<p>DS is applying to NC State as in-state and GA Tech as OOS for computer science. His goal is to get into grad school at MIT or Carnegie Mellon. Unfortunately, I'm not able to help very much with the financing of college. Which of the two schools will have the best rate of return? GA Tech is more prestigious but NC State will be significantly less expensive. He really wants to go to a grad school that is prestigious for computer science. Will NC State be impressive enough? Is GA Tech worth the debt?</p>
<p>NC State is no slouch in STEM. Probably not wise to pass up in-state tuition at NC State to attend Georgia Tech. Plenty of employers recruit at NC State.</p>
<p>Thanks, @LakeWashington. I understand NC State is no slouch in STEM. I think it’s a great school. And employers do recruit at NC State, I understand that, too. However, most recruiters come from the Triangle area, not from all over the country. But my question has nothing to do with recruiters because my son is interested in going directly into grad school. Will Carnegie Mellon and MIT look at an NC State graduate and a GA Tech graduate equally?</p>
<p>CMU and MIT will consider the individual and the skills and research that he has shown more than the school. Having high-quality professors may help, but the academic talent in this country extends very deep (there only so many positions at the top schools, and the US probably has half the world’s best in the STEM fields) so NCSU profs will be good enough (the difference in the quality of the profs with GTech would actually be minimal, with some better and worse at both schools). You’re not comparing a directional staffed mostly with adjuncts with GTech but a state flagship that is very solid in STEM with GTech.</p>
<p>Grad schools understand that top-notch kids go to their local flagship for financial reasons all the time. They’re interested in pulling in the best, most promising talent possible regardless of school. Especially since he plans to go to grad school, I see zero reason to pay substantially more to go to another public OOS.</p>
<p>If he plans to go to grad school, then take the IS tuition for undergrad. Just like undergrad, he will get to grad school on the strength of his grades and tests and recommendations.</p>
<p>Yep, for grad school admission for STEM, undergraduate research, GPA and GRE test scores are very important, not necessarily the where the B.S. was earned.</p>
<p>Thank you so much, everyone!</p>