<p>So the bargaining power concept only works with a Top Engineering school and not an overall top school?</p>
<p>What bargaining power? Columbia engineers can't compare to MIT grades, not if they want to work in the engineering field. MIT is ranked #1 in engineering, hence in high demand. Columbia is #25 and UIUC is #4. Go do the math.</p>
<p>i am going to brown for engineering. i couldnt care less, if people told me youre making a mistake. i know brown isint the best engineering school, but I am not going to go into the engineering field. i feel brown will give me all the networking i need. i am looking to go into finance, or law.</p>
<p>in short the answer to the title of the thread would be</p>
<p>yes if you want to do an engg job.
but the quality of the school youre going to will not affect your career, as much as doing a lit or a fin art course in an average college would.</p>
<p>Blue, I'm comparing Columbia to UIUC. UIUC is a Top Engineering School vs Columbia being a Top overall score. So I was wondering if sakky's concept of bargaining power only pertains to Eng school vs Eng school.</p>
<p>But what if I want to work in Engineering a few years and then move onto Management, would the MBAs prestige or networking then come into play?</p>
<p>
[quote]
What bargaining power? Columbia engineers can't compare to MIT grades, not if they want to work in the engineering field. MIT is ranked #1 in engineering, hence in high demand. Columbia is #25 and UIUC is #4. Go do the math.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I don't think the OP was comparing Columbia and MIT, go read the post again.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Well I want to work as an Engineer initially, but eventually go into Management.
[/quote]
[quote]
but sakky's statement about MIT Grads kind of shook me a bit! Most Columbia students (from Fu) go into Finance, so it's more or a bargaining power....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I didn't say he was. But he misinterpreted Sakky's post (#27) about MIT grads having bargaining power when seeking engineering jobs. That's because MIT is both a top school and also #1 in engineering. You can't generalize that to all top ranked universities ... simply because their engineering grads are not in high demand with engineering recruiters.</p>
<p>Why would Columbia grads have more bargaining power over UIUC when seeking ENGINEERING jobs?</p>
<p>Fu gets recruited by some of the best E-firms. Also, if you would like to do Enginering then Finance you could intern on WALL STREET DURING COLLEGE giving you a leg-up on the coveted summer analyst positions and still do enginering after graduation (provided you did well at Fu). If you do only enginering at UICU (whatever the name) then you WILL have a harder time moving back into finance without a MBA from a top school....like Columbia Business School...lol.</p>
<p>You really think that Columbia engineers can work a few years in the engineering industry after graduation and then move back to Wall Street without going through an MBA?</p>
<p>I don't know what you mean by some of the best E-firms. But I bet UIUC engineering grads get better opportunities for the top engineering jobs and have better industry connections.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I remember someone saying that all ABET Accredited schools teach the same standardized stuff.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I think this is a common misconception. ABET set a minimum standard. There is no limit on maximum.</p>
<p>Top engineering programs offer more breadth and depth, and more interdisciplinary studies. Engineering students may also take some graduate level courses, and many do engage in independent research.</p>
<p>Well about the research part, (just as an example again) I've found research that's quite amazing at Columbia (and plenty of it actually) vs. Not so much from state schools (including my own-UMD).</p>
<p>Blue, Do you guy to UMich? What would you say about it as a school for ChemE (I'm having a hard time getting an idea about Public Power-houses)?</p>
<p>In which of the following cases does bargaining power work?</p>
<ol>
<li>#1 Overall, Weak in x major</li>
<li>#1 Overall, #1 in x major</li>
<li>Weak Overall, #1 in x major</li>
</ol>
<p>x being the major an individual wants to choose, #1 meaning Top (not #1 literally) and Weak by CC standards (Read: Not Prestigious).</p>
<p>Undergraduate research is quite common at state schools too. At the University of Washington (<a href="http://admit.washington.edu/Numbers):%5B/url%5D">http://admit.washington.edu/Numbers):</a></p>
<ul>
<li>100% of Materials Science & Engineering majors are involved in undergraduate research.</li>
<li>More than 160 undergraduates currently participate in research with the Department of Physics. </li>
<li>All undergraduates majoring in Women Studies complete a yearlong senior thesis.</li>
<li>Every year, 7,000 undergraduates participate in research (that is one-fourth of the UG student population).</li>
</ul>
<p>The University of Michigan is one of the first to promote undergraduate research (<a href="http://www.lsa.umich.edu/urop/)%5B/url%5D">www.lsa.umich.edu/urop/)</a>. There are about 1000 research project through UROP reserved for freshman/sophomore students.</p>
<p>medha,
It depends. For professional degrees like engineering, it is important to go to a school with a high ranking program in your engineering field. You get better industrial network, and better chance of landing the most selective engineering jobs. However, I wouldn't advise going to a school with top ranking in your major but weak overall.</p>
<p>Microsoft always needs a janitor</p>
<p>^ Um...What?</p>
<p>
[quote]
For professional degrees like engineering, it is important to go to a school with a high ranking program in your engineering field
[/quote]
</p>
<p>What if you want that Professional degree to lead into Management eventually (like <5 years, I'll probably go for a MBA anyway)</p>
<p>Top engineering schools like UIUC get better recruiting and have better industrial network. You get a better chance of landing the most selective engineering jobs, which gives you a headstart in launching your engineering career. This should give you an edge when you apply for MBA a few years down the road.</p>
<p>Btw, you don't necessarily need an MBA to be on the management fast track as an engineer. I know many engineers in senior management positions who never bothered to get an MBA. An MBA degree, however, may be useful if you plan to change your career.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Top engineering schools like UIUC get better recruiting and have better industrial network. You get a better chance of landing the most selective engineering jobs, which gives you a headstart in launching your engineering career
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Good enough I guess. Thanks!</p>