<p>I'm really not sure where to apply ED. My heart tells me to apply to CMU because they have a great IS(Information Systems) program and I can very easily double major in business. My brain tells me to go to Cornell because of the IVY reputation and strong engineering program(which contains ISST.. similar to IS), and the USNewing(I know.. I know.. It's very distracting though).</p>
<p>I like to consider myself a realist here but I'm only looking at the pros.</p>
<p>Cornell:
Pros-
Ivy Status(US News Ranking-Overall)
Higher Reputation with Consulting/Banking Firms
Good ISST program in Engineering
Campus/Atmosphere/Social is great</p>
<p>CMU:
Pros -
Everyone works hard(I like that)
IS program(Ranked #2 behind MIT)
Options(Double Major, Accelerated Masters in IS)
Good Job Opportunities
I will come out with higher GPA(IS is in H&SS school) if I decide on MBA</p>
<p>Am I missing out on any major issues? Any suggestions? I'm splitting hairs on applying to these schools. My academic/ec records make me a competitive applicant for both of these schools so lets just assume I got into both. Which one would give me more job/MBA opportunities? Also are either of these school going down in terms of reputation? I want to go to a school thats on the rise.</p>
<p>Both will give you outstanding job/MBA opportunities, assuming you do well in your undergrad work. CMU's IS is in its own school (School of Computer Science, or SCS) withing the University and has a reputation as probably the best CS school/department in the country. Tepper is CMU's business school and offers undergrad courses, while Cornell doesn't offer undergrad business (although it's an pretty strong MBA program). Other areas, such as location, size of school, etc. are more useful in distinguishing between the two than their academics, especially in engineering where they are the two highest rated programs in the Northeast after MIT.</p>
<p>Since they're both such good schools, I don't think that you should judge them on a small difference in ranking. If you have a passion for something humanities related that you're interested in for a minor, Cornell might be a better choice because Carnegie Mellon isn't exactly known for H&SS. If it's just IS and Bussiness that you're interested, visit the campuses if possible and see if there's one that you like more. Is there a difference in size, how they structure freshman housing, or location that might make a difference for you? Both sometimes give out merit money, so you can't decide based on that.</p>
<p>Visiting is the way to go. You might find you like being in a city, or maybe the big school in the country might appeal to you.</p>
<p>Since you have a few months to decide, why not road trip to them, although visiting in the summer is different than when school's in session, but you might get a distinct feeling or vibe at one and not the other.</p>
<p>It is the best public school and its campus is amazing. I just don't think its best for my circumstances/need. When I said its the best school, I meant its like the perfect environment to get a good education. Students are great, campus is great, and its one of those colleges where I can see many people having life-changing experiences. I would personally like to go to a school outside and new because I want to explore a different environment. Especially if I get a job back in Northern VA I want to have brought experiences from a new environment that I've never been in before.</p>
<p>Also, UVA's engineering department is a joke so I don't have many options if I don't do commerce.</p>
<p>I had the choice too, and I chose CMU and have never regretted it for a second; I absolutely love it. On the other hand, manymanymany of my friends go to Cornell (I lived i NY, so I feel like half of my high school went there) and its a very big school, but they all love it too. Likewise, one of my best friends from CMU, who loved CMU like the rest of us, has to transfer to Cornell (starting this fall) because she's changing majors to musicology, which CMU doesnt have. </p>
<p>I guess more CMU pros are small class sizes even in the beginning (dont get me wrong-- there are some huge ones, but I have only had one so far), and there are zillions of choices of classes you can take at Upitt, the neighboring university, but Upitt classes cannot entirely make up your major. For that reason, I'd say Cornell has more choices.</p>
<p>If neither of those points really matter, or even if they do, definitely definitely visit.</p>
<p>I recently chose CMU over Cornell (and Caltech) for several reasons (although this is mostly according to my own preferences):
1) CMU has better CS and ECE departments and undergrad programs (Cornell's are also really good, of course)
2) Cornell is colder and more isolated than CMU
3) Cornell seems to have more of a much more party-frathouseish atmosphere. I hear alcohol is a huge thing since there's not much else to do on the weekends (not that it doesn't go on at CMU).
