BME: M.Eng Cornell vs. MS Texas A&M

Graduate School
1

<p>I was accepted to the Master of Science program in biomedical engineering at Texas A&M and also the M. Eng program at Cornell and I am absolutely torn on where to go. It would be easier if I knew whether I wanted to definitely continue for a PhD but alas, I am still slightly uncertain. One of my main goals is to do R&D with human survival in space, which I suppose would benefit from having a PhD. With an MS from Texas A&M, it should be easy to continue on a PhD and I would think enter industry as well. I know M. Eng from Cornell would be great for job placement in industry and although it is not ideal to continue as a PhD, it does happen occasionally so I hear.</p>

<p>Since I've been out of school for for about two years and my major was not BME (BS Physics at a SUNY liberal arts school, but with a decent amount of engineering coursework), one of my big worries is getting thrown into a one year program at Cornell and not doing well and wasting $42,000 since there is really no aid. It could also potentially be $60,000 since they said I might need 3 semesters. Although I have about $30,000 saved up and I have no undergraduate debt, that's still a lot to potentially lose if I somehow don't do well. A&M seems like the safe bet since it's cheap and being considered a Texas resident certainly helps. I'll also need to take some leveling courses at TAMU first which will ease the transition. The A&M name carries some weight but I doubt as much as Cornell -- I'm wondering how much of a longterm difference that would really make though. I don't want to go to Cornell for the name/prestige only to have it backfire.</p>

<p>As far as the cultures of the two schools, I would definitely fit in more in Ithaca but from what I hear the graduate and faculty population at A&M isn't too much like the undergraduate population. It might also be nice having less distractions in College Station so that I could focus on my studies. I feel like I would always be trying to enjoy the town in Ithaca and not be able to focus. Weekend escapes to Austin and Houston will be easy enough for me in College Station if I really need them. So enough ranting, I guess I would have to ask the following questions for anybody with experience at TAMU or Cornell.</p>

<p>Were the courseload and project at Cornell terribly difficult? How much knowledge is assumed of the student? Is it an ambitious undertaking for a non-bme major to do in 1-1.5 years?</p>

<p>Do recruiters come in droves to TAMU looking for grad students like they do at Cornell? Comparing the two schools and degrees, what is job placement like with the MS vs. the M. Eng?</p>

<p>Texas A&M has a damn good reputation and network in Texas but I fear the rest of the country may not feel the same way. Can anyone confirm/deny?</p>

<p>Any input on these questions or my rant above is much appreciated</p>

2

<p>Hi binarypancakes!</p>

<p>I’m in Cornell’s BME MEng program right now and will be graduating in 2 weeks. So I guess I can tell you my experiences with the program for the past year. </p>

<p>First of all, if you are 100% focused on industry and getting a job after, a MEng is equivalent to an MS. However, if the MS research is directly relevant to a specific company position, then the MS gives you an edge. But for most masters-level research work, and the positions available in industry after, this is usually not the case. What’s more important is the breadth of the field and being versatile in different set of skills. In this regard, an MEng is more advantageous because you do more coursework and less specific research work. </p>

<p>Second, I will dispel some rumors of degrees, prestige, etc. Our program had 90 people coming in. The MEng program is COMPLETELY what you make of it. You choose your own classes, what project to undertake and what sort of networks you choose to build. Since its so individualized, you can imagine that with 90 people, not everyone is going to be successful. In fact, about 50-60% of our class does not have plans for next year yet. So a Cornell degree isn’t going to magically make you so desirable. </p>

<p>What it does come down to is individual drive. The program was great for me, because I chose a great adviser who provided me with strong guidance, and took classes which I were interested in and have a job lined up for next year, while many of my classmates don’t. Also, the BME industry tends to favor people with undergrad degrees in other fields (physics, EE, MechE, chemE) so you are at an advantage since majority of the people in the program have BME backgrounds and only came into the MEng because they couldn’t either get into a PhD program or get a job with a bachelors in BME. </p>

<p>The value of the degree is essentially worth what you make of it. If you can network well with professors and make opportunities for yourself, than it’s quite worth it. You have a chance to participate in research activities at an Ivy League university and network with people of great calibur. When it comes to recruitment, career fairs were virually useless. No BME companies came to Cornell this year. In fact, most people that applied for jobs online, only got interviews due to personal contacts or specialized skills. So make sure, if you do come, that you understand that a Cornell degree doesn’t make you special; it just gives you the tools and leaves it up to you to succeed in your own path. </p>

<p>Finally, the difficulty of the program is definitely dependent on many factors. Some people choose difficult projects with mentors who are hard-asses. Some chose easier ones. You will have to choose either a project with a faculty member (which are usually more open-ended and relaxed) vs. an industry sponsor (which are more industry/project meeting focused). The latter usually is writing a paper and designing a “theoretical idea” where as the faculty project involves lab work. </p>

<p>At the end of the day, it comes down to individual achievement. You choose the right classes (like I did) and you will get high grades. Grad schools inflate grades and are more-open ended when it comes to grades, so its easier to do well. Likewise, grades don’t matter much at all at this level. In terms of job prospects, employers are more focused on your research/work experience. Likewise your job opportunities after the program are more dependent on the relationships you build while you’re at the program. </p>

<p>Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions!</p>

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<p>Thanks for the awesome reply! I ended up going with Texas A&M due to some of the factors I listed above and then some. I’m pretty certain I want to continue in research, so the MS makes more sense at this time. Also, one year would have been too quick for me. Like you said, grad school is what you make of it and just going to school for the name recognition didn’t seem like the mature decision. A&M, being a member of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, was another factor in my decision. The Aggie network is pretty tight, so I’m confident that the right connections will go a long way.</p>

<p>Cheers!</p>