Trouble with college selection

[Deeko]

Argh...My original debate was Pitt vs. Drexel(computer science major). Now, Pitt has a nicer campus, overall a nicer school, but Drexel has a higher rater cs program, and they have a really good co-op program that essentially garuntees you a job...downside to Drexel was the money and the fact that during the middle 3 of the 5 year program you don't get a summer vacation. Pitt comes to around 13.5K/year, Drexel about 25K/year. It was a tossup, but basically the money threw me over to Pitt, I had decided, and I was fine. But now, Drexel just sent me something in the mail today. They have selected me for a 9K/year scholarship, totalling 45K over the 5 years! That essentially takes away from the money gap...I don't know what to do now

 

[b0mbrman]

The answer is Cal

No..make sure you visit both of them. That was my mistake...

 

[iamwiz82]

Co-op is great. Let me tell you!

That is the one reason i could afford to move out on my own. Sure, you dont have a summer, but you can take a week off of work. Thats what i do. Plus, you never get bored because you are always switching between school and work.

I love my co-op!

 

[MajesticMoose]

I looked at drexel for engineering last year. Without even considering the money i decided it wasn't for me since it was just in a really dirty part of philly. That said, I'm wearing the T-shirt i got there right now.

 

[fatalbert]

its a tough choice, what is more important to you, lay it out and think it through.


I ended up making a table and listing all the pros for each school I was still considering, then I listed the cons, I decided which part of the decision was the most important, i.e. strength of program or overall campus appearance, and then I listed out the points, and went with my top choice

 

[johnjohn320]

<< its a tough choice, what is more important to you, lay it out and think it through.


I ended up making a table and listing all the pros for each school I was still considering, then I listed the cons, I decided which part of the decision was the most important, i.e. strength of program or overall campus appearance, and then I listed out the points, and went with my top choice >>



Listen to this man, sounds like he knows what he's talking about.

I'd say if all else fails, if you've laid it out logically and it's a complete toss-up, just go with your gut instinct. Chances are, you'll be equally happy at both if they're both so similar in so many ways.

 

[shiner]

Which school has better looking women? There's your answer!

 

[LoTecha]

Well, I happen to live in that "dirty" part of Philly. Yeah, it's true, the city's not that clean, but it has other redeeming attributes that I don't think you could get in Pitt. Philly really does grow on you though.

I also know a few people who are in the Drexel co-op. It's a hit or miss thing. Some hate it, some love it. If you think you would be happy working for a little while in college, go for it. Just don't expect it to be glamorous or super-exciting. Personally, with the scholarship thrown in, I would choose Drexel, but that's just me.

 

[Capn]

Don't all schools have coop programs basically? I guess maybe if they won't let you take a semester off they wouldn't I guess. However I don't see why people talk about coop programs incessantly, internships are what summertime is for.

 

[SubZeroX]

<< Which school has better looking women? There's your answer! >>



right on! That's how I decided between UCLA and Berkeley! I heard the women at Berkeley were not so hot. So I chose UCLA. B0mberman can probably confirm this fact.

j/k. Actually I chose LA coz the idiots at the Berkeley financial aid office screwed up something and would've cost me some financial aid so I chose LA. I made the right choice!

 

[jpsj82]

<< Don't all schools have coop programs basically? I guess maybe if they won't let you take a semester off they wouldn't I guess. However I don't see why people talk about coop programs incessantly, internships are what summertime is for. >>

i think in theory you could probably coop with any school (with a few exceptions, west point, uscga, usna, and usafa), but some schools have very good coop programs and others do not. coops are also better then internships because you probably will work a longer amount of time at it. the coop i want to do would pull me away from school for 52 weeks.

 

[yobarman]

i enough about these schools, being from philly and having a lot of friends that go to pitt.


drexel is a hole.
pitt has a much nicer campus, and they're associated with CM

if it were me choosing, i'd choose pitt in a heartbeat.

 

[yobarman]

<< Which school has better looking women? There's your answer! >>



Trust me on this...some of the most beautiful women on the east coast can be found at Pitt.

 

[fatalbert]

<< Which school has better looking women? There's your answer!
>>



lol,

that too was one of my pros, Boston University has a 60:40 girl to guy ratio, it is very nice

 

[Capn]

I applied to B.U. for grad school next fall, not gonna go there though. There is a nice bike shop right near by I've been to a few times.

 

[ajayjuneja]

I go to Carnegie Mellon (right down the street from Pitt) and I'm from Philadelphia. I'm a junior doing a double degree in Mech Eng. and CS and a minor in Robotics.

I have several friends at both Drexel and Pitt, and I would definately go with Pitt.

Why?

1. Pitt's girl/guy ratio is MUCH better than Drexel.
2. Drexel's attrition rate is extremely high, and EVERYONE I know there is very unhappy, dropped out, or transferred.
3. Meanwhile everyone I know at Pitt is very happy. That and you can cross register for classes between Pitt/CMU/Chatham/Carlow. Which means you can take some of your CS courses here at CMU, and hence get to know some of the profs., which will help for grad school if you want to consider CMU for grad school.
4. Drexel's co-op program only makes you stuck in school longer (ie 5 years). Job placement wise it doesn't help anymore than summer interning does, and if you reallly want to do a co-op, every school will let you do one. And if they don't have a policy, you can just sign a "leave of absence form."
5. Drexel's CS program is rather lousy from what i've seen of their teaching. Just my opinion, though.

 

[BuckleDownBen]

Go with Drexel. I saw them in the tournament a couple years ago.


Cal may not have as nice looking women as UCLA, thats a matter of opinion, but one thing that is certain is that they are not stuck up.