<p>I am interested in mechanical engineering
only after decisions came out did i realize that i am interested in Product Design Programs
(im still glad that i am going into Mechanical engineering for undergrad because i want to come from an engineering POV if i were to become part of UPenn or Stanford's product design grad programs later - plus that's long time away)</p>
<p>i guess i was just wondering if Princeton has the type of mechanical engineering program that would get me the kind of "hands on" practice needed to explore that field. </p>
<p>i do not want to become on of those people who end up going into consulting or banking after i graduate. I want to design and build... to innovate! </p>
<p>which school would be the best for me?</p>
<p>Very hands on. Princeton Engineering >> Penn Engineering, Princeton >>>>>>>> Penn.</p>
<p>Princeton has mandatory independent work for upperclassmen. MechE seniors, if they choose not to do a thesis, must still complete a one-semester independent project with a design component. If you want to work on a design project, the opportunities are definitely available. I remember going to the thesis fair during Preview last year, where an MAE senior demonstrated her thesis project, a robot designed to model the swimming motion of a manta ray to understand some problem in fluid mechanics. Here is a link to some recent MAE undergrad independent work projects/theses: [Independent</a> Work & Thesis — Princeton University — Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/mae/undergraduate/work/]Independent”>http://www.princeton.edu/mae/undergraduate/work/)</p>
<p>I visited Penn engg. not impressed at all. Princeton hands down.</p>
<p>Princeton mechanical engineering is extremely hands on. One team designed a water pump for Africa and were due to travel to install it but war broke out…another guy I knew went from Princeton mech eng to Stanford for his masters. </p>
<p>In this case I don’t think there’s really a question of which program is better.</p>
<p>A lot of these posters above don’t really know anything about engineering and aren’t qualified to make assessments. I’ve worked in applied math areas that overlap quite considerably with MechE- both programs are very good. Penn has certain linkages with its graduate school of design, like the DMD program as well as industrial product design. I took a graduate course in computer science last year and one classmate was a Penn DMD grad with an extremely strong background in data structures and algorithms. Granted, this is anecdotal information, but research the content of your intended majors at both schools and see which one appeals more.</p>