I’m having trouble deciding between CMU, GT, and UMich. I’m stem leaning and will probably go into MechE, compsci, or robotics in hopes of developing a start-up. I was accepted into the engineering programs in all three schools. Academically speaking, which is best?
Congrats! They are all fantastic options! Do you prefer the environment at any of the schools? Are they all affordable?
2 Likes
I really loved the energy at GT’s admitted student tour, but I’m kind of wary of basing my decision off of just that. Right now I’m researching to try and find out more about their entrepreneurship programs and networking opportunities.
2 Likes
Financial aid hasn’t come out yet so I’m not sure about affordability as of now
Great choices! If by chance all are affordable, do you care if you are in Pittsburgh, Atlanta or Ann Arbor?
Ann arbor is probably my least favorite city, but I liked both pittsburgh and atlanta when I toured
Then I would take out UM and focus on your other two options.
3 Likes
Do you have any idea of the likely net price for each school from the net price calculators, and whether such likely net prices are affordable to you?
Great choices! Three years ago my son had to decide between UMich GT & Cornell. He chose GT.
I would pick GT based on ease of travel and weather. My son is a 3rd year at GT and we’ve been surprised by what an easy quick trip it is to fly home (to NJ). Kids can easily fly to Mexico/Dominican/anywhere for spring break. My son just drove down to Florida. The coast is right there, too. Weather is great - never gets too cold, and there are many ‘perfect’ months while school is in session.
UMich would edge out GT for sports and school spirit, but you’d be surprised by the enthusiasm and pride students have for GT. And the football team is on a rampage!
Also - at UMich, the engineering campus is separated from the main campus. At GT, the entire place is engineering focused. So fun!
LMK if you have any specific questions. There are some bad things about GT, but FAR outweighed by the good!
2 Likes
Congratulations on being in a great situation. DS24 is in a similar situation - he’s going into identical majors MechE/CS/Robotics and is interested in entrepreneurship opportunities after college. He is deciding between UIUC (Instate), UMich, and CMU. He is waitlisted at GT. DS20 went to Michigan Engineering so we are intimately familiar with their program. As of now, DS24 is leaning towards CMU for interdisciplinary research opportunities and academic rigor. Some of the most pioneering research work in robotics emerged from CMU. We’re going to CMU Tartan Day on April 7th to hopefully seal the deal. His second choice is Michigan.
FA at GT OOS will be $0, unless you are eligible for Pell Grant. All FA goes to instate students.
DD was accepted to all 3.
UMICH gave $0, CMU gave $5k, and GT gave $0. But GT was cheapest, so she is a senior there now.
1 Like
How do you mean? Yes the Hope and zell Miller grants are for instate students, but I don’t believe OOS students get no aid. Can you clarify ?
I expect momsearcheng is talking about need based aid for OOS Ga Tech students which is true, they don’t give. Of course the student would still get their Pell Grant, student loan and other fed aid if they qualify. Some OOS students will get merit aid, and I’m not sure Tech has doled all that out yet or not.
1 Like
OK. There are several circumstances where GT offers OOS tuition waivers, but its unlikely we are talking about any of those.
https://catalog.gatech.edu/financial/tuition/out-of-state-tuition-waivers/
1 Like
Agreed…hopefully OP will clarify, and also answer whether they ran the NPCs because for most students at this set of schools FA shouldn’t be a surprise.
2 Likes
Many people do not understand that most OOS students are milking cows for GT by design. (Exception are very few like 100 tippy top students with merit who usually have several offers from Ivies, MIT etc. ). The rest get one big fat 0.
I believe sutuation is similar with UMICH, except it is significantly more expensive. CMU is not generous either, unless something changed last couple years.
So unless @CrazyForCatsLady somehow eligible for significant need at CMU, GaTech will be cheapest but no aid except loans. I believe all scholarships are out already.
If GaTech is not affordable @CrazyForCatsLady will have to look at some other safety schools that I hope she has.
1 Like
GT seems to be working on resources for making more need based aid available. The State of Need-Based Scholarships | Georgia Tech Foundation
I would not count on that for OOS students. We are talking about very few students and from lowest income from particular region. GaTech focus is residents of Georgia.
Yep, there is annual roll call for alumni too. Last time they called I told them that my investment to GaTech is paying OOS tuition for DD 
2 Likes
So my son did their entrepreneurship minor at Ross when getting his Industrial engineering degree and a sustainability minor. His opportunities are too much at add here but he started a tech organization on campus. Had alumni reach out within hours of it being registered at Michigan. He and his cohort as Freshman won $15,000 grant money and worked with a graduate student that was an expert in start ups. The mentors were President of Jet Blue and BP oil. His professors in the minor was a CEO… Trust me I can go on and on. Pm me if you need more information. All these schools are on the same plane and a big congrats to you. There are no bad choices here.
3 Likes
Yes GT is very open that they are a state school and they make no bones about that fact.