Smaller classes, better advising, less red tape, better careers office, more access to research MAY be available but no guarantees, you have to check it out. I do think CMU has a tremendous name in CS (and certain arts) but UCSD also has an excellent reputation. You should be able to get a good job or grad school admissions from either. It is a good idea to get internships and/or involvement in undergraduate research to make yourself attractive. Yes your undergrad does not matter so much once you go to grad school, but it is where you get your early training and mentorship that prepares you for grad school, and it is where you make connections and relationships that may have lasting effect for personal and professional purposes.
Since both choices are good, you don’t have a strong preference and seem to be full payers, it seems a better idea to me to save the money.
UCSD is excellent in both math and Econ. But even for CS, it’s not too far behind CMC. If you have no clear preference, go to the cheapest school. I don’t blink when my daughter said she might have to stay one extra quarter, not sure if she might, but she is the type that doesn’t like to take classes in the morning and plan out her finals schedule.