What do you want to be when you grow up? You say “might get a Master’s”—but what’s the Master’s for? The reason I ask is the following
If your goal is academia, you are best served going to a top-tier school—Harvard, CMU, and MIT are the only ones on this list.
If your goal is to get a job outside academia- what kind? If you want to be a manager, school prestige will be key. If you want to be an engineer, you will be judged more on the quality of your work. In that case you might be better served by a cheaper school or one that will [make you happier/give you a better education] than by the most prestigious school you get into.
I know you aren’t ready to decide tomorrow—but think in rough percentages chance you’ll go down various roads.
What do you want to be when you grow up? You say “might get a Master’s”—but what’s the Master’s for? The reason I ask is the following If your goal is academia, you are best served going to a top-tier school—Harvard, CMU, and MIT are the only ones on this list. If your goal is to get a job outside academia- what kind? If you want to be a manager, school prestige will be key. If you want to be an engineer, you will be judged more on the quality of your work. In that case you might be better served by a cheaper school or one that will [make you happier/give you a better education] than by the most prestigious school you get into.
I know you aren’t ready to decide tomorrow—but think in rough percentages chance you’ll go down various roads.