5 ms·
Ask HN: Transfer schools Need advice- have less than a week to decide.
I've made a list of pros/cons for each school. I just finished my sophomore year as a CS/Math major. Right now I'm interning at a mid-sized software company in Boston. I interned here last summer as well. I'm at Umass Amherst, and the schools I can transfer to are Cornell and Michigan.
UMass-Amherst CompSci+Math pros: Solid CS dept (top 10 AI/top 25 overall), lots of ML/AI stuff, and can definitely graduate a semester early. Worked with a Professor in Stats department starting this year and can continue work as part of my senior/graduating thesis. I have a good relationship with him. Solid GPA atm-3.75. I'll Graduate with no debt. Solid recruiting. I know some seniors who graduated and went to work at Amazon and Google.Cons: not prestigious and not as well known in NYC+San Francisco?
Cornell InfoSci Pros: Ivy pedigree/Overall Rep, cool research in HCI/ML, can still take classes in their CS department which is top 10, and better recruiting? Cons: 35k debt and \not a CS major. Information Science. I can try to switch, but I'm assuming the worst case scenario.
Michigan CS Pros: Engineering powerhouse+Prestige, lots of research, great recruiting. Would get CS degree+math minor. Cons: 45k debt
My ultimate goal is to work on machine learning problems in whatever capacity, i.e. doesn't matter whether startup,company like Google, or a research lab. I do want to live in either NYC or San Francisco. A long term goal would be to do my own thing or be a technical lead.
- hrttrht 12y agoI doubt you have to worry about school's prestige if you want to work at Amazon or Google or etc.
- deleted 12y ago[deleted]
- oatherbreakerr 12y agoCould you elaborate on that?
- andymoe 12y agoDon't underestimate the value of having no debt when you graduate. Debt makes it harder to take risks and thus can lesson your possible rewards.
- seanmccann 12y agoAgreed! But don't over estimate the burden of debt. You might be able to wipe it quickly if you get the right job after graduating.