How to choose (PhD) -- Computer Engineering@CMU vs CS@Cornell

College Majors Engineering Majors
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<p>Hi all, it's my first post here. At first I've persuaded myself to overcome the cold climate and rural life in Ithaca and made up my mind going to <a href="mailto:CS@Cornell">CS@Cornell</a>. But rather unexceptedly, here comes an offer from ece@cmu, which spoiled my former decision a little bit. </p>

<p>Cornell CS is a good one, with great flexibility of choosing faculty in the first year. Its research on Programming language, systems (my interest) are both strong.</p>

<p>Well, CMU sounds equally good or better for its computer engineering. Although I got admitted into ECE, my advisor's research is on Programing language and security, which is typically computer science stuff. I don't know how flexible it would be in choosing faculties. </p>

<p>There's no doubt that I can build strong professional background in both, and each of them has particular strength over the other one. I have to make this tough decision ASAP.. So any informative suggestion is appreciated.</p>

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<p>it sounds like you are talking about a graduate program. I suggest you post in the Graduate School forum instead.</p>

<p>There is no good answer that anyone can give you about this. You need to look at the two options from your perspective and decide which school and program suits you best. As you said, both programs are excellent.</p>

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<p>Just one data point - A few people I knew at work decided to go to grad school for PhD CS via fellowship (old days sigh). So they investigated qualification exams and somehow obtained old copies for 3 schools, Purdue, Cornell, and Michigan.</p>

<p>The Cornell qual exam was, how to put it, humbling. A staggering amount of theory and one section for everything else.</p>

<p>The Purdue exam was nearly as humbling, except it had TWO sections for everything else (non theory)</p>

<p>The Michigan exam was comprehensive but far more broad and by far the ‘easiest’ of the three in this sense.</p>

<p>That was 30 years ago.</p>