| How do you weight the choice? - MIT is $180K and Z is free. Don't underestimate the stress those finances put on you - now and realistically for the remainder of your working life. These stresses will make you more likely to dropout of MIT than college Z. - At MIT you have the opportunity to be surrounded by really smart people, however you don't appear to be one of them. Why? They didn't offer you any scholarship. That means you're the person paying for all the smart people's scholarship. I know that stings, but that's a truth of higher-education that isn't discussed enough. Just because you got in doesn't really mean they want you. If they actually want you then they'll pay for you - like college Z is. Also, don't underestimate attending a college that actually wants you to be there. - Matriculating from MIT definitely improves the odds of your being accepted into their graduate school. However, keep in mind that right now they don't see you as one of their best students. Hopefully that would change in 4 years! - What do you want to do after college? Do you want to remain in Academia or do research in industry? MIT credentials look really good for academia, not as much for industry (not that they look bad for industry!) - While having MIT credentials may look good for academia the pay isn't typically as good compared to industry and you'll be graduating with a humongous debt. - You should also talk this through with a financial advisor. This is a stupendous financial decision that will have ramifications for the next several decades of your life. Don't make this decision on emotion or well wishes of friends and family. You need someone to lay out the facts. - I've known several MIT graduates who are quite mediocre. MIT won't make you great, you still have to do the work. - There are lots of people working at larger tech companies who did not graduate from MIT. If you're not planning on going into academia then I would place more emphasis on your internships and your contacts there than the college you attend. You have a lot to think about! What would I do? I'd go to college Z. You'll be in a much better financial position for doing entrepreneurial work because it's hard to start a business when you yourself are financially strapped. They want you, and you have family in the area to help you out (even if it's just a good home-cooked meal once a month - it helps). Focus on your internships. Plus, who knows? You may change your area of focus by the time you graduate! Then you can assess your next steps. |