#Georgia Tech vs KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Technology)

25 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

zinc glacier
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I am currently committed to Georgia Tech's College of Computing, but I can still commit to KAIST (deadline is June 30th). I am South Korean by passport.

Schools: Georgia Tech vs KAIST
Intended major: Computer Science
Similarities: Great schools for engineering & CS, great professors and programs, beautiful campus, both affordable to my family

Georgia Tech (CoA: $50k/year)
Pros

  • Top 5 CS school
  • Great opportunities for internships & coop
  • Can make connections in US
  • Way easier to work in US post-grad or apply to grad school in US

Cons

  • more expensive, but still affordable

KAIST (CoA: 0$ -> full cost covered by government)
Pros:

  • Free
  • Number 1 engineering school in Korea (reputation)
  • Great opportunities, but only in Korea
  • have friends & families

Cons:

  • US is way better for CS career aspect, and I feel like I would miss a lot by going to KAIST just cuz it's free
    *** Typical CS starting salary is $40,000 at KAIST, where as median CS starting salary is $101,000 at Georgia Tech
  • Very toxic and competitive environment
  • would not be able to work or go to grad school in US

tl;dr: is it worth the money to go to Georgia Tech for better career aspect, based on that US is THE country to study and pursue CS

quartz hamlet
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Well it depends on where you wanna end up

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if you wanna live in korea, take KAIST, its reputation is unbeatable

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but if you wanna go to the US, take Gatech, as most people in the US don't know about the schools outside of their country

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I think the bigger question is your end goal in terms of where you want to live

brittle pivot
zinc glacier
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Only around top 1-3% (around 10 ppl/year) goes to top-ish US grad schools from KAIST, and just so you know, KAIST is known as the MIT of south korea, so people there are genius. I don’t think i belong to those top 1% group. I know you would then say “I haven’t tried yet,” but some of those KAIST guys are rly crazy.

lusty cedar
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There’s so many more factors that go into admissions than just class standing.

zinc glacier
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But it’s way harder if you apply from international undergrads

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I literally heard from KAIST graduates

brittle pivot
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I know many Indians from tier 2 unis going for masters at unis like Georgia tech, CMU and berkeley

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So idt it's that much of an issue

lusty cedar
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All of which you’ll have more time to cultivate and do at a school you don’t have to work at to attend.

brittle pivot
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^

toxic snow
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Are you fluent in Korean?

rugged stirrup
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I mean classes at KAIST are in English so I don't think language is a problem. However, classes are really big at GaTech from what I've heard from CS major people. I don't know if you're a fan of the location of KAIST though bc it's 대전 and not Seoul.

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But I would go for GaTech and work really hard bc it's a public school and there are lots of people for that major so kinda need to look good

steel musk
# zinc glacier I am currently committed to Georgia Tech's College of Computing, but I can still...

A few things to keep in mind while you're making your decision:

  1. KAIST's typical cs starting salary may be due to South Korea's job market.
  2. Make sure you read up on immigration stuff like student visas.
  3. If $200k is affordable, I'd go to GT. If paying the loans off while paying other expenses like rent, groceries, and utilities will take several years, you might end up with more money by graduating from KAIST.
zinc glacier
zinc glacier
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Got it, thanks!

zinc glacier
rugged stirrup