<p>Anybody know whether it is good or not. I have a student in the UAE who is hesitating between attending KAIST for free or going to Cornell or Michigan-Ann Arbor and paying full tuition. I am tempted to recommend the US option, but I really don't know enough about KAIST to give him an answer. Can anybody offer me some advice?</p>
<p>well, i am korean but i dont live there.
i've heard of KAIST many many times and i hear that its one of the best colleges in Korea and undoubtely the best science/technology/engineering college (in Korea, of course). i know its really prestigious (in Korea, again) and its really hard to get into. But i have no idea about the international students there.</p>
<p>I heard that KAIST is supposed to be the MIT/Tsinghua of South Korea. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Er...how is the guy from UAE going to understand the lectures? Does he speak Korean?</p>
<p>Yes, like 80% of the residents of the UAE, he is not a UAE citizen. He is a citizen of Korea.</p>
<p>alexandre, you're not recommending michigan to your friend?! jk</p>
<p>i dont know how it compares with cornell or michigan, but i think KAIST is good for korea. i do work-study at anderson's admissions office (which usually only gets strong int'l applicants) and i've seen korean applicants who went to KAIST for undergrad.</p>
<p>I cannot in good conscience recommend Cornell or Michigan (they will cost between $160,000-$180,000) when he has a viable Korean option. I am just trying to ascertain whether or not KAIST will give him as good an overall education and undergraduate experience.</p>
<p>I'd say definately KAIST. im pretty sure the student's parents would recommend KAIST for its reputation and prestige. and also it's the top college in korea and the most competitive college to get into. plus, they offer him full scholarship why bother hesitating over other colleges?</p>
<p>I believe most students in Korea would choose Cornell/Michigan over KAIST, if money is not a determining factor. </p>
<p>A degree from a US school will open more doors worldwide.</p>
<p>The tailgating is FAR better at Michigan than at KAIST.</p>
<p>honestly,,,its hard to get in kaist as much as ivy...
top1~2% go there and korean works extremely hard(algebra2 is 4~6th grade level math...)</p>
<p>You're exaggerating, are you? Algebra2 in 4~6th grade? Haha... no way! I am familiar with Korean school curricula.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The tailgating is FAR better at Michigan than at KAIST.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>but Tae Kwon Do tailgating is FAR better at KAIST than at Michigan.</p>
<p>I don't know...if there's any reasonable doubt he'll do anything other than science and/or tech, I don't recomment KAIST, since it's specialized. Even if he does, I'd like to recommend UMich/Cornell as it's a more internationally respected school.</p>
<p>Average person:
"I went to KAIST."
"What's KAIST?"</p>
<p>Average Person:
"I went to Cornell."
"Wow, you must be smart."</p>
<p>Average person:
"I went to the University of Michigan."
"Wow, that's an amazing school."</p>
<p>Take your pick.</p>
<p>ihateCA, let's just assume he's doesn't need constant affirmation to boost a low self-esteem.</p>
<p>From what it sounds like, though, it seems like he would get a great education there. I'd be hard pressed to give up a full ride to any university.</p>
<p>Hey, let's not generalize about prestige-whores. I'm a prestige-whore, and I must say, I'm pretty confident of myself. Not insecure AT ALL. :)</p>
<p>All I was saying is that going to KAIST will limit where he will be able to work...Korea and surrounding countries: Japan, Maybe China, maybe India, etc.
But as a Cornell or UMich grad, you have an alumni network everywhere.</p>
<p>Rice bumper sticker:</p>
<p>"I go to Rice. I must be smart."</p>
<p>"All I was saying is that going to KAIST will limit where he will be able to work...Korea and surrounding countries: Japan, Maybe China, maybe India, etc.
But as a Cornell or UMich grad, you have an alumni network everywhere."</p>
<p>And don't forget that if he goes to Cornell or UMich, he will speak English much more fluently at the end of the day. Don't underestimate the language skills.</p>
<p>From what I can tell by talking to people either 1) going to high school in Korea, or 2) went to high school in Korea in the past, many say that right now, students at KAIST are transferring to foreign universities moreso than ever before (as well as students from other top universities like Yonsei, Korea, and Seoul National). Being fluent in English is becoming increasingly important in getting a job in Korea (even though people almost never use English), and the job market for college grads in Korea is pretty bad. Some estimate the rate of unemployment for those in their 20s to be around 30-40%.</p>
<p>How about writing a letter to Cornell begging for money? =D</p>
<p>Otherwise I'd take KAIST if only to save money, but barring price, Cornell is the way to go. It's internationally accepted (U. Michigan isn't quite as much, it's more US)</p>