NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering vs. UW Madison for Master degree in Mechanical Engineering

Graduate School
1

Hello everyone,

I got admitted to the above mentioned schools. Tuition is similar, NYU has higher cost of living, but I got a scholarship from NYU which compensates this difference. Therefore costs do not matter here. Also the “NY experience” has not too much influence on my decision, although I would of course prefer it over Madison. I studied for one year in Shanghai before, so I am somehow satisfied when it comes to city life.

I know, the US engineering grad rankings of UW (around 15th) are much higher than NYU’s (around 50th). Furthermore the email contact to Madison seems to be much more friendly than my experiences with NYU’s Polytechnic School of Engineering.

Which school would you prefer to choose for a Master degree in Mechanical Engineering?
Which is harder? (I am well organized and willing to study hard but not one of the most clever guys)
Which school gives better chances to find a job in the US afterwards? (am not limited to a specific region in the US)
Which school might be better for Phd?

I need to decide soon, so I hope you can help me here :slight_smile:

2

Which has research groups that are better-aligned with your interests? That’s the question you should be asking.

3

Thanks for the reply. I will probably only make the Master degree, so the research groups do not matter too much. Although I am quite sure in my area of interest (industrial engineering, manufacturing) Madison has the better possibilities.

4

Then you have your answer. Since you mentioned a PhD then you must realize that research is essential in order to enter a good program. If the better opportunities are at UW then that should be your choice.

5

Research groups still matter for master’s programs. Even for a non-thesis option, the research strength of a department helps determine the sorts of advanced courses that are available.