<p>Hello everyone. I know this is pretty late but I have an urgent question. I was accepted as a Computer Science major but was offered only loans by G Tech and the total is approximately $44,000. On the other hand I was accepted to Carnegie Mellon as an Information Systems major and only have to pay $17,000. I already paid a deposit to CMU but I have had a change of heart. I really want to do computer science, but when I deposited at CMU I was thinking about cost more than major ( I would at least minor in comp sci at CMU) since my parents do not work anymore. I recently saw that G Tech has a study abroad program that reduces costs significantly. WHEN CAN I START THIS? I'm hoping my freshman year. In addition, how much would I make if in a cooperative plan or internship program if I continued from my sophomore to senior year? I saw a list of scholarships G Tech are offering but they don't seem to offset the out of state cost. And would I make more/ get more job opportunities as a comp sci grad or a cmu info systems grad? One more thing. I can cancel my deposit at any school and decide to go to another school after if I submit the deposit to the second school on May 1st, right? Thanks in advance for all of your responses.</p>
<p>You would not be wise to take GT loan. You would not be wise to do “study-abroad” to save a few thousands and give up the world class teaching at GT or at CMU. </p>
<p>IS majors make more than CS graduates. You will and can learn CS in IS. Our son has a MS in CS from another school and has taken exactly 1 class in CS, and he is not a computer geek. He picks up programming and skills as needed or seeks other’s help. He has a job at a well known internet company because he has skills and course work that CMU has that other well known top schools do not offer. </p>
<p>If you fail at GT, you are still on the hook for the loans. If you fail at CMU, you lose nothing. You will have paying internships at CMU. You will lose your deposit if your fail to register in August at any school. You have a tremendous scholarship at CMU-don’t pass and use the opportunity to use CMU’s alumni worldwide network.</p>
<p>BTW, I think you are got cold feet because CMU is a tough school. FYI, Georgia Tech will be just as hard and you will be saddle with loans that will not be able to payoff for 20+ years. The opportunity costs is GT over CMU is very bad-Use your logic and overcome your fears. </p>
<p>Thank you and btw this has nothing to do with the toughness of the school. I was just asking if it was worth it because I though many jobs require a bs in comp sci and I would not be guaranteed that by going to cmu. I really want to do comp sci and will at least minor in at CMU and will try to transfer if I can… I made my decision- I will be going there in the fall! Already deposited before so I am set.</p>
<p>GT gave you a “gentlemen’s decline” in that they know that $200,000 in loans and 4 years of deferment will never be competitive to an instate or a private with even a little bit of merit aid. If you got a a near full tuition scholarship, you are a rare one bird indeed. If your CMU cost of attendance is only $17grand + materials, this is less than the cost of an instate school. Don’t blow it. Seek help when needed. Never fall behind. And never let your team members down. Join a couple of clubs. Have FUN. </p>
<p>I know this response is a bit late, but it’s worth adding that if you want to do computer science at CMU, there’s absolutely nothing stopping you from doing it. Sure, transferring into SCS is hard, but anyone can add an additional major in computer science, and for all intents and purposes this is exactly the same as majoring in computer science. You could, for example, major in both information systems and computer science, although there are a fair amount of double counting restrictions there. Alternatively, you could pick a different major in Dietrich that has a fair amount of overlap with the computer science major like cognitive science or logic and computation and then do a double major and you will have it no harder than any primary computer science major.</p>
<p>The $108,000 difference between the two schools is a whole lot to pay in order to be a primary computer science major at GT instead of an additional computer science major at CMU.</p>