go ball state instead
#GT vs. CMU
civic rampart
mental thunder
I got into GT, UIUC, and CMU for CS (GT is Comp. Media which is quite similar to CS), but UIUC gave me 0 aid so I am not considering it anymore.
Intended major: Computational Media, Computer Science
Similarities: Both great CS programs, both pretty rigorous, both campuses are in a "bubble" in their major city (Atl/Pitt). Both have older dorms.
GT
Pros:
Close to home (I'm from the Metro ATL area)
Pretty cheap for the education you're getting (in-state tuition is supreme)
Great reputation everywhere
Weather is mild (4 seasons)
Great school spirit
Threads (concentrations)
Co-Ops
Good diversity
Cons:
Atlanta (traffic, events, etc)
Possibly take longer to graduate (5-6 years)
Larger class sizes for intro classes
Less balance between women and men in CS (closer to 30/70)
CMU (Carnegie Mellon)
Pros:
Smaller school so smaller class sizes
#1 for CS
Smaller city
Good financial aid (doesn't cost that much more than GT for me)
Greater balance of women and men in CS (nearly 50/50)
Cons:
Much farther from home
Housing is expensive (24K for a single?)
Not much school spirit for sports
Student life
Not as much diversity
(I will list my tiebreaking considerations as a new post)
Tiebreaking considerations:
Work-life balances of current students from these schools
Co-op opportunities at CMU
Waiting for GT's actual financial aid to release
Experience living it Pittsburgh
Preferences:
I do not like super hot or super cold weather, probably somewhere in the middle (though I prefer cold to hot)
I like the idea of a smaller school. It feels less overwhelming.
Though I would like to stay close to home, I am willing to make the trip to an OOS school if I think it's worth it.
I like campuses with a lot of green space. Sculptures and landmarks are also cool.
I would describe myself as an introvert.
forgot to copy and paste lol
buoyant palm
I think you'll be happier in Pittsburgh tbh, CMU is pretty small and next to an absolutely lovely park. Pittsburgh itself has a ton of green space. That being said CMU CS work-life balance is like, notoriously bad.
GTech may be more of a play hard work hard school while CMU is almost purely work hard
frail plover
I agree with @buoyant palm
I'm headed to GT myself but by what i hear and the way you wrote your post, you'll like CMU more