Hi! First post here on CC, and I’m currently a junior in high school. NU is definitely my top choice as of now (because of prestigious music school and opportunities (even for non-majors), Kellogg Certificate, MMSS, breathtaking campus, etc).
However, I had a question about the Industrial Engineering Major: If I also want to learn Computer Science (even just the basics) would I have to do another major/minor or is Computer Science included in the Industrial Engineering curriculum?
Also, I know that Northwestern has a limit of three majors or minors, but would Certificate programs be included as a “major/minor”? Or could you take three majors/minors and also do a Certificate program? (Not that I will, but just curious)
Thanks in advance!
PS: If there are any NU alums/students willing to look over my stats/resume in order to help me to further improve my app, please PM. (I’m interested in Bienen (not likely to get in, but I do play cello at a high level), Mccormick (CS or IE, or both), Kellogg (Certificate for Undergrad), and Weinberg (Econ))
If you look at details of IEMS curriculum, there are three required computer science classes. The first two are the intro to programming classes that CS majors also start with. The third is a database for non-majors (there is a more in-depth class on databases for CS majors). In addition, one can take some electives within IEMS that are on data mining/ data analytics,
Obviously if you want to learn more, you can do a CS minor, which I think will add 5-6 more classes beyond those.
You’ve got plenty of space to take CS fundamentals as an IE, especially if you’re coming in with the (reasonably common) Calc AB/BC + some AP science setup. You’ll have to take EA1 - 4 (all MATLAB based), EECS 111 (Racket; functionally useless but helps build fundamentals) and 211 (C++), and some part of the IEMS 313/315/317 sequence, which includes some programming. As a whole, NU engineering programs are really good at making sure undergrads come out with solid computer literacy, so I wouldn’t worry there.
Certificate programs are included in the max 3 Majors/Minors, although I know of one person who’s intending on Stat/Econ/MMSS/Kellogg. That said, he overloaded almost every quarter beyond freshman fall and I doubt that kind of setup would be possible if you’re double majoring across schools.
MMSS is hard. MMSS + IE is harder, and you’d get similar future opportunities graduating top of your class IE as you would middle of the class MMSS. Keep that in consideration; from what I know kids who dropped MMSS and took “equivalent” math/econ classes in Weinberg tended to see their grades increase by a full letter.
Thanks for your input! I know MMSS is challenging, but I do have a fairly solid mathematics foundation (800 on SAT Math 2, 96% in Cal AB last semester, etc). However, I will definitely keep what you said in mind when applying next year.
I’m currently an IE-Econ major at NU, so I’ll do my best to expand upon the previous posts (all have good insight).
IE’s take the first 2 EECS classes, 4 EA classes, as well as the IE main track, all of which ensure you’ll have solid foundational computer skills. IE-CS major/minor is also pretty popular, and definitely doable. I think IE-CS is a great combo, and both departments have excellent faculty.
From my experience as a student, I’d limit myself to two majors / major+minor / major+certificate. You should pursue what you’re interested in, but personally I’d recommend IE-Econ or IE-CS. While there certainly are IEs in the Kellogg program, I’ve heard in conversation that the Kellogg certificate is usually taken by Econ majors who want to demonstrate that they have quantitative abilities beyond that of a typical Econ student. If you’re IE, that’s already a signal that you have strong mathematical skills, so I’d recommend IE-Kellogg less so than the others (it’s still a good combo though).
Reiterating what the above poster said, MMSS is HARD. Extremely hard. My math scores were like yours, and I have smarter friends who struggled greatly in MMSS. Reading in between the lines of your post, you sound like someone who has an interest in engineering/computers/economics. Unless you simply love pure and applied mathematics, I’d recommend staying as IE and adding a second major / certificate once you know for sure what you’re interested in. Again, this is based off my personal opinion and conversations with other students.
From what I hear, the McCormick - Bienen dual degree program is good. I don’t know too many people in it but the ones I do seem happy enough, so that’s another good option if you want to continue playing cello.
Let me point out that by doing IE+ECON, you are meeting all prerequisites for applying for Kellogg certificate anyways. It is then only 4 more classes to finish the certificate.