Stonybrook vs CMU

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I know I'm really coming down to the wire here (deadline for deposit is tomorrow at midnight right? and can be paid online?), but I really need help with making a decision. Basically I've narrowed it down it down to SUNY Stonybrook and Carnegie Mellon. I am studying engineering (probably electrical). The big difference right now is cost - I will graduate relatively debt free at Stonybrook, whereas I would graduate about 48k (roughly half in federal loans, and the other half in Chase loans) in debt from CMU after working for about 5k a year. Honestly, I'm not in love with Carnegie Mellon although I think I could be happy there (and would definitely appreciate having the brand name...). I know that the engineering program is stronger, as well as the job placement/students. However, engineering curriculum tend to be fairly standardized, so I'm not really sure how much of a difference it would actually make if I go to the SUNY. </p>

<p>My parents have mixed feelings on the matter - the SUNY is a lot closer to home (NYC) and I was impressed on our visit, but I've really heard so many horror stories about the huge class sizes/administration/school spirit. However, I know that most people agree that Stonybrook is still a fantastic value for the education. I have my doubts about the engineering strength (for example, I know SB is great in the pure sciences/math/CS). My dad in particular thinks it is better to go to a less competitive place as I go to a competitive public high school now and am somewhat middle of the pack relative to my peers. He thinks that being middle/above average at CMU will work out to the same as being the best in SUNY, and at least I won't have as much debt. He is also concerned that, even though I'm very set on the idea of pursuing engineering, I will end up not liking it and switching to something like pure science. I think this is unlikely, but I can't rule out that possibility.</p>

<p>I'm not totally sure if job prospects would take a huge hit if I go to the SUNY (at least, I know Carnegie Mellon boasts great placement...). I'm not even really sure if I want to go to graduate school (would it be better to save the money for then?) but I imagine grad school placement is an issue. </p>

<p>One of the big draws about CMU is they have an industrial design program and strong business program. I have a great interest in these areas and think they could work well with my engineering degree. It is a possibility to take these type of courses in NYC from Stony Brook, but of course it's not as centralized as it all being in the same school. </p>

<p>If you've read this far, I really thank you! I guess what I'm really asking is, is the design/business/name of CMU worth the 48k in debt? Will I be ruling out going to graduate school at all then? Is there a significant difference in the type of jobs engineers get out of these schools (does CMU have more variety for example or the like?) - I'd really like to do some kind of product design after school. </p>

<p>I would really appreciate any help!</p>

2

<p>Erm, I can’t seem to edit my post. But a friend mentioned a signing bonus and others have mentioned that CMU grads can have a fair bit of job offers to chose from when graduating. Others have mentioned that getting Masters in engineering is often paid for? (not sure about this).</p>

<p>Also, do all loans have to be paid back over 10 years? Even federal loans? You can’t just pay them off more quickly?</p>

3

<p>I would opt for Stony Brook. It is a very good school and save your 50K for grad school.</p>

4

<p>You can pay your student loans off more quickly. I did. You can either pay more than they ask for each month, or if you want to, pay it all off in a lump sum - or both. </p>

<p>If you work in engineering, it’s quite possible that your employer will pay for part (or if you’re lucky, for all) of your masters degree, if you get the degree part-time. That’s very commonly done in engineering and in business - and an MS in engineering, or an MBA, are two very likely possible grad degrees for you. </p>

<p>Some universities do offer funding for students who get their MS in engineering full time. But some do not. </p>

<p>You will be able to get a job out of either CMU or Stony Brook. That will not be an issue in your field. Make sure you do at least one co-op or internship while you study - that’s very important for your field. CMU does, however, have a far stronger name than Stony Brook does. CMU is one of the elite. Stony Brook is good - it’s in the top 75 in engineering - but it is not elite like CMU. Think of CMU like you would MIT, in terms of strength of reputation. It’s not quite as elite as MIT, but it’s up there. Top 10 for sure. That does matter to some employers. </p>

<p>But… might med school be in your future? You mention a love of science, which is why I ask. If you think it might, then you may want to consider going to the school you like best, and where your debt is lower, and where you think you’ll do the best, because your grades need to be very, very high to get into med school. Just something to consider. </p>

<p>Another thing to think seriously about is what you said about not loving CMU. From reading what you wrote, you seem to simply like Stony Brook better. You should pay attention to that. </p>

<p>Your dad as well - what he said about you perhaps thriving in a less competitive environment; that’s worth pondering. </p>

<p>Did you get into honors at Stony Brook? That’d help make up for the change in prestige versus CMU. </p>

<p>I can’t tell you which to go to. You need to decide which one fits you best, personally. But I hope I helped.</p>

5

<p>OP, </p>

<p>You really need to run some numbers on those loans.</p>

<p>$48,000 between two sources… I am going to assume 7% interest on one, and 11% on the other, for an ave. of 9%. Run a 10 yr. payback on $48,000 at 9% to get that monthly figure.</p>

