Cornell 60k vs UT Austin 20k for CS

bpqx
Tue, 23 May 2023 07:25:00 +0000

Recently admitted from Cornell College of Engineering waitlist and I am now deciding between it and my current school (UT Austin) for CS. For Cornell my family will be paying $60,000 a year (they can comfortably pay $50k max, but are willing to foot the rest). After scholarships, UT is $20k. I plan on going to graduate school. Below are some pros and cons.

UT Austin

Pros

Cheaper tuition (20k and instate)

Better city (I prefer the urban aspect of Austin, although it isn’t a huge factor in my decision)

Better weather (I’ve rarely experienced snow)

Potential access to more internships (due to the tech hub in Austin)

May be able to transfer into Turing honors program (this is very difficult, but if I do so, I would basically be spoon-fed internships, research opportunities, and job offers as an underclassman, plus small class sizes. I’ve seen Turing compared to #1 CS programs like Berkeley and CMU, but admission is in no way guaranteed. I wouldn’t say this should be a primary factor for choosing UT, but if I were to get in, I would be in a program that’s probably stronger than Cornell)

Cons

Less prestigious (I may possibly go into quant/finance and I’m worried that if I do, UT may not be seen as prestigious enough. I also feel that the Cornell name in general would help with employment)

Larger class sizes (possibly tougher to get research opportunities/build closer relationships with professors)

Many people from my HS are attending

Possibly weaker alumni connections (I’ve read from a few places that, in general, public school grads don’t aid students as much as private school ones)

Cornell
Pros

Ivy League

Ranked higher in CS (#5 vs UT’s #11)

Smaller campus/class sizes

Large research output, less competition to land research positions

Potentially better employment options (due to higher ranking)

A slightly more nerdy, “quirky” culture (at least that was my impression from visiting)

Alumni connections (from what I’ve read, private school students tend to help each other more)

Better humanities programs (I also want to take classes in the social sciences, and Cornell is ranked much higher in these. I am not considering a dual major though)

Cons

Potential grade deflation (could hurt grad school admission chances)

In the middle of nowhere (not a complete deal breaker, but I do prefer an urban environment)

Mental health issues (Most Cornell students I have talked to say the school is great, but a handful have called it depressing. The installation of suicide nets in recent years is also off-putting. On the contrary, I have not see anyone complain about UT)

Costs 3x as much (although my family will be able to handle it)

Location may be limiting in terms of internship opportunities

Not a huge fan of the cold weather (although this isn’t a deal breaker but more of a minor flaw)

Thanks in advance for your help