URGENT: Which to choose? CMU vs. Cornell

College Majors Engineering Majors
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<p>Hey so here's what's up:</p>

<p>I'm a rising sophomore transfer student who is currently thinking of pursuing environmental engineering. I have a passion for the environment and a knack for numbers, physics, and the like. I applied to transfer, got my acceptances, and narrowed my list down to either Carnegie Mellon's Institute of Technology: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering OR Cornell's Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering.</p>

<p>I just visited CMU and really liked the campus and the location - Pittsburgh, in my opinion, is a nicer place to live in than Ithaca. BUT, I also found out that CMU doesn't actually offer a degree in Environmental Engineering - the closest thing is a degree in Civil Engineering with a minor in Environmental Engineering. </p>

<p>As a side note, I want to have a couple of years working in between undergrad and grad school so as to help pay loans and save money. </p>

<p>So I think that what it boils down to is this:</p>

<p>-CMU is a wonderful place to live for climate, location, and general feel but it doesn't exactly have the degree that I believe will fit me most</p>

<p>-Cornell has exactly what I want in a major but is located in Ithaca where the climate is bearable but not great and the city is practically non-existent. </p>

<p>Now I ask you, CC community and friends: Where should I go in my situation?</p>

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<p>Personally, I would pick CMU, but that is just me. I call it a win win situation. You learn a broader field than just environmental stuff. Also, the research at CMU is top notch. <a href=“Research - CMU - Carnegie Mellon University”>Research - CMU - Carnegie Mellon University;

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<p>One sec… Gotta find another post for a URL.</p>

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<p>I’d actually say the weather in Pittsburgh is worse than Ithaca.</p>

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<p>Cornell. My dad has a degree in civil engineering, that’ll score you a job with the DOT if you’re lucky. In today’s job market, don’t count on getting lucky. Those’re two vastly different majors. Plus if price isn’t a factor, and the majors were the same, I really think Cornell is the better school academically. And here… <a href=“Vimeo – Video Experience Platform”>Vimeo – Video Experience Platform;

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<p>“Cornell has exactly what I want in a major”</p>

<p>Isn’t that why you are going to school?</p>

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<p>You have answered your own question. </p>

<p>“Cornell has exactly what I want in a major”</p>

8

<p>Have you looked at the exact courses you’d take at each school?</p>

<p>Also, not sure if you’re interested in it or not, but I know a few years ago CMU really started pumping up its “green chemistry” focus, which I imagine has some sort of overlap with environmental engineers interests.</p>

<p>I imagine Cornell also has post-graduation surveys, so you should see where people with that major wind up going after finishing. Here’s a link to CMU’s [College</a> of Engineering-Career and Professional Development Center - Carnegie Mellon University](<a href=“http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/career/Students/gps1/explore/survey/cit.html]College”>http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/career/Students/gps1/explore/survey/cit.html)</p>