MIT, Caltech or Harvey Mudd (all full pay)
UCLA, UCSD (CA resident)
Parents can pay out of savings, but should they?
MIT all the way!!
MIT is the easy pick for CS and engineering. Just be sure you are up to the work load.
For UCLA and UCSD, do you have admission to the desired major? Be aware that changing into the desired major at those schools may be difficult, depending on the demand relative to capacity.
For MIT, Caltech, and Harvey Mudd, be aware that they require physics, chemistry, and biology for all students. They also have a relatively high volume of humanities and social studies general education requirements (some of the residential colleges at UCSD, particularly Revelle, have high volumes of general education requirements). Both Caltech and Harvey Mudd have notably intense academics (e.g. “calculus” at those schools is heavy on the theory and proofs; MIT offers both regular (but accelerated) calculus and “calculus with theory”).
What do your parents say about how the cost differences affect their financial goals like retirement savings?
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What do your parents say about how the cost differences affect their financial goals like retirement savings?
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this ^^^
If their savings will take a big hit, better to go to UCLA (great school!) and save the money; especially if you’ll continue your education afterwards (apply to MIT for grad school or do a PhD at Caltech).
Congratulations on all these acceptances!!
@ucbalumnus Yes I was admitted for CS and engineering at both UCLA and UCSD.
My parents saved for my college education. They are in early 50th. I am the youngest child. I realize I can get perfectly fine education at UCLA or UCSD, but MIT is MIT.
If your parents are okay with it, I’d go with MIT - a life changing educational experience.
MIT, simple enough. Best school for STEM.
Caltech close second.
UCLA third if you want a big campus feel
Since it’s full pay both are affordable
Sorry. I think I was not clear when I said full pay. My parents will have to pay full sticker price. We do not qualify for FA.
For CS/Engineering, MIT wins hands down.