Berkeley (Industrial ) vs Northwestern (BS in applied mathematics)

<p>Berkeley Industrial Engineering vs NU pplied Math</p>

<p>My cousin is in big dilemma and I couldn't help him either. He can't decide where to go once accepted. But he has an excellent stat. Anyone here can say something which is better for him?</p>

<p>Nationality: British
Plan after grad: to work in the US for a while</p>

<p>
[quote]
Plan after grad: to work in the US for a while

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Doing what exactly?</p>

<p>Unlike most other schools, applied math at NU is in the engg school, so he can easily double-major in industrial engg/magt science and applied math there and finish in 4 years. For applied math, he can easily get lots of professors' attention since the student/faculty ratio in that department is pretty small (something ridiculous like 1/2 or even 1/1). As for industrial, there's not much difference in ranking and both are in the top-10. If he has an interest also in applying math to social sciences and economics, he can also ask to join MMSS (talk to the program director if there's spot available once he gets accepted) and apply for one of the Kellogg undergrad certificates during his sophomore year at NU.</p>

<p>berkeley's engineering is excellent, but northwestern is hands down a better school in my opinion. geographically, academically, socially, aesthetically.</p>

<p>public schools are so blah</p>

<p>
[quote]
but northwestern is hands down a better school in my opinion. geographically, academically, socially, aesthetically.</p>

<p>public schools are so blah

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Berkeley is hands down a better school in my opinion. geographically, academically, socially, aesthetically.</p>

<p>private schools are so blah</p>

<p>=)</p>

<p>haha, fair enough</p>

<p>this illustrates a good point, he should choose which one he likes better after visiting campus, maybe talking to some students, etc.</p>

<p>For civil engineering/applied math, I'd give the edge to Berkeley. But as elsijfdl said, it'd be best for him to choose more on fit and such, as the differences in educational quality between the two (even on those subjects) are negligible.</p>

<p>i would have to give the edge to berkeley in engineering too. northwestern's engineering program is tops, but berkeley's is world renowned</p>

<p>^maybe in most other engineering but not in OP's case.</p>

<p>kyledavid80,</p>

<p>the op is interested in industrial, not civil. nu and berkeley IE programs are ranked about the same. actually, you can't say berkeley's is better because 3 of their 20 professors got their PhD from northwestern. :p</p>

<p>as far as applied math goes, the one at berkeley is in L&S. you take the same core as other math majors and then you take additional 3 classes from an applied area of your choice. while berkeley's math is highly ranked, it really doesn't have an applied math as a separate field. the one at northwestern is a department of its own in the engineering school and you actually work with engineering/physical systems; there's also a lot of collaboration with other engineering departments. </p>

<p>i think northwestern has the edge since you can do both within 4 years. there's also the opportunity to get into the kellogg undergrad program as either a IE or ESAM major or both.</p>

<p>Berkeley hands down...</p>

<p>If you can double major in Math and IE at NU, then I'd suggest you go there .. Else, Berkeley would be a better option (reputation, weather etc)</p>

<p>
[quote]

Doing what exactly?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I asked him this. He said, something related to his field that he will finish.</p>

<p>Actually, he also applied to U of Florida b/coz of location. He likes the environment there for a change. So, I guess he would like Berkeley than NU for weather. However, weather is not the only factor here. He's also interested in other factors such as employment prospects and connection. He loves doing computer stuff but I think his school adviser made a huge mistake when he was advised not to apply for it since it's almost impossible for international students from England to get into Berkeley doing comsci. He has heard of Berkeley engineering since he was little and he loves it very much. He has just heard of NU when he was doing A-Levels but he has heard good stories about the school. His school has sent 3 students to NU last year. Unfortunately, no one got into Berkeley from his school on the same year that's why he's panicking. But he guessed that almost all those who applied to Berkeley from his school have applied for engineering and sciences. He goes to a school in exeter, btw. He already got an offer from Imperial College, Warwick University and University College London.</p>

<p>Can you just summarize what are Berkeley's advantages over NU and vice versa.</p>

<p>Why doesn't he just go to Imperial College ?</p>

<p>Sam Lee:</p>

<p>Oops, I meant industrial (no idea why I put civil).</p>

<p>If he were to go to Berkeley, though, he could major in IE and take primarily applied math courses, perhaps get a minor or even a major in math. Note, though, that he didn't say he wanted to double major.</p>

<p>
[quote]
it's almost impossible for international students from England to get into Berkeley doing comsci

[/quote]
</p>

<p>To be honest, it's almost impossible for international students to get into Berkeley period. (Given that there are 40,000 qualified in-state students and 5,000 out-of-state students trying to get in, you can see why.)</p>

<p>He likes to study in the US -- escape from the monotony, i guess.
But he's really considering of attending Imperial or Economics at Warwick if he won't get into a top US school. At the moment, he's debating which is better between Berkeley and NU.</p>

<p>What are his stats like?</p>

<p>On applied math at Berkeley:</p>

<p>
[quote]
Faculty and students interested in the applications of mathematics are an integral part of the Department of Mathematics; there is no formal separation between pure and applied mathematics, and the Department takes pride in the many ways in which they enrich each other. We also benefit tremendously from close collaborations with faculty and students in other departments at UC Berkeley as well as scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and visitors to the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Applied</a> Mathematics Research - UC Berkeley Mathematics</p>

<p>And it goes on to list a whole ton of areas of applied math. With this in mind, I don't think NU would have an edge.</p>

<p>Note also:</p>

<p>
[quote]
... while courses in combinatorial and convex optimization are regularly offered by the Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research. Our students are encouraged to take courses of mathematical interest in these and many other departments.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>
[quote]
What are his stats like?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>He failed to inform me (and I failed to ask him) of his SATs scores. His A-Level grades were impresive though. A for math. A for Physics and A for Economics. Can't really tell for sure of his grades. But he's definitely in the top 5% of his class.</p>

<p>If he'll study Math, what sort of job will he get into in the US?</p>

<p>If he goes to Berkeley, will he be able to enroll computer subjects, perhaps minor it or something. From what I understand from him, he's more of an IT guy than a Math guy.</p>

<p>Both are amazing schools in their own right. Academicaly, socially, reputationally etc..., one cannot go wrong. However, they are completely dofferent in most respects. I would recommend your cousin evaluate each school not for their strength but for their differences and then pick the school that fits him best. I personally got into both schools and had a hard time crossing either one of them off.</p>

<p>PS, if IT is his thing, he may want to consider Cal as it is more strategically located and its CS department is up their with the likes of Carnegie Mellon, MIT and Stanford.</p>