<p>Ok, @phantasmagoric, (and anyone else who cares to weigh in) things just got a whole lot more complicated this past week!!</p>
<p>In addition to Stanford & Yale, my very fortunate son got accepted to MIT on Wed and today a LL came from Cornell. (It was dated March 14). As I mentioned in an earlier post, MIT’s aid isn’t anywhere close to Yale’s. Stanford’s is in the middle. Cornell’s letter, on the other hand, states that they match any Ivy’s fin aid offer - so they would be the same cost as Yale. Now, I realize that this is an embarrassment of riches, but our heads are really spinning and we could use some more advice.</p>
<p>So, I have two more questions that haven’t been covered previously: </p>
<p>1) I believe that Cornell has a better reputation than Yale in computer science but not necessarily as an institution overall. Is this difference in cs important enough for him to seriously consider Cornell given his other options? (He’s definitely looked into this school the least).</p>
<p>2) Not to open an ugly can of worms, but with regard to MIT, 2 things concern me beyond cost. @phantasmagoric: As I know you go there for grad school, maybe you can address/dispel these concerns from first-hand knowledge: First, the 3 undergrad deaths on campus this year and the general environment of stress and sleep-deprivation that MIT is known for. Is this reputation warranted? Or is it blown out of proportion? </p>
<p>Second, is the food situation. It seems that many kids live in housing where they have to or choose to shop and cook for themselves. I just find this incredible. My son would live on junk for 4 years if it were up to him to cook. And when we visited the campus last spring, the food in the commons was mediocre at best.</p>
<p>I imagine I could be misinformed on both fronts and don’t want us to make a final decision based on bad info. Even if he doesn’t choose MIT in the end, I want it to be for valid reasons.</p>