So I got into Emory through Questbridge which means that they gave me a pretty hefty financial aid package and of course my parents want me to go there considering how little they have to give up. However, I want to major in computer science and Emory’s computer science programs is not the best. It’s not even accredited by ABET (meaning they don’t even teach the basics of what any computer science major would need to know) probably because it’s a medical school. I got into Georgia tech and it has one of the best computer science programs in the country. But, since its a public school my financial aid package isn’t even comparable to Emory’s. I keep telling my parents that I’m going to be making atleast 60,000 when I graduate, butbits seems to them thay they’re only worried about the present. They also don’t seem to understand that I can still get scholarships while I’m in college.
So basically my parents are only looking at the money and not the bigger picture. Any advice???
@Whovian18
Emory does specialize in your major. Also you need to do more research, just because a school is not ABET accredited, does not mean it’s not good or respected. Also you don’t need an ABET for CS only for other Engineering fields which Emory does not have. Emory’s program is ranked 29 by TFE Times and 82 by US news, with great employment stats. Also Rice, and UCB bio engineering are not ABET accredited either, I’m sure you wouldn’t question their engineering programs.
CS is different than other engineering fields. Not all programs are ABET accredited, but that’s not the same as a civil or electrical engineering program not being accredited. If definitely will teach ‘even the basics’.
Emery is not a medical school. Emery HAS a medical school, as do many other schools that teach undergraduate CS.
Don’t obsess over ABET for computer science. Computer science jobs almost never require you to be a licensed engineer. Go to Emory if that’s what your family can afford.
@Whovian18 CS does not have to be ABET BECAUSE IT IS NOT ENGINEERING. Not all states even offer ABET CS programs. It doesn’t mean they don’t teach the basics in CS. You can’t just make stuff up to go to GTech.
Let me make sure i understand this. So, via Questbridge, you got into Emory and both tuition AND room/board are covered, yes? But at Tech, you’d have tuition covered (via their program for in-state kids) but you (your parents) would have to pay room & board. Is this right? Or are you saying that you would be attending Tech as an OOS and your parents would be covering the $50,000 per year?
@Whovian18 G Tech is like drinking from a firehouse. I reviewed your stats and Emory will be a more comfortable fir. based on the SAT. You’re going to do great at Emory. Take advantage of public speaking and writing courses especially technical writing and you’ll have an edge for CS. You obviously work hard with that 4.0. You’re really going to do just great. You can always to GT for grad school.
@gearmom
Is this a joke or a passive aggressive insult to OP, or an insult to Emory, I can’t tell which one. It’s ironic as most people I’ve seen on this board that applied to both schools got into only Gtech or Gtech and Oxford. It’s quite clear that Qbridge helped OP’s application and she likely wouldn’t have gotten in otherwise. Emory is just as difficult if not harder than Gtech depending on the major. @Whovian18 Seems as though you just like GTech more, you’re going to have to convince your parents to take out some loans. Tell them it wouldn’t be much, no more than 7,000 a year as you can take out 5,500.
@VANDEMORY1342 It certainly wasn’t supposed to be any kind of insult or joke. Emory is not as intense as G Tech for CS. G Tech (for CS) will be like a place like MIT, which is like drinking out of a firehose. Emory will provide a better paced program IMO. I came to that conclusion based on student reviews and a review of the course offering and requirements at both. She has stated that she is currently learning the basics for CS. Emory seemed to have the correct pace and fit since they build a solid foundation and move on from there. I’m sorry if you find that to be oh so insulting to Emory. Since YOU are the expert why don’t you let us know why Emory’s CS is wrong for OP.
@Whovian18 is smart and clearly worked hard to achieve a 4.0. She’s in the top 4 percent of her class. She’ll have 11 APs. She has considerable drive and aptitude. Emory will be stronger with the liberal arts aspect than G Tech which is why I suggested taking advantage of writing (especially technical) and public speaking and pressing that advantage. She can come out the full package and more valuable than her strictly CS counterparts with strong writing and presentation in addition to CS skills. That is where CS majors need more skill since there is a lot of documentation and report presentation. She’d have an edge.
I have no idea why you are discouraging this student from attending Emory and insulting this student by saying that she only got in because of QB.
@Whovian18 My family visited Georgia Tech yesterday (admitted minorities event today) and it is definitely a wonderful school and a world-class school for CS by any measure. I have a feeling you also visited and were wowed by what you saw, as was my daughter. I talked to a GT student who has been completely paying for school between Zell Miller along with internships that have paid very well (avg. paid internship $17-$25 for Tech students) but that student was a BME major. I think you may have a hard time convincing your parents. Emory may not have the same “status” as Georgia Tech in CS, but it is a great school where you can get an free undergrad education and still have many opportunities (CS starting salaries will be similar coming from Emory). I lived in the Emory area for a few years after undergrad and it is a beautiful area with brilliant students (own daughter didn’t apply because it was way to close being 20-25 minutes away and she never saw a lot of outward school spirit in our campus visits over the years). Good luck with your parents, but just know that your problem would be a dream come true for a lot of students.
UC Berkeley EECS announced in October 2017 the program will not longer be ABET accredited after 2019. This seems to corroborate what others have said about CS and ABET crediation.
Emory CS is not that great, but not because of the absence of ABET accreditation. CS course offerings are relatively limited compared to many other colleges.
However, if it is your only affordable choice, then you do not have much choice. You may be able to use cross registration to take CS courses at GT for subjects which are not offered at Emory. But you need to work out the logistics, because their academic calendars are not necessarily the same.
Likewise, you have no idea where you’ll be in 4 years-- there’s no guarantee of that $60,000 per year. Or that you won’t change majors to something less lucrative. Or that you’ll finish in 4 years. Or that you’ll get that job you want.
I think I speak on behalf of all parents when I say that sometimes we simply cannot afford the things our kids want. Most of us are pretty good on the “needs” front, but sometimes the “wants” simply aren’t realistic given our economic status.
This appears to be one of those times. Unless you can come up with a tremendous number of scholarships-- renewable each year of course-- then it appears that you cannot afford Georgia Tech.
My question is why you even applied to a school that’s so far beyond what your family can afford.