Emory/Georgia Tech vs USC (Biomedical Engineering)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Emory University
1

<p>So the admissions season is over and I got a couple of decisions...Tufts, Emory, Georgia Tech, UVA, Drexel and USC. I have trimmed down my options to USC, Emory and Georgia Tech. Yet, I still stand confused. Lemme explain.</p>

<p>You see I wish to study biomedical engineering- this field combines a lot of what I am interested in. However, I am also serious about being an entrepreneur no matter what I end up doing - this is why in my college search I wanted to find schools that would enable me to get degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Economics or at the least in Business Administration as well ( I say this because I have come to realize that for every Facebook and Whatsapp that succeeds, there are a 100 of such other start-ups that fail- most time not because of lack of a strong idea or technical strength but usually because of a lack of financial expertise and execution e.g a talented biomedical engineer who has great ideas but no economic expertise to start on his own and with out a good partnership that meets this deficiency ends up failing-).</p>

<p>To this end the 5- year joint program of Emory and Georgia Tech seems wonderful. I can get a joint degree in Mathematics and Computer Science or Mathematics and Economics (3 yrs at Emory) and Biomedical Engineering (2 years at Georgia Tech) in 5 years.The biomedical engineering program at Georgia Tech is ranked No.4 by US News and World Reports and this will adequately prepare me academically for top ventures in the field and would be a good degree base if I just end up pushing for top executive positions in biomedical companies.</p>

<p>However,although I know that Atlanta is a hub for technology, in terms of biomedical engineering, I am not really sure of its strength. I know for a fact the highest paying jobs for biomedical engineering are in California and Massachusetts and Atlanta is a considerable way behind.</p>

<p>This brings me to USC. USC has a great biomedical engineering program ( currently ranked 30th)- though not as good as Georgia Tech- as evident by the rankings showed in US News and World Reports...and its situation right in the middle of Southern California (where job prospects remain boundless) and in California in general (where 72 percent of start-ups in America begin) is rather tempting. Also, what has me hooked at the moment is how USC ALUMNI are extremely devoted and supportive to their school and college graduates- College Prowler lists it at the 9th best thing about the school- and how USC alumni rank amongst the most powerful people in business, film and engineering in Southern California.</p>

<p>Finally, I am a theatre freak....while I was little I acted in a couple of commercials and short films but on approach to middle school my mom wanted all that to stop..so it did. However, I still remain passionate about film and my friends keep on telling me about how I am naturally entertaining. In fact, while in high school although I stayed out of most drama productions on the request of my mom, I was still one of the three students nominated upon graduation for the Achievement Award in Drama- an incident which I believe just shows how naturally acting and being theatrical comes to me even when I do not practice.</p>

<p>Sometimes, I pose to myself the question "What would I do if I were not afraid?"</p>

<p>" I am black male with a British/American/African accent and although I have seen the likes of Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyongo make a name in Hollywood. I know my chances of success remain slim like the majority of those who choose to pursue a career in the acting industry.</p>

<p>As regards film, USC presents an opportunity I never imagined.
Yet, now it stands in my grasp I am afraid to take( this is definitely a YOLO moment)..
I know It is close to Hollywood (where I can seek auditions in the summer) and its school of Cinematic Arts is the friggin best in the country....plus, all the conections I would make.</p>

<p>I am undaunted by the tediousness of pursuing a degree in engineering and film and so right now- at least for the couple of days since I saw my decisions-my heart's been saying let's go</p>

<p>Yet my head is saying no! </p>

<p>Emory/ Georgia Tech seems like the more reasonable choice. It will give me a solid background academically and if jobs were going to be given and success in life determined solely on the academic strength of your colleges then Emory should definitely be it for my intended course of study.</p>

<p>I love both schools like hell and I never imagined making such a difficult decision. Two different parts of me are conflicting and I do not know what to do.</p>

<p>People, please send in your opinions and advice.</p>

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<p>@Bigdreams1996: If you really like Emory/Tech, don’t worry about Atlanta. Do well at either, and you can place into jobs or grad. schools in Massachusetts. Also, if you do BME at Tech, you’ll be able to participate in the co-op program which is famously good. The fact that you’ll work a semester somewhere is worth more than the location/which school you went to. You will have a record of what is hopefully excellence in the workplace. If you wanted the Emory route, I guess you could do Econ./QSS (not math. I think QSS will be superior to econ/math because QSS will teach you what to do with the math), and then try to finish it up so that you can go to Tech. Use as many math and science AP credits to get ahead in freshman coursework at Emory as possible to make sure you make progress within 3 years. It will be very challenging. Unfortunately, Tech is not as conducive to double majoring. However, it has a very good spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship (which Emory UG’s have been gaining ground in as well) that could be conducive to success without you having to be an econ. or business major alongside BME (which is near impossible for many). At Tech, you can more or less learn those principles on your feet. The same goes for if you get in the right circles at the other schools (especially Emory, whose level of innovation/entrepreneurial atmosphere is higher than one would expect for a place w/o engineering). For what it’s worth. I had a friend at USC’s BME program (unfortunately he didn’t get into Tech), and he loved the program as a whole. However, he didn’t like their regular science courses and preferred the quality of the Emory instruction much more (and he took courses during the summer! I was in shock, because the quality during the summer is much lower than the academic year. Most of our best instructors don’t teach summer courses). So the part before the engineering courses may be painful at USC, but in the end it appears worth it. Honestly the same could be said for Tech (except that physics and math instruction at Tech is both excellent and rigorous. Chemistry and biology, not so much…Emory is the opposite). </p>

