<p>Wow, talk about inspiration! My D just met another new Google hire this summer–he graduated with MIT & likely didn’t get the nice merit aid you got at Vandy. Maybe you’ll meet at Google, who knows?
So glad you reported back on how well everything went. Sounds like you really took advantage of the many opportunities available at Vandy and did yourself proud!</p>
<p>school rankings can be a little nutz, surreal, and meaningful for INDIVIDUALs. “if you can’t be with the one you want, love the one you’re with”.</p>
<p>ER- a hearty congratulations. I remember your saga well as I too have been on these boards for 4+ years.</p>
<p>it’s funny the pull this site has. The moment I saw your name as a poster, I immediately went to read it. One really does remember some of the kids who posted on cc even if it has been a while since you last checked in.</p>
<p>Again- congrats on your graduation-travels- and job.</p>
<p>Thanks ER for you post. Our S just did the same thing, same major(s), different Scholarship. He’s very Happy at UMCP.</p>
<p>Thanks for the update ER and congratulations on your success! 
Your outcome is inspirational for us since our son is a college senior in a similar situation. Like you, he is also very satisfied with his social, academic, work and research experience. Hopefully, his story will have a happy ending too!</p>
<p>“Many people forget this when they are deciding between schools. I know I did. Let me tell you something. On Sunday night, when your laundry basket is overflowing, you’ve got a paper to write by the next day and a test the next, and you’re stressed beyond belief, you don’t CARE what your school’s name is. If that’s all that’s stopping you, or some image of the school created by your classmates or the admissions office when you go for your cursory hours-long or day-long visit, you’re on the wrong track in picking schools. As I go along, I care less and less about these superficial issues, and more and more about the education I’m receiving.”</p>
<p>What an amazing quote… that may have just made the difference in my decision…</p>
<p>You got a full merit scholarship at Vanderbilt? O_O</p>
<p>Honestly I’d go for Vanderbilt too if I got a full scholarship there over any top 10 school at regular financial aid price.</p>
<p>glad ur choice worked out for the best. Vanderbilt is a top 20 school. I was in a similar situation as you, and I chose a not well known state school for the massive amount of money I got. Hope my choice works out like yours</p>
<p>ER, </p>
<p>It sounds like you were thoughtful and took initiative throughout your four years at school. What I think your post helps elaborate and what often gets overlooked on CC is that it’s not really about the school you go to, but the opportunities you can make for yourself. </p>
<p>And no, those opportunities don’t just land in your lap even if you go to a “good” school-- of my friends who have graduated this year, some have remarkable jobs and some moved back home with their parents, clueless as to how to get a job or organize the rest of their life. Some went to unremarkable schools and did amazing things there; some went to remarkable schools and did nothing while they were there.</p>
<p>How was the interview @ google?
What credentials do they look for in potential candidates?</p>
<p>Btw,props on everything</p>
<p>I don’t understand the moral. If you are accepted to two elite, top 20 institutions, choose the one giving you a full scholarship. I’m glad that it all worked out for you but it seems like a fairly obvious choice to me…</p>
<p>You are faced with two life defining paths and the difference is only money. It’s really not so obvious.</p>
<p>great story and a wonderful job st Google. However, you are making it sounding like “money” is the only difference.</p>
<p>
. </p>
<p>You could have gone to Wall streat after graduation from Yale. From where you could manage a project carrying out by an engineer at Google. If money is your only “thing”. You could be making n times of your google salary. </p>
<p>At the end of the day, you are a smart and driven person. It may not have matter which school you attend.</p>
<p>DAd II,
ER could NOT HAVE AFFORDED YALE! That was the reason he chose V! This was in 2004 before the top schools HYPSM made it more affordable for middle income students to attend. Please read up before you pass judgement on what could have been.</p>
<p>^ That’s a good point. If you want to go into finance or management consulting after graduation after college, then it usually makes sense to turn down scholarship offers to attend HYPS. Prestige matters a lot to BBs and MBB. But since the OP is interested in CS that isn’t really relevant.</p>
<p>Yale estimated back then that he could have afforded Yale, taking into account his creditworthiness, and he estimated that Yale wasn’t worth the difference in out-of-pocket cost with Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>congrats ER! I enjoyed reading your posts many years back, and am so glad you had such a good time during your college years, and it all turned out so well.</p>
<p>wow. great story. just to show u that u dont need Ivies to be successful. those who go there are there for the name so they can hopefully get a high paying job. u remind me of a story my dad told me. insane how he told me this guy rejected stanford for a state college and went to 5 different colleges (MIT, Rice, Cal Tech, Columbia, Princeton) being at the top of his class, and becoming a millionaire after. and hes the one who gives my dad free tickets to baseball games.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Not always. Many of us are there to get a great education and for whatever reason do not have the same financial issues as the OP.</p>
<p>Howdy Evil Robot. Remember me? I was one of the those who espoused taking the money over the Hype of Hyps! I am glad to see how things turned out. I always felt that taking a full ride scholarsihp can’t be beat and is especially better than attending a name brand school… Good for you. and best of luck for your future…without any college debt.</p>