4) Merit aid from CMU
5) A better sense of "fit" upon visiting CMU</p>
<p>You should also consider that CMU offers the flexibility to double major outside of your home school, while Cornell makes it difficult to double major outside of your school. Many undergraduate CMU CS majors successfully double major in business.</p>
<p>Considering your interests, you might want to apply to MIT as well. MIT is also reputable in the areas of CS and business. In fact, MIT's CS program is right up there with CMU's according to the graduate school rankings of USNWR.</p>
<p>I would recommend that you visit all of your prospective schools, wait to see if you get in, then decide. (I guess that's pretty obvious ^^; )</p>
<p>Bingo! The double major flexibility is very attracting to me and its reassurring to know someone else made this decision and did not choose Cornell!</p>
<p>I visited CMU once and plan to visit again to get an interview with admissions officer. Some of my friends complained about the campus/Pittsburgh, but I think I'll be fine since I'm an initiator. I will find things to make myself busy, independent of where I go(hopefully that will not involve drinking).</p>
<p>Once you get to a certain level, your best bet is go with your gut, throw away the rankings. Carnegie Mellon is a relatively young under-endowed school, doesn't have the luxury of residing in Boston or New York, and is less well known than many of its peers. It is also in the unenviable position of competing with the best schools in the country, especially in the areas it's strongest in. But what it does do, it does extremely well and I imagine most CMU kids have turned down at least one school of equal or higher rank because they have the right feel for CMU. My son didn't apply to Cornell but he did turn down Johns Hopkins...his CMU gf turned down UChicago...I think you'd find this the rule rather than the exception.</p>
<p>I turned down Rice and Northwestern, which are more highly ranked overall but not in computer science, which is my major. Even if that hadn't been the case, though, I think I would have chosen CMU because I liked the feel. I prefer slightly geeky to preppy, but that's just me. :)</p>
<p>People often tend to overlook CMU when discussing top-tier engineering schools. My parents have several friends who are retired professors and they all speak highly of CMU. If you're worried about reputation, don't be. People who know stuff about colleges recognize CMU as being excellent for CS, business and ECE. Also for fine arts, I believe.</p>
<p>Like sabertoothtiger, I turned down Caltech to come to CMU. I visited both campuses, and at Caltech, I had the feeling, "I don't belong here," whereas at CMU I felt I belonged there. I can't really explain it any better than that. If your gut tells you to go to CMU, it's wise to listen. You won't regret it.</p>
<p>I got the same feeling when I visited Caltech... Over the few days I was there, I sensed and found out things that made me say "erm...Can I really put up with this for four years?" The same thing happened when I visited Cornell and when I went to a Stanford information session (although I didn't get into Stanford ^^; )</p>
<p>On the other hand, when I visited CMU's campus (and a couple of years earlier at a local information session) I had a lot of those "I <em>have</em> to go here" feelings. I'm really not the type of person who bases his decisions on feelings, but for me the factual and emotional aspects of the decision coincided.</p>
<p>My son had alot of the "I have to go here" feelings, too. But, althought he was accepted into every program he applied for, he got very minimal financial aid in the form of grants or scholarships. It is quite expensive. I would just advise all who are interested in CMU to not become too firmly attached to the notion of going there if money is an issue. Several students I know had to leave "best fit" behind because of CMU's stingy financial aid relative to other schools. Congrats to those who don't need financial aid, and good luck to those who do!</p>
<p>Also, I can suggest that applicants try the FAFSA online estimator. Most folks I know were surprised at how high their EFC was. Our financial need as determined by FAFSA was indeed met by CMU and other institutions, but we could never actually afford what the govt said we could afford without incurring MAJOR debt (like 60-70K over 4 years).</p>
<p>I happened to visit both of them. Thus, here is my take:</p>
<p>First, you will get an excellent education at both Cornell or CMU. CMU, however, is very strong in IS and computer science. In my opinion, it is stronger than Cornell. At Cornell, you will be able to major in other majors easier than you would at CMU. </p>
<p>You do get a different culture at both institutions. CMU has a very, very strong program in both drama and visual arts and design. This provides access to a lot of different types of people than you may find at Cornell, and I think it will be more refreshing for you that way. You definitely get a lot of both left brain and right brain types.</p>
<p>Although kids at both schools work hard, I get the feeling that the CMU kids are more "no nonesense" and really work extra hard in most majors.</p>
<p>I would suggest that you simply visit both schools and talk to a number of students at both schools before you make any decision. Spend some time in the dorms, try the food ( which is sensational at Cornell due to the school of Hotel Management), check out the facilites, and then follow your "gut."</p>
<p>CMU any time for CS /IS program. I am at CMU (CS major)and I strongly recomend it.The campus is great (Pittsburgh is cold), the faculty is excellent and very friendly, the student body is great; Tepper school of business I understand is also very good.There are opportunities for double major etc.</p>