<p>I'm applying to CMU SCS as well as my (home state) UCB, UCLA,UCSD etc. I have
strong scores but like anyone it's not a lock. My main concern about CMU is the
price tag which appears to be 64k. My parents are willing to foot the bill for a UC.
I was wondering what one could reasonably expect to earn as in Silicon Valley
as an intern who'd just been accepted to CMU SCS. I have some experience
in Java, Javascript, C++, Arduino. Might the cachet of the CMU acceptance
along with programming experience (and a couple of hackathon awards) earn
an internship say at a google? Or are those spots really more likely to go to
CMU upper classmen or even graduates? $20k for three months as described
in the article below would go a long way toward closing the gap.</p>
<p>$20k is typical pay for a summer internship at Google or any other top tech company, yeah. Will you get an internship at Google the summer after Freshman year? Almost definitely not, because those positions get filled within the first couple months of school, and whatever track record you have is likely to pale in comparison to that of upper-class-men (and women!)</p>
<p>Having said that, it is entirely possible (I am speaking from my personal experience as a freshman, and the experience of my friends) to land an internship which would pay comparably. It’s not going to be easy, because as you said, you’re competing against older CMU students (not to mention everyone else in the world). But it’s doable. That said, are you applying for financial aid? I’m pretty sure the school just announced another massive scholarship initiative last week or so. Pinning the financial viability of your college choice to landing an internship at Google the summer of your freshman year is not a wager you want to be taking.</p>
<p>My parents sent in a letter to fin aid at cmu last summer. The office said no aid $63k thank you very much. We live in a small house and just dad works as an IT mid manager. We’re not wealthy. I have two younger brothers two and four years behind. I think we have enough in esa and 529 for one year at cmu ready to go. They say theyd cover UC but anything more I have to figure out through work or loans. So I’m here trying to dream up some ways to pay if I wind up accepted to cmu scs. I already have some practical programming skills and I was part of a winning hackathon team that earned a visit to another big tech firm in si valley. But dont know if any kind of internship might develop from that or if its just a site tour meet n greet. Thanks for your post. 250k is a big banana.</p>
<p>I get the allure of CMU but a degree from there isn’t going to get you anywhere that a degree from UCB won’t. The cost difference is huge and if your parents aren’t writing the check and CMU isn’t going to be generous with closing the gap with aid, then you could be in a really bad situation come year 2.</p>
<p>To answer your question though, there are many companies out there with similar intern pay packages for CS students at top schools, but they are competitive and lock up early. Not impossible for a freshman but absolutely not something you want to rely on financially.</p>
<p>I think if you can’t come to an agreement with your parents you are taking a very big risk.</p>
<p>Thanks YZamyatin. We’ll see how it goes with UCB - the app is submitted (and UCLA, UCSD, UCI, UCD). It’s certainly another top choice. Hard to know what will come through. Parchment puts me at 55% at both schools - for what that’s worth. 
So it could end up being the problem that never was. But I appreciate your help in thinking through the cost and helping put the internship in context.</p>
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<p>I really, really disagree. I’m biased of course, but the job opportunities and preparation to work at, start up, and lead at top companies is bar none. Seriously — the job fair on campus is a complete mad house.</p>
<p>I’m not saying going to CMU is a guarantee of success and UCB is a guarantee of mediocrity, but statistically and experientially the latter is going to help you much, much more. Whether that’s worth the sacrifices attached to $250k given OP’s current financial situation is a question I cannot answer, though.</p>
<p>They both sound great. But out of my alumni interview it sounds like I’d get to work more closely with the professors at CMU as opposed to TA’s. I still have to write up the CMU supplement (and a few others). Once December application season’s over I’ll start beating the bushes for a summer internship. Then we’ll see what April brings.</p>