<p>I am a Minnesota high school student that has participated in a dual-enrollment program at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.</p>
<p>I should have completed roughly half of the Computer Science degree I would receive at the University, but I have also received an acceptance to Vanderbilt University.</p>
<p>The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities has a higher ranked Computer Science program than Vanderbilt, costs way less (in-state tuition), and I already have half of my degree. However… Vanderbilt is a much more prestigious school than the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and there is some hope that I can transfer my credits over to Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>Should I go for the prestige and adventure of going to a relatively elite school out-of-state, or stay at home at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities?</p>
<p>EDIT: Money is not a problem in this decision… My family has been saving in anticipation of an out-of-state school.</p>
<p>Ah yes, as I have added above, I do not have any financial concerns in this decision. My family can easily afford Vanderbilt… but of course the University of Minnesota will save us a lot of money.</p>
<p>I don’t know how many of the credits will transfer, but assuming they do, what else should I consider in my decision?</p>
<p>How, exactly, do you come by the notion that Vanderbilt is more “prestigious” than U MN-TC? Because it is private? Because it isn’t in Minnesota?</p>
<p>If you intend to complete a degree in Comp Sci, then stay where you are. Save the money for a semester abroad or to support yourself during a nifty under-paid internship, or for grad school down the line.</p>
<p>If you are tired of Comp Sci and your new major is stronger at Vanderbilt and the aid package there makes it affordable, then go there.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt if you can afford it which you clearly can; its a very undergraduate focused school and college is the perfect time to broaden your horizons. Congratulations!</p>
<p>Vanderbilt has a higher generic US news ranking, a more selective admissions admission process, and the average Vanderbilt student has higher statistics than the average UMN-TC student.</p>
<p>The material I can find suggests that Vanderbilt is often considered to be a superior school, but UMN-TC seems to have a superior Computer Science department…</p>
<p>Finally, I will never tire of Computer Science… I have been programming since the third grade. Thank you for your advice, though… it sounds like there are a lot of reasons to stay at UMN-TC</p>
<p>To goldenboy:</p>
<p>Can you tell me more about why I should go to Vanderbilt? I would love to hear your input. :)</p>
You should go to Vanderbilt because like you said, your peers will be much stronger academically and the school has much more resources at its disposal for undergraduates specifically since its a wealthier university. I think advising for graduate school will be better since Vandy doesn’t have all the red tape and bureaucracy to deal with that a state school like Minnesota will.</p>
<p>I think the reputation of a school in a particular program like Computer Science is overrated as well for the undergraduate level since the curriculum for undergrads is pretty standardized across all research universities. Employers won’t really differentiate between a Minnesota and a Vandy degree for Computer Science since the major is so lucrative anyway.</p>
<p>Attending Vanderbilt can be a potentially transformative experience for you; going to Minnesota won’t be.</p>
<p>Let’s see - higher ranked department, costs less, get degree sooner (more options then for graduate school, employment sooner). I think you know the answer. </p>
<p>Also, even if Vanderbilt had a better program and your parents can afford it; would you possibly want to use that saved $ for grad school, down payment on a home, a car. Ask them if those are options for saved $.</p>
<p>The only way I would choose Vanderbilt in this situation is if you are certain you want to live in the South. Otherwise, Minnesota has the stronger CS program and your advanced standing makes you well-positioned to take advantage of that. I think the difference in ‘name’ prestige is small overall and may actually favor Minnesota in the Midwest.</p>
<p>Thanks guys! I was already strongly leaning towards the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities… but I was just afraid that declining Vanderbilt would be throwing away an opportunity to attend an “elite” school.</p>
<p>A lot of my friends and family are the type that make a big deal out of “elite” schools… and I’ve had the pressure to try and get into one.</p>
<p>Amidst my sea of rejection letters, I got into Vanderbilt… so it would be my only shot at an "elite’ school… but it looks like staying at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is the best option. :D</p>
<p>I appreciate all of your input in helping me make my decision! :)</p>
