UMich LSA CS vs Vanderbilt CS

[midnight basalt]

Vanderbilt Engineering CS vs UMich LSA CS — Junior Transfer, Goal is Big Tech (NYC or CA)
Comparing two transfer offers for CS, graduating in 2 years. My main goal is landing internships and eventually a full-time role at a big tech company, ideally in NYC or California.

Vanderbilt Engineering CS

~$15k/yr tuition
Smaller class sizes, easier to integrate
Strong general prestige/brand outside of pure CS circles
Nashville, no major big tech presence nearby
Weaker CS-specific recruiting pipeline compared to UMich

UMich LSA CS

~$45k/yr tuition
Stronger CS brand nationally, especially for California big tech
Larger alumni network with reach on both coasts
More robust on-campus recruiting from top tech companies
Ann Arbor is ~5 hours from home

Key tension: $60k difference over 2 years. My main concern is really if UMich's CS recruiting pipeline and brand name is worth $60k more given I'm only there for 2 years.

[granite marsh]

vanderbilt

ill say from what ive learned from my cs friends arounnd the country and folks who go to smaller unis in cs

is that as long as you got the skills and really excel

you can achieve success

[midnight basalt]

ic what you mean, but i feel like that take is kinda lacking, ofc if you have the skills you can succeed no matter where you go but i would say name recognition goes a long way oftentime getting your resume through the door in the first place. a umich grad and a vandy grad with the same projects and gpa aren't necessarily seeing the same recruiter response rates for big tech

[granite marsh]

name recognition here

its like identical

vandy isnt msu

big tech takes people from iowa state

cause of name recognition

vandy is known

[midnight basalt]

ic ic

thanks for your help

[high lily]

Unless you plan to move to mich or vand I'd go vanderbilt

ofc internships might be harder xyz but at the end of the day you're not gonna stay there forever

as long as you can get some experience and the skills you'll be able to find a job elsewhere

[unreal bramble]

i think you're underestimating vandy's name recognition. i would definitely go there.