<pre><code>I just got accepted full tuition to Vanderbilt off of a transfer, I know this is a crazy question but....
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<p>I am majoring in Computer Science and I wanted to know what would be better for the major? Vanderbilt or Ga tech? </p>
<p>I haven't received any notice from Tech but I should get in, I doubt i'll get aid being an out of state student. I am worried though about Vanderbilt's Computer Science program, that is why I am still considering Georgia tech.... So which is better? and I know Vanderbilt is better for Grad school, but cut the grad school option out. I want to do it but seriously in the long run, i might not.</p>
<p>Georgia Tech is well known and will serve you well. But why are you “worried” about cs at Vanderbilt? Have you looked into research opportunities at Vanderbilt? Top students go on to top universities for graduate school. Students who enter with advanced coursework can apply to work on a master’s degree simultaneously, so have access to graduate level coursework. It may not matter to some cs students, but those who are interested in accessing very good courses in social sciences/humanities etc. have the rest of Vanderbilt to fill those interests.</p>
<p>This is a personal decision, and it shouldn’t make that much difference to you what someone else decided, but I’ll offer the anecdote that my son, a cs and math major, was accepted to many schools with very highly ranked engineering/cs departments, but for a variety of reasons (including scholarship $$$) chose Vanderbilt. He has not been disappointed. In addition to research opportunities, great course opportunities (including, for him, considerable latitude in course choices), faculty that is easy to get to know, the university as a whole is a fantastic place. And Nashville is a great place to be an undergraduate.</p>
<p>Perhaps you should take a close look at the various web pages on Vanderbilt’s site and look at what kind of research is taking place, and see whether or not anything that interests you is going on. There won’t be as much as GT or as large a variety as GT, but that may not be of any consequence if they have something that you like, and that you can get involved in.</p>
<p>Whether or not you are headed for graduate school, indebtedness should be a consideration. If GT puts you in debt, that is a factor that should not be ignored, in my opinion, even for a cs student.</p>
<p>My Dad has a masters from Ga Tech and I am fond of life in Atlanta for the young. However, I also think you need to ask yourself if you are looking for a more traditional educational experience where you will also be surrounded by Arts and Sciences majors and music majors as well as your peer group in the Engineering school. Georgia Tech translates very well into the job market but so does a degree from Vandy. At Vandy, you will enjoy a social experience that is also important from ages 18-23…that has a lot of breadth in it. As much as I love Atlanta (lived there four times and lived in Nashville twice), Nashville is homier and more navigable without giving up much of the great cultural institutions you want in a large city…major sports, arts, great food options, and national scene speakers passing through town constantly. The differences come down to the level of planning necessary to drive from here to there in Atlanta to take advantage of things. Atlantic Station is very cool near Georgia Tech…but I have to say that the ease of access to all that Nashville offers is a huge advantage at Vandy just in terms of quality of life…to say nothing of the balanced male/female thing in most of the subcolleges at Vandy…and Vandy has a very decent draw of females in engineering. </p>
<p>definitely don’t go where you end up in debt in this economy…
good luck and congrats on your fab offer from Vandy</p>
<p>oh and ga tech is a better CS/ENG school all around if you’re just looking at performance rates; it’s not small though, so if you would traditionally thrive in that environment, you should choose vandy.</p>