<p>I completely disagree that there is a “minor” prestige difference between Vandy and U of Minnesota. U of Minnesota isn’t even a top school among large Midwestern state universities, and Vandy is a top 20 school with national reach, easily comparable to any other top 20 school. Whoever said it’s only good for staying in the south is delusional. I recognize that there are a few pockets in this country where Vandy isn’t as well known, but it’s easily as prestigious as any other top 20 for people who are in the know and well-traveled. </p>
<p>The OP’s decision may still be Minnesota, but come on. Comparing Vandy to U Minn is like comparing Brown to Penn State. One is clearly at a different level from the other.</p>
I did not claim - or, at least, it was not my intent to claim - that Vanderbilt is “only good for staying in the south.” I do claim that Vanderbilt’s edge in national prestige is enough to outweigh the advantages of Minnesota for this student if and only if s/he intends to live in the South, where Vandy experiences an additional edge in regional prestige. UMN gets a similar prestige boost within its region; we can probably quibble all day over how far that geographic pull extends from the Twin Cities. More importantly, the relative strength of Minnesota in computer science must be accounted for in the prestige equation when we think about the people OP is most likely to want to impress.</p>
<p>Under other circumstances, the smaller and more undergrad-focused atmosphere at Vandy might be very advantageous for the right kind of student. But here, OP has already completed most of the big lower-division courses for his/her degree at UMN and has expressed no preference for Vandy other than a perceived difference in prestige drawn from USNews rankings and admissions selectivity statistics.</p>
<p>You’ve written some excellent posts on the topic of “prestige,” but frankly I have never understood the supposed distinction between “top 20” schools and all others. It might be helpful for the many prospective students here if you could just list the “top 20” schools and the specific qualities that clearly place them “at a different level.” You could create a new thread on that topic so as to ensure that everyone on CC will see your new and improved method for stratifying schools.</p>
<p>I have not confirmed my enrollment yet anywhere, so I am still interested in the question.</p>
<p>The biggest factor in my decision is, “How much is prestige worth?”</p>
<p>I agree that Vanderbilt is far more of a name-brand than UMN-TC (that is why I applied), but to what extent does prestige matter?</p>
<p>The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities has a higher ranking CS department at roughly 1/3 of the cost. Furthermore, the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area has far more CS jobs and internships than Nashville. Looking at any job site will confirm this.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, I knew Vanderbilt’s reputation as a top 20 school… and I applied. However, how many of Vanderbilt’s flaws can be swept under the rug in the name of prestige? What sort of benefits do I get from going to a higher-ranked school, despite through a lower-ranked department?</p>
<p>(I am not putting Vanderbilt down here–I am genuinely asking the question if the prestige is worth it.)</p>
<p>When you are in high school, your classmates will be impressed that you are going to Vanderbilt. Once you are at Vanderbilt, however, no one will be impressed because they are there, too! And after you graduate the topic of your undergrad school will almost never come up in conversation.</p>
<p>If you can stand the Minnesota weather, the choice seems like a no-brainer.</p>
<p>Yup, I feel fairly confident in the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.</p>
<p>I applied to Vanderbilt and other top-20 schools because my social circle gives a lot of pressure to attend a top school…</p>
<p>However, after looking at the facts, it seems pretty clear that UMN-TC is the superior choice for me–perhaps not for someone else, but definitely for me.</p>
<p>To me it’s a no-brainer in favor of Vanderbilt! My God, get away from home and experience life in one of the most fun cities on a gorgeous campus with students from all over the place. Barron’s head is far up somewhere dark- so don’t put any stock in his post.<br>
Broaden your horizons, unless none of the credits will transfer. The students at Vanderbilt (many of whom have lots of financial aid) are, for the most part, polite and nice. And they aren’t buried in snow 6 months a year.</p>
<p>I’d have to say stay at UMinn. You are not being gauged against the overall student body, but those who are in your major. UMinn has a better program, more competitive student body in the major. Why flush money just so you can assuage your feelings about a brand of University. You’re not competing with all of the gen-ed CLA students, your competing with those within your particular college - edge to Minn.</p>
Thank you for your advice, though… it sounds like there are a lot of reasons to stay at UMN-TC</p>