<p>Hey everyone, I've tried searching and read through threads and threads worth and am still unclear on an issue.</p>
<p>First, is the distinction between an MS Engineering and an MEng that the MS Engineering is research oriented whereas the MEngineering is geared toward job-related duties?</p>
<p>Also, I've read that programs such as Stanford use Masters programs solely as a cash cow... Is this referring to both the MS and the MEng?</p>
<p>Basically, if I'm interested in going for a MS Engineering, is it going to cost a fair amount of money or do the top schools still provide funding? Also along the same vein, does applying from a relatively weak engineering school that is strong in other fields hurt chances of admission to schools such as MIT, Berkeley, Stanford, etc?</p>
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Also, I've read that programs such as Stanford use Masters programs solely as a cash cow... Is this referring to both the MS and the MEng?
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<p>Both, and almost every school uses masters programs as cash cows. Some may luck out and get teaching assistantships but having one is not the most likely event.</p>
<p>To clarify, an unfunded MS at Stanford is a cashcow and is relatively to get in for, depending on the program. It's kind of hard to get into the MS program for comp sci, EE, and chem e, for instance. The MEng however is not a cashcow degree. It's a thesis based degree that is funded via RA by an advisor. Needless to say, it's admissions standards are higher than those for just an MS degree.</p>
<p>It seems interesting that the MEng is the one that is funded whereas the MS program is not even though the MS is more research oriented. Any idea as to why that is?</p>
<p>You might be getting confused with the terminology at different schools. An MS degree is typically thesis and research based (at schools like Cornell, Princeton, MIT). These same schools also offer an MEng, which is coursework based only and usually unfunded. However, at Stanford and Berkeley, the terminology is reversed. An MS at Stanford and Berkeley are coursework degrees that are usually unfunded (equivalent to MEng degrees at other schools). MEng degrees at Stanford and Berkeley (equivalent to MS degrees at other schools) are usually research based and funded.</p>
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Wow, so the terms aren't even standardized! Haha, that explains a lot. Thanks!!
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<p>Yeah sorry I should have specified that MS and MEng are the same degree where I go and which degree you get is irrelevant because they're both mostly unfunded.</p>
<p>But the MEng program at Cornell is job-oriented. I mean since it puts less emphasis on thesis and research how could the program be funded. You are not creating knowledge for the university. From my opinion, for Cornell MEng might be its cashcow</p>