SUNY SBU or Georgia Tech with substantial debt?

College Search & Selection
1

To start, I am a New York resident (hence, SUNY) aiming to dual major in Computer Engineering and Computer Science. I was ranked #3 in my graduating class, sustained a 4.3 GPA, and got a 35 overall on the ACT. I registered for my SAT 2 subject tests last second and completely failed to study (had a lot going on at the time), getting only a 720 on Physics and a 700 on Math II. Because of this last detail, on top of other minute issues with my resume, is why, I believe, I got rejected from Cornell. I also was rejected from MIT, but I expected that.

These rejections have left me to two options: staying in New York and attending SUNY SBU, or going far away to Georgia Tech. I love Georgia Tech and believe that it has an excellent balance between prestige, college life, and location, but the cost is simply too high since I am from out of state. Even with FinAid, I would have to pay $35k/ yr. I intend to write an appeal to this offer, listing the offers I got from SBU and RPI, but don’t really expect to get a lot more since I am not from Georgia. I am very against large debts, and while I could receive some help from my parents, I truly do not want to.

On the other hand, I can attend SBU where I have essentially received a full ride (an estimated mere $3k/ yr). I have large gripes with attending SBU, though. I don’t see it as being nearly as competitive as GT, and it has a much less known name, especially if I were to pursue a career outside of New York. It still has a decent college experience and somewhat of a party life, but not to the same extent.

A very important factor in this decision that I have not yet mentioned is the fact that I intend to pursue a master’s degree. Reasonably, I could always go for my master’s at a prestigious grad school even after attending SBU.

So which is better for undergrad? Prestige, life, but massive piles of debt? Or no debt at all, yet still a decent education?

Additionally: Will attending a lesser-known school like SBU hurt the picture I am trying to paint for myself, that being a hard-working and bright individual?

PS: I was also accepted to Stevens and RPI (where I did receive great FinAid)

2

How much can your parents contribute? You can only borrow ~$5500/year. Stony Brook is a good school. If you go there, you can save your money for grad school.

3

At max, I’d say that they could contribute maybe $10-15,000 / yr, which would still not come close to covering GT.

4

Stony Brook is a great university and actually has strengths in computer science! $3K a year is a great deal for this excellent place, and no, going there won’t hinder your plans. You should go there.

5

Now I’ve been speaking with my sister-in-law about debt. Considering that my anticipated career would be ~$70k-80k starting, would ~100k in debt be manageable? She reasons that it would be fine to go to GT.

6

Additionally, my biggest reason for wanting to go to GT is because the connections I can make and the job opportunities that would be available there are much better than those at SBU.