<p>Hi, everybody I am new here.
I am an international student and I am going to study Industrial Engineering in the United States for a MS degree.
Recently I have been admitted to several Universities, including UW madison, Penn State University, University of Florida and Arizona State University. Another one is a Logistics program in Ohio State University. ( USC and Vir Tech are still pending)
My intention is to focus on supply chain and manufacturing systems and I am job oriented( so more internship opportunities and better employment situation are preferable)
Since UWM and PSU have higher rankings and have almost the same level of tuition, I am inclined to choose one from these two. So could someone who has experiences in these schools tell me which one is better for me~~ I would be so grateful. I have been haunted by this issue for days·</p>
<p>I really need some help`````</p>
<p>Hi Wadeflash! </p>
<p>You said that you’re job oriented, and assuming that you want more opportunities and experience for what you’re interested in (supply chain and manufacturing systems), I would suggest that you go to Penn State Uni. Penn State is located in Pittsburgh where there would be plentiful opportunities to seize advantage of. </p>
<p>I don’t know about University of Wisconsin-Madison, but hearing the state “Wisconsin” makes me ponder about the number of opportunities that they offer (which, I imagine, wouldn’t be nearly as close to the number of opportunities offered in Pittsburgh where PSU is located).</p>
<p>Of course, I’m not a student of either university, so it’s best to just wait and hear of other people’s opinions.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for your advice,byanilla
It’s just that Penn State University is not located in Pittsburgh from what I hear, but rather in a small kind of isolated town. Also Wisconsin is near Chicago. So does it make a difference ?</p>
<p>PSU to Pittsburgh is about 2hrs and 41min hours away.
UWM to Chicago is…2hr and 41 mins away.
Haha. Shoot. In this case, it doesn’t make a difference.
Have you looked at College Pr0wler’s information? </p>
<p>I’ll keep researching into your universities, Wadeflash.</p>
<p>Haha
byanilla You are of great help
Hope I can get out of this headache soon``</p>
<p>Also, [Undergraduate</a> Program](<a href=“http://www.ie.psu.edu/Academics/Undergraduate/undergraduate.html]Undergraduate”>http://www.ie.psu.edu/Academics/Undergraduate/undergraduate.html)
Research for manufacturing: [Faculty</a> Research by Area](<a href=“http://www.ie.psu.edu/Research/ResearchByArea.cfm?type=mfg]Faculty”>http://www.ie.psu.edu/Research/ResearchByArea.cfm?type=mfg)</p>
<p>Job Placement at UW-Madison: [UW-Madison</a> | Manufacturing Systems Engineering | Students | Job Placement](<a href=“http://msep.engr.wisc.edu/index.php/students/jobplacement]UW-Madison”>http://msep.engr.wisc.edu/index.php/students/jobplacement)</p>
<p>Also, in my opinion, you should look into the alumni network. A stronger alumni network = the likelihood that you will be placed with a job of a loyal company to the university. </p>
<p>Good luck to you!</p>
<p>Thanks again byanilla
Though the MSE program in uw madison is not the one I have been admitted, I understand now where I should look into</p>
<p>It’s really nice to have someone like you here</p>
<p>I cannot comment on the programs you are looking at. However, Madison and State College are 2 pretty different towns. Madison is a state capitol and a city of about 230,000 people in the city itself and about 500,000 people in the metropolitan area. It is located right near a major interstate highway. It is about 70 miles from Milwaukee and 120 miles from Chicago, both major metropolitan areas. In addition to the university and the state capitol, Madison is home to a number of high tech, agricultural and manufacturing companies. </p>
<p>State College is a town of about 40,000 people. They are not in a metropolitan area. Pretty much the only thing in town is the university. It is not on a major interstate and is not particularly easy to get to. </p>
<p>You need to check with both schools about the opportunities for internships and contacts with companies, but on the surface, it appears that the likelihood of these things in going to be much greater at UW Madison.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot
So I conclude from what you guys suggested and what I found out
Wisconsin: bigger and more central than PSU(so maybe more job opportunities?) Better reputation ( help find jobs?)
Penn State: better alumni network and career center, relationship with industries
Since I am an international student, it may be even more difficult for me to get a job in the United States How about economic situation in these two places? which one is more prosperous and more willing to hire international students?</p>
<p>I think you will find a fine alumni network at UW. A lot of companies hire internationals in the Madison area. But I don’t think that you need to assume that where you go to grad school is where you will end up working. Companies from all over the country will recruit at both schools. The real issue of whether you can get a green card or not will be whether or not a company is having difficulty finding qualified citizens. I have no idea what the job market is in the US for your degree, but the schools should be able to give you that information. Ask them what their placement rates are and if international students are getting hired in the US.</p>
<p>Thanks shennie
Are you from Wisconsin? I believe you would definitely recommend UW between these two. So could you tell me some other aspects of the city? How is the life there? Since I just heard from my friend in Maquette University that there is not much to do in Wisconsin, I would love to hear something different from you. Look forward to your response</p>
<p>There is much more to do in Madison that State College. Plenty of concerts, shows, restaurants, athletic events all in walking distance.</p>
<p>Lots to do in Madison: professional and student theater productions; one of the best bicycle riding areas in the country; museums on and off campus; lots of adult and student restaurants; sailing on the lakes located in town and on campus; and, a great farmer’s market, one of the best in the US, during the warmer weather. I’m sure that Penn State has some of the same student-oriented things, but it really is pretty isolated, although Pittsburgh is not that far away, and the town is small. Chicago is a fairly close to Madison by a relatively inexpensive bus. If you book far enough in advance on the Megabus you can even get a ticket for $5.00.</p>
<p>Here are some pictures of Madison and the University: [Photos:</a> Madison Area « Photo Library « UW-Madison](<a href=“http://photos.news.wisc.edu/photos/list?tag=34-Madison-Area]Photos:”>http://photos.news.wisc.edu/photos/list?tag=34-Madison-Area)</p>
<p>I do live in Madison. Hubby and I came for grad school and pretty much never left. Madison is a wonderful city and there are plenty of things to do here. I grew up in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh and Philly are also great cities, but the fact is, if you go to State College you will not spend that much time in either of those cities. State College is small and isolated. I am not sure what your friend at Marquette is looking for that he can’t find in Wisconsin, but we are very happy living here. State College is in a very lovely part of the Pennsylvania. If you love doing outdoor activities, you will find plenty to do in SC, but it is a small town without nearly the activities that Madison has to offer.</p>
<p>The University of Wisconsin is on the same level at the top US Publics - Berkeley, Virginia, Michigan, UCLA, UNC - go there.</p>
<p>Thanks guys
I believe I have been persuaded by you and I am willing to go there
Can’t wait to see you Madison~</p>
<p>Shennie, so you ve been graduated from UW Madison?
Have you by any chance known about the program of Industrial engineering there? I am not sure what they are focusing on and haven’t heard from those professors for any of my emails It really makes me feel a little uncomfortable. Despite this, I am really looking forward to being there this fall</p>