So I have been accepted into GaTech through their transfer pathway program, which would mean that I would be a transfer student sophomore year. I plan on doing my first year at Hunter CUNY as it is cheap for me.
The dilemma I have is I would be an OOS student at GT, which given my current financial aid estimate would be ~30-35k a year. If I stay at Hunter or anywhere in NY, I would be an in-state student, which would be a lot cheaper ( Hunter is 3k a year)
I plan on majoring in Computer Engineering and then go into Cyber Security.
I did do some research into this and found that student debt is one hell of an issue, but the idea of graduating from a top cyber security school (#2 nationally) is tempting as well as I know many top companies recruit from GT.
I do plan on still applying to some in-state top colleges like Cornell or NYU, but there’s a slim chance of getting in.
Also, how hard is it to qualify for in-state tuition?
You or your parents have to prove that you lived in the state of Georgia for at least 12 months prior to the start of classes; typically demonstrated by Georgia state tax returns, Georgia drivers license issue date, lease/home ownership, utility bills, etc.
As an OOS student you’ll get little to no need based aid from Georgia Tech.
They are both private schools so your in state status doesn’t reduce tuition. However they both meet need so check what your NPC is at both. NYU will include loans in their aid package.
ETA: current year costs for OOS transfers are just under $53k. That will go up each year. As an OOS student you’ll be eligible for limited aid…basically only federal aid and perhaps some small departmental grants. The majority of need aid goes to GA residents. And the large merit scholarships only apply to entering freshman.
So keep that in mind as it may not fit well with your budget. Many students must make budget the primary factor when identifying a college list. And luckily for you, your career aspirations in CS or CE are mostly agnostic to undergrad school.
Programmer here. Prestige doesn’t matter in computers and tech. CS/IT is a highly employable degree, and there are PLENTY of companies that recruit from Hunter. After graduation all of your credentials will be built on hands-on learning from every job you had. After about 2 years experience, employers don’t even ask where you went to school.
Let me tell you what I know about “top” companies over the years. They’re not that great. I’ve worked for a few myself. You’re never more expendable working at a place EVERYONE thinks they want to work at. I promise, you’ll find a job and have a great career staying put at Hunter.