I’ve been admitted to both CMU and UMichigan for Biomedical engineering, and am not sure about which to pick.
Since I am international, both have exorbitant costs, and hence that won’t be a decising factor.
UMich:
Pros:
Better BME program (#9)
BME program allows for different concentrations, and hence I would be able to focus on biochemical engineering and molecular engineering, which is what I want to study
I have fallen extremely in love with the university since I was accepted a month ago
Cons:
Overall school has less prestige
Weather (not important)
CMU:
Pros:
Very prestigious school
More BME faculty
Weather (not important)
Cons:
I will have to double major in biomedical and chemical engineering as BME is only offered as an additional major, and I am really not sure i f I am capable of handling a double engineering major courseload
Lower ranked BME program (#16)
I think the main hindering factor that’s not letting me choose CMU is the fact that I have to double major in 2 engineerings, one of which I am not even necessarily interested in (chem)
Not accepting CMU’s offer is very difficult on the other hand.
Does anyone have and advice or insights into what would be a better choice?
RDJfan28, I a not sure why you think CMU is more prestigious than Michigan. It is actually the other way around. CMU is prestigious in Engineering circles, while Michigan is prestigious in most circles, including Engineering. I cannot think of many people who think CMU is more prestigious than Michigan. With the exception of Computer Science (not your major), Michigan is ranked as high or higher in every other field of study, and generally is more well known than CMU overall.
@Alexandre I feel like the prestige of CMU is a misconception in the country that I come from, because UMich is not heard of nearly as much. Thanks for the input. What’s the size of Michigan’s engineering school and its class sizes?
That makes sense RDJfan28, but it is still strange because Michigan’s international reputation is also very strong. Your country may be one of the few that does not appreciate Michigan. I would not worry too much about it though. Employers tend to have a broader appreciation of universities than lay people. Just because students at your school, or some parents, are more impressed with CMU does not mean employers will not respect your degree from Michigan.
As for size, Michigan’s CoE has approximately 10,000 students (6,500 undergraduate, and 3,500 graduate). CMU has 3,000 students (1,700 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate). But Michigan’s CoE has over 500 professors, compared to 200 at CMU. Class size at both universities will be roughly the same. Class size at all top engineering schools will be roughly the same, so I would not worry too much about class size.
If Michigan will let you study what you want then go there. Why be forced to study something that you don’t want to? Michigan is good at letting you make combinations of study that interest you in most engineering fields. They most likely just have more to offer to be able to accomplish this. That says a lot.
@Alexandre you’re right, I spoke to a few people who actually have dont their college research and realised that UM is as prestigious if not more, and that honestly the prestife shouldn’t be a decising factor. Thank you so much for all of your help!
@Knowsstuff yes, I realised that it’s what I study that’s more important than where I do when my options are both such amazing institutions. Thank you so much for your input.
A minor point, but the weather in Pittsburgh is not really any better than the weather in Ann Arbor. I’ve lived in both, and both have cold, gray winters.
blprof, while it is true that Pittsburgh has cold winters of its own, there is no denying that Ann Arbor’s winters are slightly longer and a wee bit more extreme. That being said, if can cope with the Pittsburgh winter, coping with the Ann Arbor winter should be no trouble.
I think the prestige is just where you are from. In the Midwest Michigan would have more prestige or a bigger name and vice versa. More like pride of their region type of thing… But here on cc we will debate anything like weather… Lol… Both have cold winters… Lol