<p>My son is deciding between the two schools. Although NU is ranked higher in MATSE, he is concerned about adjustment to quarter system, transferring from a state school as a sophomore and the workload. He likes CMU environment but is not confident how good their MASTE program is compared to NU. He is also interested in minor in Business. Financial aid is no issue as he is an international student. What are your thoughts and why?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Bump, anyone?</p>
<p>I was a MSE student at CMU and absolutely loved it. The department is pretty small, you can know all of your classmates, and almost all of the professors genuinely care about their students education. Research opportunities are very easy to come by, and there’s minimal competition between the students within the department.</p>
<p>In my year there were about 15 of us, and all of us that went to grad school got acceptances from multiple top-10 programs (about half the department). We graduated a year or two before the economic downturn, but at the time nobody that was looking to go into industry had an issue finding a job.</p>
<p>Here’s a link to their post-graduation survey: <a href=“http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/career/students/gps1/explore/survey/pdf/materials.pdf[/url]”>http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/career/students/gps1/explore/survey/pdf/materials.pdf</a></p>
<p>Thanks, RacinReaver,what year did you graduate? Is minor in business possible?</p>
<p>Anyone with comments for NU?</p>
<p>Minor is business isn’t a problem. Nobody in MSE actually got one, as all of us were very engineering focused. I did have a number of friends in other engineering departments that picked them up. Tepper is considerably less work than the engineering college, so the additional credits aren’t a big deal.</p>
<p>I graduated in 2007. At the time we were the largest MSE year in ages with 15 students; I think now there’s something like 25-30 a year. Last I’ve heard there’s been discussion of making the major non-open enrollment due to the massive increase in students without a corresponding willingness of the school to increase student lab facilities.</p>
<p>Edit: I should also add one of my friends went to NU for grad school, and last I’ve heard he’s enjoying it. At my grad school (Caltech) we’re on the quarter system. I personally hate it, but I know a number of people that made the transition and felt it was much better. I think at both schools he’d get a great education, but I just really loved Pittsburgh for college. The city’s cheap, there’s fun stuff to do, and it’s pretty safe.</p>
<p>Thanks again, RacinReaver.That really helps assuring his somewhat leaning toward CMU where he visited and has some non-MSE friends. Anyone with comments rooting for NU is much appreciated.</p>
<p>Bump. Anyone with comments on NU?</p>
<p>richlbrite,</p>
<p>As you probably know, Northwestern holds a special place in the field of material science - it’s the first department in the world. It’s always been ranked in the top-5 (more frequently top-3). There’s definitely no doubt about its reputation.</p>
<p>One of my chemE classmates dated this guy in mat sci and he definitely had less work. It’s also not known for heavy workload. That reputation belongs to chemE, BME, and EE.</p>
<p>Surprisingly, there are only about 20 undergrads per class even though it’s one of the very best programs in the country. There are 30 faculty so undergrad research opportunity is definitely not a problem. </p>
<p>As for business-related courses, NU offers a huge array of options:
[Roads</a> to Business at Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.roadstobusiness.northwestern.edu/]Roads”>http://www.roadstobusiness.northwestern.edu/)
[Business</a> Enterprise Certificate for Engineers : Materials Science and Engineering : McCormick School of Engineering : Northwestern University](<a href=“Special Programs | Academics | Materials Science & Engineering | Northwestern Engineering”>Special Programs | Academics | Materials Science & Engineering | Northwestern Engineering)</p>
<p>Thanks, Sam Lee. How would you describe the level of competition among students especially engineering or MSE?</p>
<p>It’s probably about the same as other peers. I have heard that midwestern people are less competitive than people in the NE. If that stereotype is somewhat true, then maybe NU is a slightly less competitive than, say, the Ivies since more of its students are from the midwest.</p>
<p>Like I mentioned, there are about 20 majors in your son’s class (unless MSE suddenly gets more popular than prior years) yet the number of faculty is 30. It’s a 2nd-ranked department in the US so you can bet there are plenty of research activities going on. If each faculty can accomodate just one major in your son’s class for his/her research, there will be more than enough research opportunities available without any competition.</p>
<p>Is your S gonna be sophomore or junior?</p>
<p>I’ve been wondering if NU accepts sophomore transfer or any transfer since NU has a pretty unique first-year curriculum and all the engineering sophomores will be taking EA4 (the last of the 4-course series in Engineering Analysis).</p>
<p>He’ll be a sophomore. We are also wondering how many NU freshman classes he’ll have to take.</p>
<p>I think you should contact McCormick and ask.</p>
<p>The Engineering First curriculum have 6 courses, 4 in engineering analysis and 2 in design.<br>
These 6 courses basically replace (and integrate) some 1-yr physics, computer sci course, linear algebra, and probably differential equations (I can be off a bit since I haven’t read it in a long time) that people normally take in most other schools. </p>
<p>I’ll be surprised if they require your S to be freshmen all over again; instead they would probably let your S be exempt from that curriculum and follow the old one they used to have before 1998. That is, they would give you credits for, say, physics and computer sci courses your S took in his old school and have him finish, say, linear algebra or differential equations if he hasn’t already taken them. That would be my guess. But you definitely should double-check to make sure.</p>
<p>Looks like there is not enough time to check with NU about the Engineering First curriculum as my son has to make a decision by June 25. During your time at NU, was Engineering First a prerequisite to many of your sophomore classes?</p>
<p>^Engineering First is part of the basic science/math/computer sci requirements. Every engineering school require basic sci/math/computer sci. The difference is NU replaced a few of them with their unique courses starting in 1998.</p>
<p>My guess is if they accept sophomore transfers, they probably and should allow your S to follow the pre-1998 curriculum which would be similar to most other schools’, including the one your S was at. So he won’t have to spend an extra year. Otherwise, he should go to CMU.</p>
<p>Thanks again, Sam Lee. My son is now leaning toward NU. He has to make a deposit to CMU today though. I guess he could try to contact NU today about Engineering First.</p>
<p>Another question Sam Lee. In the worst case scenario, if he had to take Engineering First as other freshmen, with the quarter system, would he be able to graduate in less than 5 years.</p>
<p>Graduating in less than 5 years should be pretty easy. But it just seems too costly unless you have something else in mind, such as adding a major or certificate…etc. I also think making a deposit to CMU first is a good idea while you need more time to figure out NU.</p>
<p>Quarter system does make it easier to have more ambitious schedule…such as adding minor/certificate or double-majoring…etc.</p>
<p>That’s what I thought which is to add a business certificate or double major in business. By graduating in less than 5 year I meant including his first year at his old school. If that’s what you meant then it is not too bad. We’ll try to sort things out with NU on Monday to avoid paying unnecessary $800 deposit to CMU. Your thoughts so far are very much appreciated.</p>
<p>Yes, my 5 years is the same as yours.</p>
<p>There’s no business major. </p>
<p>There are two Kellogg certificate programs (see my link) with graduate-level courses; admission is not guaranteed. But so far, they have had only 40 or so students in each program while the cap is supposed to be 50. That means they have underenrolled so far and therefore, if one finish the pre-reqs with good grades, he/she should get in. </p>
<p>A lot of engineers interested in business major in either econ or industrial engineering & management sciences.</p>
<p>[Roads</a> to Business at Northwestern](<a href=“http://www.roadstobusiness.northwestern.edu/career-tips.html]Roads”>http://www.roadstobusiness.northwestern.edu/career-tips.html)</p>
<p>The array of offerings can be overwhelming at NU; as the article suggests, ECs and internships are pretty important. There more courses you want to take, the less time is available for other activities. Try to find the balance which is easier said than done however.</p>