3

<p>Thanks for researching this before posting.
If you attend Emory, Economics would be a waste of time. To be honest, so would the BBA program here. It’s not designed for entrepreneurs (other than Wharton, I don’t think any are, but I could be wrong). Lots of entrepreneurs here, but I dont feel it’s on that upper echelon that USC could be.
Atlanta is a growing hub for everything. But it isn’t spectacular (yet). One of my best friends here is working on a startup, and the question everyone always asks his group is “When are you moving to San Fran?”. He wanted to stay in ATL for a few years, but that’s just not possible for him. So, him and another very talented coder I know who are my year at Emory are both going to San Fran after graduation. So I feel you might as well start in LA. Great education. Much easier to pitch your ideas if you’re already on that side of the country.</p>

<p>At the end of the day, USC won’t challenge you more or less than Emory. For entrepreneurship, location is very, very important. Something along the lines of “Hey, I wanna talk to you about this idea. Can we get some lunch?”. Lots more people doing that in Cali than in ATL.</p>

<p>Btw,

My friend and I argue this all the time. I contend that it goes both ways. Plenty of companies fail because they have financial expertise but no technical strength.
At the end of the day, you can pitch your ideas to an entrepreneur, and, if you do a good job, they’ll help you out. There are a lot more people who can financially outline ideas presented to them than there are who can create their own ideas.</p>

<p>An fyi, we had an event last semester - Emory, Tech, and whoever all competed. Essentially, where you code something and present it to judges, who are Atlanta entrepreneurs and company people (essentially there to get free laborers for their own ideas, but whatever). The team that won was a group of coders from Emory. Not Goizueta’s BBA people (who had some decent ideas, but did not know the first thing about anything technical).
<a href=“HackATL”>https://www.facebook.com/HackATL&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I know a student here at Emory who transferred from USC. He hated it there. And a high school friend of mine goes there now. She loves it. But I think you would like it there.
Judging by what you said, you wouldn’t regret going to USC… But you’d regret going to Emory.</p>

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<p>Guess what? My friend from USC is also going to San Fran. I don’t think LA is as hooked up as people would like to think, but for biotech, being in california is certainly a start. However, I would really consider Georgia Tech. It’s BME program (which is PBL and generally more innovative than most) and Co-op program holds so much weight so as to off-set the disadvantage of being in Atlanta. Also, like I said, innovation is integrated into the fabric of the Tech experience for those in engineering disciplines. They have this thing called the Inventureprize Competition which can get start-ups/projects lots of funding (maybe several thousands of dollars. I’m thinking 10k, but I need to check). This is for UG’s by the way. If you aren’t the type to get involved in such things, then definitely go to USC in hopes that you’ll “run into somebody”, but I just think Tech is a bit more ripe for that sort of thing as an institution. </p>

<p>Also, I forget that OP is into theater and film. Emory has a very strong theater scene (and Tech’s arts are growing. Also, it’s location is kind of prime to get involved with that) now, but film…okay, we’re good but not “formally” good. Students at Emory started Campus Movie Fest and we don’t have a film school. Students also place well in the festival (I thought it was because of founders bias until I realized that films were selected democratically by those who viewed them), so the scene is ripe for it. However, if you would like a better formal program, USC is perfect with the location and everything!. If you don’t like USC for whatever random reason, I suppose you can transfer elsewhere. Northwestern and USC are similar in areas of strength for example (great at BME, film, and theater)! </p>

<p>Also, of course Atlanta lags. “Science” in Georgia is kind of burgeoning. And also, pay will naturally be lower in the south (you don’t need a huge income to be comfortable in the south, so I hope figures are adjusted for cost of living. I would look at the pay in Texas cities like Austin and the pay in Charlotte, NC. I imagine Atlanta jobs in technology should aim for those sorts of pay scales. I choose those two because they are very similar cities with technology jobs). </p>

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<p>wow, I love this letter…its rare to see something “new” on CC…and this qualifies. I’ll weigh in on one thing…tv/movies are exploding - beyond belief- in Atlanta…check out <a href=“Entertainment – UPROXX”>Entertainment – UPROXX; and <a href=“http://www.ajc.com/news/business/tyler-perry-plans-huge-expansion-of-atlanta-studio/nXHj4/”>http://www.ajc.com/news/business/tyler-perry-plans-huge-expansion-of-atlanta-studio/nXHj4/&lt;/a&gt; and for movie jobs (make money on the side) check this out: <a href=“CL Casting”>https://www.facebook.com/CatrettLockeCasting&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>(odd that the last link doesn’t work…but its facebook.com and add /CatrettLockeCasting at the end…</p>

