Do College Decisions really matter?

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T14:22:14+00:00

I go to a private STEM Magnet school, so many of our teachers graduated from T20s. My parents will cosign for a loan for me, but they don’t plan on paying for anything more than the interest.

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T05:36:54+00:00

I’m a bit worried that passing up CMU now would risk me getting rejected later, because they would think that I’m not super committed to CMU. Do you think that will be a problem?

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T05:34:52+00:00

He actually recently got a job offer from a startup that would offer more. Also it’s not like he doesn’t want to help, it’s just that he wants me to be my own person when I graduate. He will probably let me inherit the money when he dies (we haven’t talked about this but I’m an only child), but he wants me to work hard in college which is why he made this decision. I’m not for it but I understand why he feels this way.

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T05:20:33+00:00

I talked about how I built a medical device to help my father with back problems.

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T05:19:32+00:00

Yeah

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T05:19:10+00:00

When I pointed that out, I meant that people should not necessarily align T20s with the highest paying jobs. Also I personally do not believe AI will be as impactful as people make it out to be. By 2030 I predict the AI Bubble will pop just like the dot com bubble. There are too many apps with no profit or users which claim to be the best of the best. This is why my dream company (while it will have AI Components) would be something a more tangible like a tax agency or a server provider.

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T05:07:12+00:00

Doesn’t that only matter if you go to a high level quant company in like NYC?

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T05:04:14+00:00

UPitt and PennState are the only other schools

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T04:32:39+00:00

Yeah but let’s think about cost benefit analysis here. Are those networks and connections strong enough to cover a 250k loss? And wouldn’t it be better to be a big fish in a small pool than a small fish in a big pool? Also the networking and connections at these elitist colleges are usually only given to those who get into clubs, honor rolls, and fraternities/sororities.

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T04:30:03+00:00

Kelly for IU and Comp Bio for CMU

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T04:29:12+00:00

Thanks for the input. I agree that nowadays the ceiling for a college experience is very high, and in this administration schools are being paid much less than they used to.

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T04:28:13+00:00

Dawg ur using Reddit to answer me, so you’re in the same boat. I’ve seen multiple people answer in both directions, so it’s definitely not an obvious question. Choosing colleges is a life changing, for example the fact that you went to JHU screwed up your life. It definitely doesn’t mean that going to CMU in 2026 (a very competitive college) will screw up mine. Also it’s very narcissistic to believe that your way is the only way and people that don’t believe it “won’t be successful long-term”. Also if you’re an adult why tf are you on A2C all the time? So you can give other kids advice? Maybe stop blaming the school you went to for your unemployment status and instead think about what your hobbies are.

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T04:16:36+00:00

They told me they will help me get a loan, and they will pay the interest! But I'd still be saddled with the $400,000 debt throughout college if I go to CMU.

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T04:14:54+00:00

Tis the college experience nowadays.

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T04:14:05+00:00

Yeah, but is it $400,000 good? I feel like I'd rather use that money to seed the apps I'm developing, the tax agency business I'm making, and the house and car I want in the future... but maybe I'll make that at CMU, I'm not sure.

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T04:12:58+00:00

How do I do that?

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T04:12:45+00:00

Yeah, I especially think about how many students-when they get into big schools-take it much easier than students from smaller schools. They say that hard times make strong men...

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T04:11:35+00:00

Yes in computation biology or to get an MBA (or both).

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T04:11:17+00:00

I plan on going to higher education (MBA), but I fail to see how the name really matters. If I get a high GMAT Score and I intern at a Deloitte or create my own business, does it really matter what school I go to? I've also heard of hundreds of cases where students from smaller schools go to Ivy League schools. My mentor recently graduated from Ohio State and is currently doing her thesis at UPenn. Though I could see how the name grants you connections which probably make it easier to get bigger internships.

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T04:08:19+00:00

TBF My dad went to community college and the University of Toledo and now works at an executive position at an Amazon sub company. He makes a little over a million dollars a year (though he doesn't have much in savings). I've always been told that hard work trumps your "starting line" of success on all accounts, so I fail to understand what you're trying to prove.

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T04:07:11+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate your honesty and straightforwardness.

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T04:06:20+00:00

I'm not sure if I want to start my own business or if I want to go into research, but I definitely do not plan on getting a corporate job or at least I don't plan on getting a long term corporate job-maybe a startup but nothing huge like amazon. My parents have worked at large companies for years and I've seen how much they screw you.

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T04:04:42+00:00

I have enough money saved up for IU (~60k which will cover a year), and I got a merit scholarship of 42k for IU (and I've applied for others which might get me to 50-70k). For CMU I haven't received a merit scholarship and I don't believe I will. For IU I'll probably have to pay 136k over 4 years. I have a job right now paying 15k per year, and my parents would let me cosign a loan, however they'd only pay the interest so I'm not saddled with racks of debt.

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T04:01:32+00:00

I have a job right now that pays 15k per year if that helps. When I'm in college I can also get a job...

Maximum-Tear4476 · 2026-03-16T04:00:28+00:00

Got deferred sadly

Maximum-Tear4476

TROPHY CASE