<p>Now figure what ave. starting engineering salaries are where you intend to work. As an example, let’s say $55,000. From that, remove Fed. and State taxes, and your paycheck deduction for your medical insurance… Make it $40,000 take home, or $3,400 per month.</p>

<p>From the $3,400, deduct rent, phone, cellphone, internet, cable TV, clothing, car, car insurance, dining out, home cooked groceries, going out with friends, dating, renters GL insurance, yearly vacation, etc. YOu may have possibly have only $300 - $1,000 per month left after that, depending on how frugal you are in your spending. And that is with ZERO savings for your retirement, (a very bad idea.)</p>

<p>What would your monthly payments be on your $48,000 student loans? Deduct that.</p>

<p>How does that feel to you? As you can probably appreciate, starting life with a $600-$700 monthly obligation to student loans really limits your ability to save, absorb the increased cost of marrying and raising a family, and more importantly, to pay for graduate school should you decide to continue.</p>

<p>It is certainly doable, but you really need to understand that with loans you are making a choice now that will limit some of your options for ten years after graduation. And that debt is not relieved, ever, even by a bankruptcy filing.</p>

6

<p>If you were totally in love with CMU, this would be a closer call. But it sounds like you’re not all that enthusiastic about it. I wouldn’t borrow $50k to go somewhere you like just OK.</p>

7

<p>The thing is, right now, I would really like to get into product design/engineering. Maybe work in industry for several years (if possible getting some kind of team management early on?) and (maybe) someday start my own firm. </p>

<p>I’m a little bit worried if I go to Stonybrook and pursue a pure engineering degree that I might not be able to do this, whereas going to CMU and getting an engineering degree + industrial design minor would get me closer.</p>

<p>My main worry is that <em>on paper</em> CMU seems like a better fit for me. But I wasn’t crazy about it from the visit. I was more fond of Stonybrook from the visit, but <em>on paper</em>, quite scared of all the terrible rumors (I mean, at some point, some of these has to be a little true?). </p>

<p>P.S. Also is my figure of making 5k a year realistic? Will my studies suffer horribly because of it?</p>

8

<p>Re: making money while in college – I worked 12 hrs. per week through college, then full time in the summers. 12 hrs. * $8/hr * 30 weeks is about $3,000 during the school year. Then your summer earnings.</p>

<p>So yeah, you can knock down $6k per year, and after taxes that will be at least $5k. But it will most definitely impair your ability to get unpaid internships.</p>

<p>P.S. If you like Stony Brook better, by all means go there. don’t make decisions based on fear. Debt is the only thing you should fear at ths point in your life.</p>

9

<p>Go for CMU
I would kill to go there!!</p>

10

<p>HELP! Is the deadline today at midnight Eastern or tomorrow at midnight Eastern??? For CMU/Stonybrook/Universally?</p>

11

<p>I wouldn’t worry too much about the deadline, but I believe it’s midnight on May 1. I’m inclined to believe that the deadline isn’t a sharp cut-off though…</p>

<p>I would pick SUNY Stonybrook because of the massive cost savings. You could always transfer to CMU for the last two years, and get a more famous degree for half the costs.</p>

12

<p>Thanks for the replies! Yeah, it seems like it is tomorrow. Ugh, still agonizing over the decision…</p>

13

<p>Would it be more worth it if I stay a fifth year and finish my master’s?</p>

14

<p>Bump? Ahh…I’m still really really stuck and there is less than six hours to go…</p>

15

<p>I would without question choose CMU. Not even comparable quality educations, really, or experiences for that matter.</p>

<p>IIRC, all in Stafford loans, 40k can be paid off in ten years with ~$375 a month in payments. That’s not going to be a huge burden coming out with a CMU engineering degree.</p>

16

<p>modest… how did you get the loan calculation? at what % is the Stafford loan?</p>

17

<p>Now I’m considering RPI again…It costs exactly the same as CMU (well 1k more actually) but did feel like it would be less tough/you have to absolutely know what you are doing. It was a bit small/Troy but I think I would feel significantly less pressure there. Financially, they are giving me a perkins loan so I would have to loan less from Chase.</p>

18

<p>I’d say go to Stonybrook, work hard to get excellent grades in basic courses, and consider transferring to another school if you don’t like Stonybrook OR if your interests settle on a particular subfield. I think that there are other schools besides CMU where you would find good industrial design programs that might be significantly cheaper. For example, I may be mistaken, but I think that Virginia Tech is supposed to be good in that area, and I bet that even OOS it is cheaper than CMU.</p>

19

<p>I have decided to go to Stony Brook. Heh, more or less I want the financial freedom to figure out what I really want to do and then maybe transfer to a school I truly love if Stony Brook doesn’t work out for me.</p>

<p>Thank you all for your replies!</p>

20

<p>My son is also in the same boat: free ride at stony brook engineering (scholars program) vs full tuition at Carnegie. He wants to do BME and then med school. I will have to take a loan to finance carnegie.Any advice?</p>