<p>Title is self-explanatory
Which one is better for Mechanical/Chemical/Environmental?</p>
<p>Having considered both for S, we chose NU, though S is in EE ;-)</p>
<p>what is an “S”? is it Son?</p>
<p>That is correct!</p>
<p>Adezar check the beginning of the parents forum for all the college confidential acronyms. There are still a few that confuse me. It does make it quicker to type a message once you get used to it.</p>
<p>As between NU and Penn, you are talking about an elite academic environment and reputation either way, so I would recommend going with one’s gut about which school feels right, since engineering curricula have similar required courses and since both schools have excellent faculties.
That being said, with respect to Chemical, I suspect that NU is better, but I have no idea about Mechanical or Environmental.</p>
<p>Adezar2: thought you had already got in ED to NU!</p>
<p>The biggest difference lies in first two-year curriculum, instead of the majors. The core is similar due to ABET accreditation. However, NU made a significant change to its first-two-year curriculum in 1997 and called it Engineering First:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.ijee.ie/articles/Vol13-6/ijee973.pdf?bcsi_scan_6569F29F07BF6BD6=0&bcsi_scan_filename=ijee973.pdf[/url]”>http://www.ijee.ie/articles/Vol13-6/ijee973.pdf?bcsi_scan_6569F29F07BF6BD6=0&bcsi_scan_filename=ijee973.pdf</a>
[Engineering</a> First ® Program | McCormick School of Engineering | Northwestern University](<a href=“Undergraduate Programs | Undergraduate Study | Academics | Northwestern Engineering”>Undergraduate Programs | Undergraduate Study | Academics | Northwestern Engineering)</p>
<p>Penn’s first two-year curriculum, like those in most other schools, is similar to pre-1997 curriculum at NU. </p>
<p>A lot of positives have come out of the Engineering First since 1997. “Design” has become the central theme and it’s an important part of the school’s strategic plan. NU students have won numerous awards at various design competitions. It’s now one of the most design-oriented and entrepreneurial engineering schools out there.
[Design</a> and Innovation at Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.design.northwestern.edu/]Design”>http://www.design.northwestern.edu/)</p>
<p>It’s no coincidence that Dean Julio M. Ottino, a National Academy of Engineering (NAE) member, had a career as an artist before his PhD in chemical engineering.</p>
<p>I don’t know about the strength of the two schools in Engineering, however they are both comparable in terms of academics in just about everything, so I would doubt that there would be a big enough difference for it to matter. I think that the decision between those two schools should be based off of how you think it will fit you, rather than academics, since they are both great schools.</p>