<p>Probably not a decision you've heard before, right? The choice is probably obvious when I say that I'm planning on going into mechanical engineering, but for some reason I keep flip-flopping on the benefits of each school. Obviously Caltech is amazing for engineering and science in general. I live about 30 minutes away so travel is easier, I like the campus, and the small size might be good for me personally. But then I just really like Penn's vibe, and I keep wondering whether it might be better to go to a larger school with a more diverse student body. I have some reservations about the Caltech student body, being compeltely math/science/engineering oriented. I'm also not sure if I want to go hardcore with science or whether I might want to go into other fields, minor is something like architecture maybe. Caltech is known for being more theoretical and I'm not so sure I want that. But if I went to Penn, I would always think that I gave up Caltech. Anyone have advice, or has anybody been in a similar situation? Advice from Penn engineers?</p>
<p>If you are hardcore into math/science/engineering, go to Caltech. Otherwise, Penn. What do you want to do after you graduate?</p>
<p>I am facing a semi-similar situation- choosing between Penn engineering and Johns Hopkins Biomedical Engineering (which is by far #1 for its field and apparently really hard to get into). I feel that the atmosphere at JHU might not be right for me a) because it is really cutthroat b) I am the type of person who may become absorbed in work and sacrifice a social life. I feel that at Penn it would be harder for me to do, not because it is easier, but because there is so much to do and it is not quite as cutthroat.</p>
<p>I don't now about mechanical engineering but for bioengineering Penn seems to be pretty good (Top 5 programs) so I don't think I am really sacrificing that much. But as of right now I am still undecided....(and therefore I guess this post does not help much!)</p>
<p>I really don't know what I want to do after I graduate--grad school is a major possibility, but career wise I don't know.</p>
<p>aslan_25, my D got into both JHU BME and Penn. She also got into Duke. For whatever reason, she is heavily leaning toward going to Penn. She seems to like Penn's overall quality and environment better than JHU's even though JHU's BME is strong.</p>
<p>coasterdude325, as Rudness said, go to Caltech if you want hardcore math/science. Overall quality and environment are important to you, Penn would be an excellent choice.</p>
<p>If you're not ready to hyperfocus on science/engineering, and you really like Penn's "vibe" as you put it, I'd recommend going to Penn. You can always try going to Caltech (or some other hard-core school) for grad school if you decide that's where your interests lie. But Penn will allow you to explore and experience a much wider variety of courses, extracurriculars, and people.</p>
<p>Colleague of mine's husband is head of BME at Penn. Sounds pretty darn strong to me- they just opened a new building. There is also quite a bit of interaction between the BME dept and the hospitals- which are right down the street.</p>
<p>^ and billions (yep, with a "b") of dollars in new medical research and clinical facilities being built by Penn and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (#1 in the country) in that same location right down the street, and a new $80 million nanotechnology center about to be built by Penn a block or so in the other direction. All of this should greatly benefit the BME program.</p>
<p>Penn is determined to make its BME program preeminent, and strongly believes that it is uniquely positioned to do so with (1) its long tradition of being a pioneer in interdisciplinary studies, (2) its world-class medical research complex (including leading medical, nursing, dentistry, and veterinary schools) right there on the same campus, and (3) its location in the heart of the pharmaceutical/biotech industry in this country, with 75% of the nation's pharmaceutical/biotech companies within a 100-mile radius, many of which are in Philadelphia and its suburbs.</p>
<p>so one of our bioengineering courses (be 400) has us working directly for med school researchers / vet school / hospital clinicians at hup, presbyterian, and pennsylvania (the 3 penn hospitals)</p>
<p>i work for a sleep apnea doctor, i have friends who are working for heart surgeons, brain surgeons, etc. - it's a program unique to penn, i believe, and one that we've found quite rewarding.</p>
<p>^ This kind of stuff is only going to increase dramatically at Penn (with the new Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, the planned $360 million translational research--i.e., quick movement from lab to clinical application--tower, the new Roberts Proton Therapy Center--largest of its kind in the world, etc.), and is why Amy Gutmann speaks so boldly about Penn's future of "preeminence."</p>
<p>At least when it comes to bioengineering, there is no question that Penn's future is bright. And Skirkanich Hall is pretty baller.</p>
<p>For grad school, the specific strengths of CalTech, JHU, etc would be more important. But for undergraduate, the overall quality, diversity, and vibe that define your experience (and your peers) are more important.</p>
<p>Penn mechanical engineering doesn't even compare to Caltech's, but if you want a "well-rounded" education, take some liberal arts and business classes, and be in an environment where you interact with not only engineers and maybe nerds but with students in law, business, medicine, etc then go to Penn, but it would still be a tough decision since Caltech has one of the best engineering departments in the world, plus there are only 1000 undergrads at Caltech and 8000 at Penn</p>
<p>Go to Penn for undergrad. I'd hesitate to recommend a tech school or other strict program of study for undergraduate unless he or she is completely sure he or she wants to do it. This is not the case here. I'd go to Penn, particularly if you like the vibe.</p>
<p>Yes this is obvious. Go to Penn if you value your humaneness.</p>
<p>Go to CalTech if you secretly wish to become a robot-posturing human a la Daft Punk (awesome group, but still...)</p>
<p>My friend went to Penn for undergrad and is now at CalTech for grad school. All she does is whine about how much more she enjoyed her time at Penn.</p>
<p>Granted, a good deal of that may very well be due to the inherent differences in undergrad vs grad, but still. She certainly makes me feel happy I'm at Penn!</p>
<p>I had a friend at Caltech he said that the weather was amazing and the campus was like an islamic paradise with 4000 butt ugly virgins</p>
<p>Fair tradeoff soon hell be trading natural gas for a hedgefund and buying people.</p>