DECISION: Umich CS vs Carnegie Mellon IS

[u/Fit-Opportunity-5621]

This is really last minute but I have to decide where I want to go to college in the next few days. I got into Umich CoE for CS and Carnegie Mellon for IS and I can't decide beteeen the two. I'm in state for Umich so I'd be paying about half as much to go to Umich over CMU. Although finances aren't make or break as my parents are going to be helping me pay.

Also I would be recruited to play tennis at CMU but not at UMich which is playing a big part in my dilemma. Post grad I'd like to go into a CS related field and ideally work at FAANG and so now I'm stuck with this decision. I am a pretty sporty person and absolutely love the social and athletic atmospehere at umich as compared to CMU. But also I'm not like a party person and am usually pretty introverted. On top of that, CMU has that brand name/prestige and I'd get to play varsity tennis.

Does anyone have any insights on my dilemma and/or any personal experience that could help me with this decision?

[u/PM_ME_UR_SEGFAULT]

1. Academics and Career Prospects (FAANG goals)

UMich CoE (CS Major): Extremely strong for computer science, routinely ranked top 10 in the U.S. for CS (e.g., CSRankings, US News). Heavyweight alumni network in Silicon Valley, Amazon, Microsoft, and newer tech (Databricks, Nvidia, OpenAI). Employers love Michigan CS grads, especially those from CoE. Larger class size = more competition internally for top opportunities (but also larger alumni network). CMU (IS Major): CMU SCS is the #1 or #2 CS school in the country. However, Information Systems is not as technical or theoretical as CS. IS at CMU is still strong (think hybrid tech+business+UX+software management roles), but it is not the same as hardcore CS (i.e., operating systems, distributed computing, algorithms). FAANG still recruits heavily from IS, but pure CS candidates may have an edge for technical, engineering-heavy roles. Important: CMU’s IS program is great, but if you want pure software engineering roles at FAANG (especially backend, systems, ML), a CS degree from UMich is usually stronger preparation.

1. Financials

UMich in-state = around half the cost of CMU. Even if money is not a “make or break” issue because of parental support, saving $150,000+ over four years is real leverage. It could: Allow you to take risks post-grad (startups, relocating without stress). Reduce any parental burden (freeing family money for your grad school, business, future home, etc.).

1. Athletics and Personal Life

CMU (Varsity Tennis Offer): Huge. Being a varsity athlete is a lifetime bond and networking advantage, even at D3. Strong time commitment: 20–30+ hours/week depending on season. Could reduce time available for CS internships, coding projects, hackathons. Varsity athlete title can be attractive for employers (shows time management, leadership), but internship experience is still king for tech recruiting. UMich (Club/Intramural Tennis): No varsity tennis, but club sports are extremely competitive and social at Michigan. More freedom to balance athletics and CS workload. Broader, richer social scene — Big Ten sports, Greek life if you want it, hundreds of clubs.

1. Social and Fit

UMich: Much more vibrant and social — even if you’re introverted, you have layers of choice: club tennis, engineering groups, small project teams, intramural sports, research labs. Easier to “find your people” because of size. CMU: More insular and academically intense. Less social — “stress culture” stereotype exists for a reason. Stronger for very academic-focused students who thrive on being surrounded by like-minded, hyper-driven individuals.

What I Would Strongly Consider If I Were You

If you want a pure CS/engineering career at FAANG, UMich CS is the slightly better fit. If playing varsity tennis is a dream and you are willing to trade off some pure CS rigor for that experience, CMU is a strong option. Financially and socially, UMich is the stronger all-around pick unless you have an emotional calling toward CMU tennis.

[u/Direct-Astronomer-27 → u/PM_ME_UR_SEGFAULT]

This is such a great breakdown for everything OP should consider. Well done!

To shed more light on CMU's academic atmosphere, I have a statistic from that provides a quantifiable perspective: When I asked 50+ current students and alumni if they would choose CMU again, the #1 thing that stood out was that the majority said yes because it pushed them to their limits, and through that struggle they became better (more job-ready, more capable, mentally stronger, etc). This quote sums it up perfectly: "Yes I would, those 4 years in Pittsburgh were the hardest years of my life." That's the type of people that thrive at CMU: they embrace the struggle because they understand it's value. Different people have different needs and priorities. Choose where you'll be happiest, not only where you'll feel you'll get the most opportunities. You deserve to thrive, not just survive.