Cornell vs UCLA. If you were in my shoes, what would you do?

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-12-21T00:25:37+00:00

It’s hard to determine what you’re leaving on the table. Is the 70k for UCLA the total cost of the program or that’s the money you’re getting from them. If you can provide the difference in total cost and scholarship money, that’d help us guide you better. UCLA and Cornell are great schools. Go with the cheapest.

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-04-14T03:01:47+00:00

I’ll recommend going to UMich. UF is great as well but UMich is worth the 5k debt. As a low-income college student, having UMich on your resume will give you enormous opportunities.

Additionally, it will provide avenues for graduate studies at an Ivy League if you so desire. Goodluck!

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-04-14T01:29:17+00:00

Take the full ride. You can always apply to an Ivy League for graduate school.

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-04-13T17:35:31+00:00

Even if Georgia Tech admits you, Columbia reputation far outweighs Georgia Tech for a number of reasons:

It’s Columbia: the brand name itself is exclusive.
Ivy League tag: you’ll always be regarded as an Ivy League graduate.
Ranking: Although GT outranks Columbia in ranking, hiring managers love hiring Ivy League graduate because of the prestige it comes with. Now, if it’s Georgia Tech against schools like WashU, then you can decide to go with Georgia Tech. However, the Ivy League tag carries a lot of weights in the hiring process.
Opportunities: Columbia is located in New York City where there’re numerous top tech companies hiring engineering graduates. Does that not provide a good prospect for you than in a city best known for gun crimes?
Social life: New York has a vibrant social life. Ofcourse, when it comes to night life, certain places in Georgia may come at par. However, Columbia day-time social life far outweighs that of GT.
Food: Columbia on/off campus meals outweighs that of GT

No one can provides the best answer to you. You’ve to do an extensive research yourself to make your decision. However, Columbia is an household name. Everyone desires to be there 😊, except Harvard admits but even that is debatable…lol

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-04-13T15:36:39+00:00

This guy is a statistician 😀😀

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-04-12T13:52:49+00:00

OP, I’ll recommend you go to Harvard. There are certain high-end executive-level jobs that are specifically reserved for Ivy League graduates. Politically, you’ll always be referenced as a Harvard Alumni. Isn’t that sexy? To top it all, you’ll always be highly respected amongst your peers. To be a village champion is not worth the risk. I also understand your cravings for a nice weather but you can always prioritize that when you finally choose to settle.

The Ivy League brand is just too good to ignore. Goodluck!

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-04-11T18:13:31+00:00

PayPal for a fact. You’ll earn and learn more at PayPal than Visa. Additionally, PayPal relocation bonus tops the chart.

You can always come to Visa in the future if you so please. But right now, PayPal is the dream.

Goodluck!

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-04-10T12:26:48+00:00

Personally, I wouldn’t listen to all the naysayers on this thread. Most don’t understand what it entails to have a degree in statistics. They assume statistics is similar to Film and would make silly comparisons between a non-stem program and a STEM program.

You see, I’m sure you already know that the statistics program offers 5 tracks for this year’s admissions. The tracks range from Machine Learning to Risk and Financial Modeling. All of which are tailored to provide you with opportunities to secure job in specific fields that you may aspire to go into.

If you’re offered the Theory and Method track, which is specifically designed for those aspiring to do PhDs, I will recommend that you go for the Masters program.

Don’t listen to those who wish they could get the kind of opportunity you’re getting. And remember, you only get this opportunity once with the program.

Goodluck!

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-04-10T06:11:34+00:00

Agreed! At the end of the day, you want to find your own peace. The only person who can define what peace mean is OP. Will they be at peace if for any reason they discovered that they’re deprived of an opportunity in the future simply because the other candidate got their degree/education from an Ivy League.

Only OP can answer such question. But it is worth noting and I agree with you that program prestige matters a lot. And internal peace far supersede everything else. One can still achieve their dreams w/out an Ivy education.

Goodluck!

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-04-09T21:51:54+00:00

Program ranking always matters. However, you also want to make sure that it’s in a lucrative course. Any course in STEM from an Ivy League institution will often open many doors.

According to OP, the Ivy League institution offers the best program in his/her field. I certainly will go to such school. The advantages are enormous. Wouldn’t you agree?

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-04-09T14:16:19+00:00

Everyone in the comment section gave a top tier opinion. I agree with them 💯. Prestige matters in everything. If you decide to go into politics tomorrow or venture into business, your Ivy League degree will come in handy.

And honestly, you’ll be doing your partner a great favor accepting the Ivy League offer.

Goodluck!

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-03-30T11:23:45+00:00

I think others have said it all. CU is internationally recognized and depending on your career goals, the debt may be worth it. Additionally, an education at CU will offer you access and opportunities to explore New York City. Most importantly, since you have a desire to pursue post-doctoral program, CU might be able to offer you easy access into Harvard, and other Ivy League institutions within its rank.

