<p>My S got in to both. Like to hear your opinions comparing their respective academic strengths, internship opportunities, career path, on campus recruiting, etc.
Also like to know overall school social scene, workload and student body etc.
He has not decided the specific branch on engineering.
Also, the fin aid packages are about the same.
Thanks!</p>
<p>Currently a HS senior, but from what I’ve heard from some people, CMU is definitely better for the hardcore engineer types, while NU provides a more well-rounded atmosphere, with more artsy/diverse people in general.</p>
<p>As far as majors, I understand CMU is better in general, but especially in computer science. If you care about ranks, Northwestern is better in materials and industrial engineering. (I’m not sure how much further a higher rank will take you in life, maybe someone else can shed some light on that.) If your son might change from engineering, it’d probably be best to go to NU.</p>
<p>I hear they both get most of the big name companies to show up at job fairs. One’s next to Chicago and one’s next to Pittsburgh, so I think opportunities should be comparable. Northwestern has a better co-op program maybe.</p>
<p>NU also has an Engineering First program, which helps students get a feel for the industry.</p>
<p>Also NU’s on a quarter system, which you may want to consider. This makes classes and school a lot faster paced, and allows for less slacking off.</p>
<p>I know it’s not much info, but that’s pretty much all I’ve gotten from perusing the internet/asking students haha.</p>
<p>It’s been a long time since I visited this board. </p>
<p>You have asked a lot of subjective questions that can not be easily answered.
My first introduction to CMU was working for a digital broadband developer, who came from then Carnegie Tech. He proved the concept.of bidirectional broadband. Later when our son was admitted to CMU we asked the same questions and fortunately we found a plant engineer that had a son 2 years ahead and later a childhood friend who had a nephew who graduated from this school as engineers. They said, that if the student is focused, that there is no better school.They were correct.</p>
<p>How can one make this comparison? Or any college comparison unless one attended both schools? What I say below is anecdotal to you. </p>
<p>It’s been a few years since son graduated from CMU (mechanical). He made great friends. A couple are now pHds. A couple, worked a few years after graduating, then worked hard for themselves for a couple of years and then sold to big company. He’s got a big network international and national… DS did 3 years as a research assistant by asking. He participated in clubs (highly recommended) for diversion and mechanical skill building. He worked hard, graduated near the top without too much trouble (he has excellent time management skills, knows his stuff). Son went on to get a MS in CS at another university. He got summer internships . The peer level is very high. CMU has core expertise and everything supports these areas. CMU is also very good in the performing and visual arts, Business. Son’s roommate, also ME, hobby was music and spent his off hours in orchestra. Son is fairly good in the violin but no where near roommate’s ability. Work load is OK but student’s must manage their time. Never, Ever fall behind, and be collaborative because the work sets are designed for group learning. Dual majors are common but the majors are fairly related. Son second majored in Design with emphasis on mechanical and computer.</p>
<p>The social scene: Join the clubs. Dating probably not good because it’s awkward dating a lab partner but casual coed socializing pretty good., Does it happen, yes. Another roommate also ME, had a steady at PITT and married after graduation . This roommate was NROTC and had a job immediately on graduation.</p>
<p>Son has attended or researched at, 4, world ranked (50+) technical universities. According to son, each is different but not necessarily better or worse. </p>
<p>Recruiting is very high. Even engineers are recruited for investment banking. CMU publishes salary and destination outcomes that approaches 100% participation of its graduates. Be aware that graduates gravitate to geographic regions with both coasts that have high living costs and consequently high salary requirements. IMO, the survey says it all. And if you want a comparison between universities see if the school is willing to brag about their graduates. .
<a href=“http://www.cmu.edu/career/about-us/annual-reports/2012_Annual_Report_infographic_final.pdf”>http://www.cmu.edu/career/about-us/annual-reports/2012_Annual_Report_infographic_final.pdf</a>
<a href=“http://www.cmu.edu/career/salaries-and-destinations/index.html”>http://www.cmu.edu/career/salaries-and-destinations/index.html</a> (2013)</p>
<p>Other reference is, Last Lectures of Randy Pausch. Viral video and best seller book.
<a href=“http://www.cmu.edu/randyslecture/”>http://www.cmu.edu/randyslecture/</a></p>
<p>Thanks for taking time to reply! You guys are awesome!</p>
<p>The difference between CMU and Northwestern is sort of like the difference between MIT and Harvard. In other words, they are hard to compare. CMU, like MIT, is very much a science and engineering school (although in each case, some other disciplines are also very strong). Northwestern, like Harvard, is a much broader university. Both are great, but different.</p>
<p>I do know that CMU is not on any list of “party” schools. It has some of the most serious and hard working students anywhere. The workload is demanding but most students actually prefer it that way. Pittsburgh is also a great city to live in and explore. Then again, so is Chicago.</p>
<p>Personally, I would be inclined to choose Northwestern because it offers more flexibility in changing majors. Northwestern is stronger across the range of disciplines.</p>