I am interested in pursuing a double major in bioengineering or chemical engineering and economics (not business).
So the way I see it, Yale has a more prestigious overall name, Penn is quite better for engineering and both have about the same strength for economics.
I understand that the schools have different environments but i think I would be happy at both. I am attracted to Penn’s great social scene, urban location and mix of pre-professionalism and intellectualism, but I could also definitely see myself fitting in Yale’s amazingly gorgeous campus and the more intellectual, old-school atmosphere.
I have distant family members who attended both so I know a few things about both, yet I would appreciate any insights on the choice between the two.
Just so you know, if you plan to graduate within 4 years, a double-major with ChemE is almost impossible due to the breath of its requirements (more than the other engineering majors).
The Penn program has a wider range of specializations for both Engineering and Business, it is in Philadelphia, it ranks higher in both business/econ and engineering, Wharton is maybe more prestigious in the business world?
If you’re planning on becoming an actual engineer, you’ll want to take an ABET program (and whether it’s Penn or Yale won’t matter).
If you’re thinking of going into business, management or other field, but just want an education in engineering, then something like Yale’s B.S. in Engineering Sciences would allow you to double-major with Econ.
The differences in department strengths for both engineering and economics between Yale and UPenn are pretty small and won’t really affect the undergrad experience in any way. I’d suggest you focus more on the majors/academic requirements at each school, the overall culture of the place and other factors.
I can’t speak for UPenn, but at Yale there is a lot of academic flexibility in terms of the courses you want to take. There is an ABET accredited BS in Engineering, as well as a BA in Engineering Science for instance, and you don’t really need to decide on one until your third year. Double majoring with a BS in Engineering and a BA in Economics is definitely doable, but it also means you won’t have the opportunity of taking classes in a lot of other departments. For example, i know someone who is majoring in MechE and Music, as well as someone else who chose EE and Economics. CS and Econ is also a pretty common double major.
^ The difference in strength of the engineering departments of Penn and Yale is not that small, Penn is substantially stronger. Of course neither of them is renowned for their engineering schools but there is a difference. That said, I agree that for undergrad and also depending on what career you have in mind, the difference might not be big. On the other hand Yale definitely has a stronger overall name than Penn and i think it also has a slight edge in Econ (but not Business).
Penn has a very flexible curriculum and you can double majoring in engineering and economics is definitely quite doable. I am assuming you mean doing Econ in CAS since you say not business, which would be in Wharton. Doing a BS in engineering and BA in Econ at Penn is quite doable because you do not need to take the general requirements of both SEAS and CAS. Rather you have to complete the general requirements of one of the two schools (your home school) and only the major requirements for the major in the other school.
A school that is very nicely setup to allow you do an engineering and economics double major is Northwestern. Engineering students have to take 7 humanities classes, of which 5 can be a single area (Economics). Then there are 5 general elective slots, and most students have some AP credits, and it can be very easily done in 4 years and without taking more than 4 classes per term.
Highly ranked for both engineering and economics, on top of that.
I think @reuynshard’s point is that in the grand scheme of things, any prestige differences between Penn and Yale - engineering and overall - are pretty small. Sure, Penn is better than Yale and if we’re making comparisons only within the top 50 or so colleges, the differences look larger. But when looking at engineering programs writ large across the however many hundreds there are in the country - it matters less.
Frankly, it sounds like OP really prefers Penn. Of course, y’all know my answer is that if you are really having a hard time deciding that you shouldn’t do ED/SCEA anywhere - as those options are supposed to be for students who have a clear first choice, and you don’t. But I know lots of students apply ED/SCEA to game the system a bit, so in that case it sounds like Penn is a winner. You list more things that are attractive to you at Penn, and when talking about differences in prestige between the two we’re really splitting hairs. Penn’s engineering is stronger, after all, and you can get intellectualism at either.
You can’t go wrong with either. Besides Yale and Penn, I second osuprof and would add Northwestern to the mix (RD?). The school has two really cool certificate programs through Kellogg that complement dual-major in econ & engineering very well. http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/certificate/
Hey there-- I chose Penn over Yale back in the day and I had the most wonderful experience at Penn. I was interested in being a history major but I also wanted a really strong interdisciplinary education that allowed me to take courses from across the university without a lot of red tape complicating the process. I wanted a beautiful, contiguous, largely self contained campus that had access to a world class city and all of the culture and experiences that are intrinsic to living in a place like NYC, Philly or DC. I wanted access to the best jobs and grad programs upon graduation and, yes, I wanted to go to an Ivy for the various social and professional advantages it confers.
Penn and Yale are nearly identical in terms of the quality of their undergraduate educations, though each will have their strengths. At the undergrad level, their econ departments will be largely indistinguishable. (And by the time you attend, Penn’s gorgeous new Econ building will be complete!). Penn engineering is stronger than Yale’s. Yale’s name recognition is stronger than Penn’s. At the end of the day, both will educate you equally well and give you access to the same post-graduate opportunities. The question really should come down to fit here. Penn (especially if you double major between the College and Engineering) will provide you with a really strong mix of pre-professionalism and intellectualism. Yale, no matter what you study, will lean more towards the intellectual vibe. Though at the end of four years, a disproportionate number of your peers (and perhaps you as well) will go into finance, law, and medicine at either school.
The differences between the two will honestly be quite minor and thus you really have to consider how you want to spend four years. Do you want to live in Philly or New Haven? Is it important to you that everyone from your mailman to your grandfather’s barber know you’re attending an Ivy? Are you interested in a One University policy that allows for greater flexibility in taking courses across the school and in the graduate/professional schools or does that not really appeal to you and therefore there is no added benefit? Do you want a really robust residential college system or do you want a mixture of college houses and off campus housing. Both campuses have their beauty (Perelman Quad, the Quad, Locust walk at Penn. Old Campus, Cross Campus, many of the residential colleges at Yale) and both campuses have their eyesores (Williams Hall, Hill College House, the high rises at Penn. Stiles, Morse, Rudolph Hall (art & architecture) at Yale).
I don’t think I could speak more highly of any other universities than these two. I think no matter which you choose you’ll have an amazing time and get an outstanding education. Think about where you want to be for four years and never look back!
Finally, here’s a little video about an interdisciplinary project one student did, using his engineering education to approach Shakespeare in an interesting way (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Cy8OlOKG0g). It felt like a good example of the mix of practicality and intellectualism that would define your penn education (though they do things like this at Yale too, I am sure).
@IWannaHelp I am trying to decide for ED/SCEA between the two. I intend to apply to NW and Michigan RD if I do not get into my early school.
@juillet Yes that is correct, I have been set on Penn for a while now, but I want to make sure I am doing the right thing so I am second-guessing myself a bit and trying to see of there is any substantial reason I should choose some other school over Penn for my early application. Just trying to get as much info as possible really.
If it helps - in the grand scheme of things, I don’t think it will matter whether you went to Penn or Yale in terms of post-graduation opportunities, so if you are set on Penn there’s no real reason not to go there
^Having done a double degree at Penn (one of them being engineering), I d say you can have a decent social life if you are well-organized. By decent i mean being able to get involved in one or two clubs and maybe go out partying once a week with your friends. It definitely gets hectic and it is a whole lotta work but Penn people are known for being able to work hard and play hard (that is the unofficial school motto haha) so you kind of learn to do this as you go along.
