<p>Which one would you think a better engineering school? and better recognised internationally? Cornell University or Imperial College London?</p>
<p>Thanks for the help:)</p>
<p>Given the choice between the two, I'd choose Imperial. Imperial has a better location, and is, in my opinion, the better school overall. However, you can't go wrong with either; both are excellent for engineering. I think Imperial may be better recognized internationally, but Cornell's better recognized in the United States.</p>
<p>thanks for the reply</p>
<p>I would like to go with Imperial(I've een given an offer) but the cost is too high. The location in London is nice(there's a science museum and an art museum very nearby from what I've read). Academically they're both going to be quite challenging although I prefer the very focused route which English colleges take. Also, after four years at Imperial you get an MSci(assuming you're majoring in a science). </p>
<p>Still though, it is fairly close but definitely for science and engineering, Imperial tops Cornell but not by much.</p>
<p>No more ideas???</p>
<p>If you can't decide between them based on academics, look at the locations. They are VERY different.</p>
<p>Imperial is in the middle of a very busy city of 8 million people.
Cornell is in a quiet rural town far from most places.</p>
<p>Living in London is VERY expensive. After the first year students cannot live on campus (same for most British universities) and have to rent privately which is even more expensive plus travel costs have to be added. </p>
<p>Nitric - there are lots of museums in Kensington and they are all free, though currently on strike this week over pay disputes! (no joke) The three big ones by IC are the Natural History museum (full of mechnaical dinosaurs and the like), The Science Museum (I saw an exhibition of costumes from the Lord of the Rings films here) and Victoria and Albert museum (art, costumes, china. Many random things!). Are you really planning to go there when you have never even visited? That's very brave (if not a little crazy!) :)</p>
<p>Yahni, what do you want to do with your degree? Cornell is as good as Imperial in Engineering and the Sciences, but Cornell as a whole is a far more complete university (top LAw school, top Medical school, top Business program, excellent in the Humanities and Social Sciences etc...). In terms of international reputation, Cornell is better...but in the Engineering domain, Imperial is as good. If you want to work in the US, Cornell has the clear advantage. On the other hand if you wish to work in the UK, Imperial is obviously a better choice.</p>
<p>While imperial is a very good school, it is quite a bit easier to get into if you're European than Cornell. Oxford has a 30% acceptance rate, and Imperial's is higher still.</p>
<p>I think Ivy League schools has a lot more international reputation than the Russell Group schools in general. Most people know of Oxbridge, but not the others. Obviously, if you're planning on doing research/working in the US, there's no doubt you should go to an Ivy...if you're going to be in Europe, then it's up to you.</p>
<p>I want do masters and PhD in Chemical Engineering... I don' t know if I want to work in the industry or in academia later... I hope this helps...</p>
<p>You mean you are currently an undergrad and you got accepted in Cornell's and Imperial's PhD programs? If that's the case, I would recommend Cornell simply because at the PhD level, I think American research universities are hard to match.</p>
<p>No, I will first start with masters and then thinking of PhD. But I heard Imperial is a very competitive place especially science and engineering. I heard it may be considered as the top in Europe... I don' t know.... But thanks for your responses... It really helps to see what people think:)</p>
<p>Imperial is one of the top 10 or so in Europe. In England alone, many think Cambridge is #1 in Engineering and the Sciences, although Imperial certainly makes a legitmate case for #1. In France, you have 4 or 5 Engineering programs (most notably, Ecole Polytechnique) that are considered second only to MIT and Germany has its fair share of schools. </p>
<p>You really cannot go wrong with either Cornell or Imperial. I would chose based on locale and overall atmosphere...forget trying to comapre the two schools in terms of prestige and academic quality, they are almost the same in the regard.</p>
<p>In UK, Imperial has a better reputation in engineering than Cambridge for people in the know.</p>
<p>Yahni, it depends on where you want to work later on. Cornell has better academia network and connection in the States.</p>
<p>If French schools are so good, then how come they are not that famous? I mean, I heard Ecole Polytechnique but I don' t think it is a well known scientific institution like Clatech, MIT, Imperial College or GAtech... What do you think?</p>
<p>Yahni, the reason why is because French schools teach in French. Not many people know French well enough to study in a French setting. But Ecole Polytechnique is generally considered one of the best in the World. Several others in France are just as good...especially Nancy, Toulouse and Grenoble.</p>
<p>If cost is a factor go where you can get a better deal, you cannot go wrong with either!</p>
<p>Cornell is FAR superior to imperial in terms of course selection and facilities. It is well known that UK universities are poor cousins of their american counterparts when it comes to funding their programs. I have friends in the engineering programs at both schools and I can guarantee you that you will have a far better experience at cornell if you want flexible course options in addition to the best facilities in any engineering program in the world. Imperial treats undergraduates like cattle.</p>
<p>I dunno if this reply is too late...</p>
<p>I'm from London so if you need any more help just PM me. Imperial is one of the best unis in the UK, without doubt. Second only to Oxbridge and on par with LSE. But for Engineering, it is better than Oxbridge. And London is such a fantastic city! Obviously I'm biased, but I say imperial all the way!</p>
<p>People! Imperial College London is a relatively small specialist College of the University of London (It is Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine, after all!) it is hardly comparable to a multi-faculty university like Cornell, where teaching is largely undergraduate-focused. Also, the difference in university education between the States and UK need to be taken into consideration. Any degree course at Imperial College will obviously be more scientifically intensive and intellectually demanding vis a vis the science than studying as an undergrad at a US college where general education requirements also need to be fulfilled. Remember, at UK universities you start studying within the disciplines of your major from day one. The degree course lasts three years, or four years if it includes a year in industry or leads to a Master's. For science Imperial College's reputation is unsurpassed save for those of Cambridge/MIT/Stanford/Caltech - anybody who is anybody in the scientific community knows Imperial College London. If you want a highly-focused, intellectually stimulating and intense 3-years of study and international recognition and prestige, go for Imperial College London. If you wish to remain in the US after graduating and if you want to have a relaxed and not-too-intensive undergrad experience you'd be better off at Cornell.</p>
<p>Random, I disagree with you on a couple of points. </p>
<p>1) Internationally, outside of the UK and the US, Cornell and Imperial have pretty equal reputations, be in the sciences or in Engineering.</p>
<p>2) US education may not be as subject specific, but Cornell is NOT, I repeat, NOT, a "relaxed and not-too-intensive" undergraduate experience. Cornell is one of the toughest undergraduate universities in the World and easily competes with Imperial on the rigor and intensity scale.</p>
<p>Otherwise, I agree with everything else you say.</p>