Hi! I’m having a hard time deciding between Cornell M.eng and CMU MS (course-work) in Mechanical engineering and would really appreciate any advice!
They have similar ranks in Mech engineering but Cornell has a better overall rank and is more well known overall - is the overall rank important? I want to focus on robotics/design though, so maybe CMU would be the better choice? Also Pittsburgh seems like a nicer place to live than Ithaca…
As for costs, they are both expensive as hell so that doesn’t help me decide.
My main concern is professional network/contacts after graduating and which school would give me a better chance for finding a job after graduation (I’m an international student). Which program/school has better reputation among big companies? Is an M.eng degree less valuable than MS in the industry?
I’m not planning on advancing to PhD, so the fact that M.eng candidates can’t apply for PhD doesn’t bother me.
Thanks in advance for any advice!!!
FWIW, Cornell’s M.Eng, program requires a design project, not a thesis. I don’t know anything about CMU’s program.
I don’t think there would be any difference in an employer’s preconception of a mechanical engineering job candidate based on whether he went to Cornell or CMU. Perhaps best to look at which program correlates, by requirements and available courses, most closely with your interests.
A Master’s with a thesis could serve as a basis towards a subsequent PhD program. Conceivably it could be perceived differently in industry than an M. Eng. with a design project; perhaps tracking you towards a research group? I don’t really know though.
I liked living in Ithaca. YMMV.
The overall rank is not relevant. Both programs are good for ME and that is probably the most important thing. You need to look at which program is more interesting and relevant for you and since they are both course-work programs, they are more or less equivalent as far as credentials are concerned.
If you like the idea of living in Pittsburgh better and you think that there are more possibilities of getting local contacts, the CMU is probably your best choice.
Thanks so much for your advice! It was really helpful:)