It is very challenge choice to choose one that has a good fit among UC Berkeley, NYU, Johns Hopkins (waitlisted), Northeastern, and Barnard College for a combined major in neuroscience (or cognitive science) and visual design. Each school has its merits among representation (brand), program strength, industrial relationship, placement, networking, campus life, etc.
Does cost differ or matter?
What are your priorities among “representation (brand), program strength, industrial relationship, placement, networking, campus life, etc.”?
If you are an international student, what country will you most likely be working in after graduation? Getting a work visa in the US is nowhere near assured after graduation.
Cost is not a major issue/concern. Priorities are in that order.
Student grew up in SoCal but moved to Texas for high school.
Thanks!
Most of the criteria seem to be those related to pre-professional preparation. But the student’s majors in a biology field (neuroscience) and an arts field (visual design) are generally those where the post-graduation pay levels are among the low end for college graduates. Major choice is usually a bigger factor than college name in early career job and career prospects.
Some suggestions:
- It is better if the student has frugal spending habits. A student who needs less money to live comfortably has a wider range of career options, because the minimum pay required would be lower.
- Avoidance of college debt is particularly important for biology and arts majors and other majors who have lower paid early career job and career prospects.
- Biology and arts majors should consider the general BA/BS job market in addition to the major-specific job markets, since the biology-specific and arts-specific job markets may have an oversupply of labor relative to demand.
If a Texas resident, are there any Texas public universities that are options?
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I don’t have much to add, but I would not include Johns Hopkins in the analysis as your student has been waitlisted. For most universities, a very miniscule percentage of students get off the waitlist. Your child should accept the spot on the waitlist, write a letter of continued interest, and then act as though it was a rejection. Should anything happen with Johns Hopkins, great, but the chances of it happening are extremely slim and your student should make decisions assuming that getting off the waitlist won’t happen.
All of these schools are very good and have strong reputations. I would place a great deal of emphasis on campus life and the right fit, as the student is likely to be there for the next four years.
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All of these schools are going to cost $300-400k plus for a bachelors degree. They’re just not worth that kind of money. You mentioned you live in Texas. You can go to UT or Texas A&M for a third the cost with all the same prestige and benefits.
Is what you shared applicable to cognitive science as well? It’s more interdisciplinary focused on AI, CS, psychology etc.
It may depend on how strong the student is in the currently-in-demand CS aspects of the subject.