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<p>Thanks for all the info…. but I think I need to to ask some more questions?</p>

<p>In response to @aluminium_boat…you said that the Economics major in Emory is crap, and due to its ranking as the 64th school in Economics on US News and World Reports, I am inclined to believe you.</p>

<p>However, lemme ask you one honest question. Exactly, how much of substantiated bullcrap is it?
Is it bullcrap enough that any employer looking at me will not bat an eyelid when he sees my three degrees just accumulated within 5 years?</p>

<p>Is it bullcrap enough that I rather not do it, because it wouldn’t help blossom at least to an average level my already budding entrepreneurial mind?</p>

<p>Secondly, and this question is open to anyone, can I double major at USC in Economics or Buisness Administration and if so when do you think shall I graduate supposing I dedicate my freshman, sophomore and junior summers to the extra requirements imposed as a result of an added major?</p>

<p>And how about if I do not add any extra summer to it at all? How many extra years may I have to spend?</p>

<p>Please tell me as much as you can.</p>

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<p>@Bigdreams1996: I don’t think econ. at Emory is good (it’s kind of like undergraduate biology at Tech, the little redheaded stepchild of the BME department, and Emory’s econ. is the redheaded stepchild of the B-school), but 64 isn’t bad at all. An economics program is a dime a dozen. And even when it isn’t great, you can choose the best instructors, courses, or concentrations (also they are about to hire many people), you simply couple it with another interest or major. It’s very simple and most do that (actually most have something else as their primary major and do econ/math. Lots of NBB and chemistry econ/math double majors for example. Stronger pre-meds and pre-grads tend to do this). Employers going to disregard an Emory econ. major at all if you do well (which you should), but it’s not like it’s a prestigious, very rigorous program that may give you a bump (like the econ. depts at HPY, Chicago, and Duke) with employers and grad. schools. If coupled with something else, it’s certainly not bad at all. It’s not regarded as a joke or anything (and I’m sure the grading curve in core courses will positively impact future majors with higher GPA’s, because employers will be seeing less inflated GPAs over time), it’s just if you choose the wrong instructors, you may be easily disappointed. I say, to avoid disappointment, simply don’t single major in econ. Maybe double major with biology (much better than I thought compared to peer schools), and take a couple of B-school courses and then go to Tech for BME. Many of Emory’s biology instructors will teach you how to think much better than Tech analogs (and even USC. My USC friend recognizes that Emory and USC seem to approach science teaching much differently) of the biology courses and we also have a quantitative suite of biology classes (advanced molecular genetics, computational neuroscience, physical biology, population biology, partial differential equations in action…are ones that come to my mind immediately) that you can take to prep. (okay, and many of those classes are just flat out cool! Physical biology was awesome for example) yourself for the rigors of the more quantitative work you’ll be doing as an engineering major. That in addition to your econ. training, will make you stronger. </p>

<p>But right now, you’re into USC so go over there and ask about that scenario you mention as I can’t tell you about it. I honestly wouldn’t waste too many summers on course work if you can avoid it (try to get internships or interesting job opps. That’s the downside of that sort of double majoring. You have to give up summers to course work). </p>

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<p>The ranking is irrelevant. It’s for the graduate school. And we don’t even offer a ph.d anymore, so I guess we’ll soon be unranked fwiw.</p>

<p>I’ll tell you right now that it won’t make you any smarter or better. You’d get much more out of the BBA (and this is coming from someone who isn’t a fan of that either).</p>

<p>Whether or not the employer bats an eyelid is also irrelevant. You are trying to be an entrepreneur. Signalling with a degree is useless if you have no quantifiable skills. But, no, it won’t be looked upon favorably. The recruiting happens in the BSchool and math departments. Not Econ.</p>

<p>If you do come to Emory, you should do the BBA and then go to Tech for the engineering. While also taking theater classes. </p>

<p>But I dont think the 3-2 let’s you do that.</p>

<p>So I still contend that USC is the place for you.</p>

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<p>I don’t think BBA programs foster entrepreneurial spirit (even Emory’s). If I were this person, I would go to Tech or USC. Just throwing it out there. I would go wherever they can immediately start on the BME curriculum (I know people who are an excellent fit for the 3-2 regiment, and I don’t think it would benefit this person as much knowing the students who have done it). Tech has a spirit of innovation, and USC has Los Angeles. Both have sucky introductory science courses so they’ll have to get over that, but in general, those would be my two options. I lean USC because of the theater interest (despite honestly believing that Tech’s BME curriculum is indeed better. They worked hard to make that a very special program). I was simply just trying to point out how the OP should navigate Emory if they chose to come here. I don’t think BBA is the way to go for entrepreneurs (I would choose the less healthy econ. program and pick another interest and develop a peer group/participate in activities that would lead to a start up. I would also entertain the option of doing neither econ. or BBA and choosing another major/majors of interest). I mean some become entrepreneurs, but many more come from things happening in ECAS (I think both individuals who started that billion dollar biotech company were from the college. This isn’t the only case…) no matter the majors of the students Perhaps because more ECAS classes actually promote thinking and creation and defense of ideas, and motivated students can get the business smarts on their feet.</p>