<p>Why should I chose NW electrical engineering over Penn, or vice versa? I'm asking about both specifically engineering and the 2 schools in general. I have a month to decide. Thanks a lot!</p>
<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=45921%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=45921</a> says Northwestern is ranked #14 for EE undergrad. Don't know about Penn though. Overall, Northwestern's engineering is stronger than Penn. Can you visit? "Feel" is probably just as important as ranking.</p>
<p>I would say NU and Penn are equal in terms of engineering + management concentrations. Do you want to be in Chicago or Philly? I will probably say that NU has the most established engineering school.</p>
<p>Undergraduate Engineering Rankings:
13 Northwestern University
25 University of Pennsylvania</p>
<p>Graduate Engineering Rankings:
23 Northwestern University
29 University of Pennsylvania</p>
<p>I wouldn't look at Graduate overall ranking. I'd pay attention to the departmental ranking instead. That overall ranking is big on research $$ per prof and that can vary a lot every year. USC isn't that known for engineering and it doens't have any top-10 depts; its peer/recruiter assessment is only 3.7. But it's overall rank is #6!? Where is that coming from? I couldn't believe it until I look at the formula. UCLA also has no top-10 depts yet it's ahead of NU overall. Almost all engineering depts at NU are ranked in top-10 and 3 or 4 of them are in top-10; yet overall it's ranked only 21st. What's up with that?!</p>
<p>Yeah, Northwestern does have better overall engineering. But how much better? Does undergrad engineering between the two schools make much difference?</p>
<p>As Sam Lee pointed out, these rankings are somewhat flawed (i.e. Harvard is ranked the same as Penn for engineering, but when was the last time you heard of someone doing engineering there?)</p>