Yale(math+CS) vs Cornell(A&S) vs UCB(L&S) vs UT Austin(Turing) vs CMU(math)

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41

Thanks for clarifying. It is still sad.

42

Yale is Yale is Yale
an amazing place and a great education. Math and CS may be better here or there, but Cornell, UT, and UCB will be hard pressed to match the universal excellence–in terms of academics, student life, cultural opportunities, etc.–by which Yale is defined. Think in terms of specific programs but also think “what if my kid changes direction dramatically?” (which would be normal and healthy) and then work towards picking a college.

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43

There is no universal university. Every place has strengths and weaknesses. It depends on where you are as a student. If you want the strong version of some kinds of engineering, then Yale is the wrong place for you. Likewise if you want the strong version of the performing arts or something, then likely Yale is the correct place and MIT or Cornell are the wrong places, if you had a choice.

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44

I would rule out CMU because of the barriers to access for CS. Why sacrifice that when you don’t have to?

Then I would pick one public university front-runner, and one private/Ivy front-runner. In other words, evaluate UT-Turing vs. UCB (I agree with Eeyore that Turing wins unless UCB is in-state and the cost differential matters, but that’s JMHO). And then evaluate Cornell vs. Yale head to head.

Then decide between your final two.

IMHO, Turing is the one to beat here. But it could be that either Yale or Cornell offers an overall experience that he prefers, for any number of reasons, even though the fundamental quality of the CS+math education is not superior to Turning. It all depends on priorities and fit factors.

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45

I definitely second this. We just came to know of an acquaintance of my daughter who got into CMU (SCS), EECS (UCB), few other engineering and later Yale. She wants to pursue a STEAM kind of learning with an emphasis in arts. She’s choosing Yale, will go there this fall.

Choose a college that lets the person in you grow.

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46

Oh nice. Congratulations. So she made final decision.

47

She made her decision (planning to commit by next week), this one I said for one of her acquaintance. Mine didn’t apply to any ivys except Harvard (got rejected)

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