As you haven't listed an email address in your profile, would you mind sending an email to mit-dilemma@pm.me? I'd love to get in touch, thank you for your thoughtful response.
I've visited Z a lot growing up, but I've never been to MIT. I am certain that I want to go into computer science, though, and it's been my passion since before I was fully aware of what MIT even was.
Thank you for taking the time to write a thoughtful reply. I've made a fairly large and comprehensive spreadsheet that takes a lot of factors into account. The TLDR is that if I went to MIT, I'd see a massive initial dip in NPV, but then out of MIT I'd be making more that I would out of Z. So over 20 years, MIT would definitely have a higher NPV (by about a factor of 1.3x) but 15 years out it's about the same. Going to MIT has larger up-front commitment and more initial risk for the reward of more earnings later on. But of course, there's always more to consider than money, and who knows what things will look like 20 years from now?
Spreadsheets are great, but I'll bet you 5 years of NPV that you're underestimating the non-financial (or even indirectly-financial) benefits of MIT by a significant factor. The name and network open more doors than you can imagine today.
Thanks for recommending this path. Would the second 'ivy' refer to returning for a graduate degree? As in 'undergrad > big tech > grad > lab > startup'? What would recommend the timeframes be at each stage?
Transferring out is a good point; it'd be much harder to transfer in. People talk about people coming out of MIT having 'inflated salaries', but are there any sites that quantify the value of a MIT degree for the path I hope to pursue (CS)?
Transfers into MIT were nearly non-existent as of the 1980s. To do so, I'd think you'd first have to have done half of the core math and science curriculum because lots of classes beyond them start from one or more of them as common base as you can probably guess from studying SICP.
So AP BC calculus and calculus based classical mechanics and E&M. The biology and chemistry requirements can be satisfied with sufficiently disparate courses they can't be assumed as base knowledge, there are now five different options for Introductory Biology (http://catalog.mit.edu/mit/undergraduate-education/general-i...) and you can do wet or solid state chemistry.
This is based on IRS earnings data, not surveys. The median salary of a CS grad 3 years after graduation is $163,496, I assume Z is also represented (though if Z is notably less selective than MIT, your place in the salary distribution might also be quite different)
I've talked to people at Z, and it seems like the CS program is fairly standard and on the whole pretty good.
I think that, given that I have a lot of family and friends in the area, I might have an easier time getting started socially at Z. But at the same time, I grew up out of state and have never lived there so I can't be sure for sure.
Thanks for taking the time to write a thoughtful reply!
One thing I'd like to point out - carefully consider whether having friends and family in the area is actually what you want.
Going to university should be all about new experiences, and those can often be quite limited by your previous connections. Meeting an entirely new group of people, having to be more independent (in terms of living, socially and work), and a "blank slate" are all really important for growing as a person.
P.S. — I started programming when I was fairly young (about 10 years ago), and I've spent hours each day since then programming, reading blogs, and poring over books (SICP, Let Over Lambda, etc.). I'm especially passionate about OSS, and I've contributed to a number of projects of varying ilk over the years. Academically, I've worked really hard in school (while maintaining a balanced social life, of course). I particularly enjoy mathematics (I’ve taken up through Linear Algebra) and the sciences (I'm taking AP Physics II, AP Bio, and AP Chem this year). I understand that I’ve been very lucky, and want to make the most of my situation so that I may one day make the opportunities I’ve had access to more readily accessible
P.P.S. — I’m using a throwaway because, aside from this being a fairly personal matter, I've been active on HN for quite a while. A couple years ago, an open source project I started got a lot of traction on HN. Through HN, I have learned a lot from the blogs, books, and projects that have surfaced over the years. Needless to say, I wouldn't be in the position that I am today without your support, so thank you!
P.P.P.S — If you’d like to reach out privately, feel free to email
mit-dilemma@pm.me
as I realize your replies may be, well, a bit personal.
You've studied hard - but what do you want to do? What do you want to do with your life once you're done with school?
School isn't end-all, be-all of life. I'm a martial artist. Many people look at the martial arts and think obtaining black belt is the goal. Here's the secret - obtaining black belt is the start. Now you're ready to study the art!
It's the same with school. Getting degrees isn't the goal, it's the beginning. The beginning of what? That's up to you!
You already know you can learn on your own, so you should have learned by now you don't need school to learn. Your internships are going to be the most important thing you do - that's where the doors are going to be opened.
I would love to read your take after few years. Maybe you can do a Tell HN after 10 years.
I'm not from the US, so I cannot give any direct practical advice. But, all I can say is, if you choose to go to MIT, just make sure that it is not the only worthy accomplishment in your whole life. Most people from prestigious institutions tend to say they they graduated from XXX/YYY as the only thing worth mentioning about them. While not bad, if that is the only worthy thing to share, then those prestigious schools are not great after all ...
> But, all I can say is, if you choose to go to MIT, just make sure that it is not the only worthy accomplishment in your whole life.
Even if I decided to go to MIT today, I'd still probably say that some of the OSS work I've done is something I'm more proud of than having gotten into MIT. That said, I hope that in 10 years neither of those things is what I'm most proud of.
I'd also cast my vote for MIT. If you're reading SICP and LOL then you're not going to have any problem paying off the student loans. So don't let worrying about money hold you back. Choose the school with the lower acceptance rate. Some knowledge can only be learned by socialization with smart successful people. If being a big fish in a small pond is what you want, then you'll be an even bigger fish if you do that after you graduate the best possible school.
