<p>Stats:</p>
<p>Loyola University New Orleans
GPA: 3.3
Major GPA: 3.5 (Honors) ACS Chem (3.8 over last 2 years of undergrad)
Minor GPA: 3.4 Math
Minor GPA: 3.3 Computational Mathematics</p>
<p>2 years analytical chem research. 2 poster presentations. 2nd author journal article. Honors thesis. Loyola biodiesel project founder.</p>
<p>Applied to Chemical Engineering</p>
<p>Tulane: MS/PhD full tuition + 25K stipend
Cornell: MEng no financing</p>
<p>I want to go into industry and then gravitaite towards bussiness. I could do a research degree with 2 years with basically being up 25K, or I could do an industry oriented degree in 1 year and be down 60k but in industry sooner. </p>
<p>Tulane = more money offered, up and coming program, and in home city. Awesome energy finance school</p>
<p>Cornell = no money, much better rep, easier to get job, hopefully higher starting salary. Awesome overall business school</p>
<p>in the end i want to be a part of energy sector with an emphasis on entrepreneurial business or energy finance. </p>
<p>If anybody has any experience or bits of information to share than please dont fret. Im in need until the April 15th deadline.</p>
<p>Im also waiting on a decision by rice but thats a different story.</p>
<p>I would go with Tulane. They have good ties to the energy sector and as you say, awesome business programs in that area also. Doesn’t really matter so much about getting into the job market sooner since you are not taking on debt. And Ithica would be really cold after being in New Orleans! I know, I went to Madison WI after 4 years at Tulane and left as quickly as I could!</p>
<p>Im guessing you did chem at tulane? THeyre pretty involved with the Chem E. I am really impressed with tulane attention to the chemistry and chem E program. However, I thought it would probably be nice to get out of the state and Cornell would be a good option.
I havent put away the thought out coming back and completing my MBA at tulane, ithink id rather an MBA from Tulane than Cornell for energy finance. </p>
<p>anyway, any other comments would be appreciated, i need justification for my on going thought dilemmas.</p>
<p>I did indeed do chem at Tulane. There is a lot of value to seeing someplace new. I was not from New Orleans, so that was new to me. You just have to keep in mind the 60K. I was assuming it was a loan. If that is not a loan, so you don’t have to worry about paying it back, then you have a pretty good plan. I have to think that you will look back on a year in Ithica as a great experience that you were glad you did.</p>
<p>Tulane.
any one can take courses but the courses may not be what is needed for a particular job.
proving that you can do independent work (MS Tulane) is more important than courses.</p>
<p>The quality of the business school should not play a factor. You were not accepted into MBA programs, and you most likely will not be able/have time to take electives in the business school. </p>
<p>The reason that Tulane has offered you tuition plus a stipend is because they expect you to continue to the PhD; the program will have this focus even though a percentage of the students will take their MS and leave. Most likely, it will be more research-oriented (to prepare for dissertation research) and broadly based (to give you the knowledge to pass your general exams and perhaps teach introductory courses slightly outside of your research area.)</p>
<p>The MEng at Cornell is a terminal degree – not that you cannot continue your education beyond it. But it is not meant as preparation for specialized dissertation research and/or academia. </p>
<p>I think you should decide based on finances and the program itself. If you truly love Cornell’s focus and can swing the finances, go for it. But if you don’t want to spend the money, like Tulane’s program better, and/or might want a PhD, then go there.</p>
<p>I want to get into the energy industry, probably entrepreneurial work since there is much promise for the job outlook in new Orleans and houston. That is the only reason why I even mentioned the business school because I plan on going in 5 year ahead, however my aspirations might change with my entrance into graduate school and industry.</p>
<p>however I do not have a will anymore to go towards a PhD, even if I did I still would want to go into the energy industry. My logic is that a PhD is more crippling in mobility in industry, however I do know the innovation that is associated with a PhD in industry.</p>
<p>Either way I must pursue an advanced degree in Chem E because I graduated undergrad with a chem major and do not want to be practicing pure chemistry as a profession. So I at least need an MEng to transfer fields.</p>
<p>If my logic if faluty then please let me know. I am trying to minimize the time I spent out of the work place while minimizing the amount of money I spent. But if going to cornell on my penny will ultimately produce a better selection of job security than tulane than I will opt for Cornell.</p>
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<p>I don’t know anything about the energy industry, but I know that my husband’s PhD in computer science took him a long way in industry before he decided to return to academia. Without the PhD, he would not have gotten as far as he did. All his bosses and his bosses’ bosses had PhDs, although the CEO probably did not.</p>
<p>I don’t know where the idea that a PhD is crippling comes from. It’s kinda like saying that Ivy League graduates are not smart.</p>
<p>Yeah, I think you are wrong about the PhD. You make more money and it does not make it harder to find a job. But after reading everything you are saying, I have to say Tulane sounds like the way to go. Maybe you should have tried for Rice also. At Tulane you will save the most money and Tulane has excellent inroads to the energy industry. While you would no doubt enjoy Cornell and Ithica, picking the Tulane path is more conservative financially. Generally that is smarter, IMHO.</p>
<p>Crippling might be the wrong description, but Ive been led to believe that it has a tendency to label an individual as an expert in a specific area and that that is the actual crippling aspect in terms of business mobility. However this opion is relative anyway. I guess im looking for an education with more breadth than depth; Im more interested in the application than practicing the science.</p>
<p>Anyway, I am starting to see everybody’s reasoning regarding Tulane. Thanks for the help fallen and mom, I still haven’t made a spreadsheet of the finances and a pro/con list, but I will be sure to keep everything else you have brought up to me in mind.</p>
<p>You sound like a thoughtful and well grounded guy, I am sure you will make the right decision for you.</p>