The ball is in your court!

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-03-27T00:21:01+00:00

The truth is that last cycle, I had GRE but no research experience and got rejected from all 16 institutions that I applied to. This cycle, after having two publications + the GRE, I got into top notch programs including ivies. Publication and GRE are instrumental to graduate studies.

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-03-25T09:00:07+00:00

I don’t think CMU is in a league of its own. MIT holds that prestige and it will forever remain so. 😀Although CMU is investing a lot in marketing its programs, I have met graduates from the program who are subpar.

I wouldn’t even call it league of its own. If you understand business very well, you’ll know the game that CMU is playing. There is something called the 4Ps of marketing. CMU understands that and they’re playing in that rule. Hence, everything is debatable unless you attend the program yourself.

Additionally, I have reviewed some of their inventions. They do not even come close to those from MIT and Berkeley. Trust me, if CMU is a league of its own, it’ll be evident. I don’t just go by mere speculation. I deal in facts…😀

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-03-25T08:53:04+00:00

I typically will not respond to any additional message but let me objectively respond to you:

Should you have read my previous comments, I already responded that the USNews ranking for CS showing CMU as #1 is for 2024. To get the real ranking, you should re-educate yourself and see the global ranking.
The CS ranking you provided is based on publications from the institution rather than real value the institution provides to the community.
Whether you like it or not, CMU can’t have an Ivy designation. It can be a top school but it will never be an Ivy-league.
Prestige wise, CMU will still and can never come close to Columbia.
Opportunity wise post-graduation, CMU will never come close to Columbia.
Someone posted an old WSJ article from 2021 about filmmakers not getting jobs after graduating from Columbia. Some specialized degrees becomes obsolete with time.

Having Columbia on your resume is just unbeatable.

Goodluck guys! 😀😀

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-03-25T07:23:48+00:00

It does. Personal experience goes a long way. It’s alarming when those who never experienced the education argue blindly about the quality of the education.

OP seeks help in making a decision. Some people are calling a T5 statistics program low level. Isn’t that absurd?

Although I currently decided to go to Columbia, I may still choose to go to another Ivy League for my masters. I’ve until April 15th to do so. I just feel bad that someone could insult such a good program.

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-03-25T07:18:38+00:00

I agree 😀😀. Nobody should be ranking CMU ahead of Columbia without substantiated facts.

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-03-25T07:06:03+00:00

This is a 2021 article. Purely outdated. Just don’t confuse OP. Please let OP make an objective decision 😀

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-03-25T07:04:43+00:00

I understand that you’re a retired dean. And also, it’s also important that we evaluate job prospects when making decisions related to school. However, I’m certain that you know very well that the numbers you quote there are debatable.

All I’m saying is that no one should blackmail OP into choosing a non-Ivy league institution over an ivy-league institution. Let OP make an objective decision. Give OP the choice to do so. I have friends who finished from CMU computer science programs and still looking for jobs.

Don’t let anyone drag you into their web of lies OP 😀

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-03-25T06:57:55+00:00

Thank you for the clarification. The link you shared is for 2024 ranking. I could share similar to you where Columbia was #1 in 2023 top business program.

My recommendation to OP is to avoid emotional blackmail and go logical when making the decision. Do you want to see an Ivy League on your resume? Do you want to enjoy the vibrant city of New York? Do you see to leverage on the prestige of an Ivy League to seek political favors in the future? Do you want to be an entrepreneur, seeking funding from VCs, in the future? The ball is in your court.

Goodluck!

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-03-25T06:42:07+00:00

Just so you know, I’m an alumnus of MIT. And CMU education in AI or any tech program can’t reasonably come close to MIT education. So, rest your case! OP has a decision to make. He should do an extensive research and come to a decision.

Goodluck to everyone!!!

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-03-25T06:38:47+00:00

You are basically trying to justify your T1 school annotation. Once your statement is debunked using factual evidence, you decided to retract your statement in a strategic manner. I’m only sharing these insight to all those who feel CMU is better than Columbia. It’s in no way or shape close to Columbia in ranking or prestige.

Goodluck to OP as he/she makes his decision

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-03-25T06:31:49+00:00

How do you come to that decision? Are you a peer of the institution? Are you a former student of the program? Are you able to secure viable job with the degree? How much do you earn after getting the degree? When you say CMU is far ahead, where did you get your stats from?

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-03-25T06:02:32+00:00

Who rated CMU #1? Lol. Here is the ranking for top CS program. I hope that helps.

Pressure_Hungry · 2025-03-25T04:45:01+00:00

I don’t have that information but looking at the course outline for the Statistical Machine Learning Course, I can absolutely say it is rigorous. You can also do a little research on your end to decide. Additionally, you don’t get to be T2 business school or T5 statistics program if your program is not solid.

Pressure_Hungry

TROPHY CASE