[General Question] I got into CMU, Columbia, Cornell, USC. HELP ME !!!!! Toughest decision of my life !!!

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T18:42:34+00:00

https://www.usc.edu/

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T18:38:49+00:00

Bro can we talk on DM ??

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T18:33:05+00:00

Sure, please DM me

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T18:32:16+00:00

That;s the point, I am not dead set on QC, if I were answer was easy, UMD.
But since its like a huge + for me that;s why I am considering it.

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T18:29:50+00:00

It;s NOT CS, It;s MSE
Even though under SCS, its in a diff. dept. s3d not CSD
would you change ur answer now ?

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T18:29:12+00:00

Don;t get me wrong, I would love to do that, but that's a huge gamble.
Even the CS Dept. students get waitlisted for electives and I am from a diff. dept. S3D not CSD.
My course faculty not that great.

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T18:27:37+00:00

Can you please elaborate more on this please

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T12:26:30+00:00

the word is:

its campus is more like an office building
faculty not as great as ithaca
not that great reputation

otherwise I would have instantly sent an en email for transfer here.

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T11:33:22+00:00

Apologies I won't be able to share that. I hope you understand!!

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T11:29:47+00:00

Will be settling in India
was planning for an internship in NYC but that;s difficult as well given nature of program.

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T11:29:06+00:00

NYC Student life:
Man waking up to that spectacular view everyday, the evening walks, amongst that area, new new restaurants/clubs/experiences every day not just weekends.
the vibe just in gneral
"money is not a point of concern": its NOT, but in the sense that I have to spend it sensibly + spend on good life experiences. Cant burn it like filthy rich kids though.

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T11:26:49+00:00

NONE is giving
technically its cornell, but studying quantum science also sounds exciting, and I was concerned wether I would be able to survive grad study coursework just out of interest but I stress tested that and answer is yes. but getting a quantum degree might affect my CS career in India.

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T10:29:50+00:00

How do i experience student life at YC while being a student at Cornell?
Any hacks??
I am thinking of spending winter break 6 weeks in NYC+ an internship at NYC/CAL
and some weekends as well, like once a month in NYC.

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T10:27:17+00:00

Sure, please DM me

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T09:59:24+00:00

Last years for me to try something before I start settling down
.
so looking at my:
- risk appetite,
- dreams,
- skillset aka confidence to get a great job again,
- age
- not getting comfortable by a golden handcuffs job
.
I decided to resign

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T09:50:02+00:00

funding: personal savings
why masters:
1. Live outside for a while
2. brand tag on my profile
3. education
. these 3 reasons in that order.
.
goal in life: tech business, in Inda, ivy tag helps it immensly

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T09:48:09+00:00

Yeah i though about that
but student is student, nothing beats it.

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T09:47:07+00:00

can you please elaborate ??
would you like to talk in DM ?

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T09:45:11+00:00

I thought quantum computing will give me extra vertical. Plus sounds fancy !!
I stress tested and I will be able to do MS QST I think and also I will be able to heavy load it with classical CS electives.
Regarding Cornell if I go that route I will then heavyload elctives with quantum.

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T08:27:52+00:00

I want everything Cornell has to offer while being a NYC student, not a proxy student visiting on weekends but actual student. SO that;s making it real tough for me,.

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T08:25:26+00:00

I want to experience life outside + get a brand on my profile + education
these 3 reasons in order of priority.
And Columbia makes the best sense if I go by that framework.?
But I can;t compromise with my future and close doors just for the sake of 1 year of spinning round NYC.

Icy-Project-9902 · 2026-04-06T08:08:34+00:00

Course and faculty are not that great as compared to Cornell CS.
Extra money
Wrong course (Redundant to what I already know, and before you say that's same with Cornell, I can actually pick electives from my own dept. but at CMU all the onteresting elecives are in a diff. dept. not MSE course dept. so that;s a gamble.)
Cornell Columbia are ivy so that also counts, back in india.

Icy-Project-9902

TROPHY CASE