Hi,
I’m having a tough choice between CMU and WashU. I got in for ChemE to both schools, but I don’t know which school to go for.
I also might end up wanting to study straight chemisry so which school is better?
As far as I know, both are excellent. You should probably consider nonacademic factors too, though. They’re very different schools in very different places.
I must say, in the big scheme of things they are not very different schools in very different places. Both have roughly 7000 UGs and 7000 grads. Both are in Midwestern cities that get really cold in the winter and really humid in the summer. Both are in cities that have vibrant cultural scenes and rabid sports fans. CMU leans more pure STEM than Wash U and Wash U has one of the best medical schools and residency programs in the nation plus a broader undergrad offering. All in all though they are much more like comparing Haagen Daz Cookies and Cream to Ben and Jerry’s Cookies and Cream than they are to comparing Vanilla to Chocolate. Harvey Mudd and Michigan would better qualify as two very different programs in very different cities.
Very similar in size and location, but I think the students at both schools are very different.
@eyemgh Pittsburgh is not a “Midwestern” city. These seem like very different options.
@sevmom, Technically, I used the wrong term. St. Louis is considered the westernmost rust belt city. All of those cites whether they be Midwestern or not, that aren’t coastal, that all grew on labor and industry, are quite similar. St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Columbus, etc. have far more in common with one and other than they do with say NYC, Los Angeles, Chicago, even Atlanta. I know them well having spent most of my formative years there. My apologies if using the term “Midwestern” misled anyone. The biggest thing that really differentiates those schools is the make up of the non-STEM student body. They are similar size, in similar cities, with similar weather, neither with big time sports, both with big time pro sports, both with vibrant cultural scenes. Yes, they are different (no two schools are the same), but not THAT different. They are far more alike than different. That is what I find refreshing. The OP isn’t asking a question like I see all the time… “Help me choose between Olin and Berkeley.” They are asking about two schools similar enough that they are challenging to parse. I wasn’t reacting to the OP, but rather to the assertion that they were very different schools in very different cities. They aren’t.
I do think these schools seem very different in terms of fit. My H went to CMU and 2 family members are tenured professors at Washington University in St. Louis. But that is just my opinion. Fit , finances, logistics seem key here. Imagine the OP has already decided !
I actually get it when students struggle to pick between very different schools (which might not be the case here - not sure). When schools are similar, it is easy to drop the less appealing one. When there are two appealing but very different choices, it can be tough.
@colorado_mom, I always wonder how very different schools get on the list in the first place though. Typically it’s just ranking that has a student apply to both Berkeley and Mudd for example. Both are well respected schools, but even a modicum of research would (typically) push a student in one direction or another.
My son had seemingly very different schools on his list ranging from WPI at the small end to Utah at the large end, but they were all unified by two things, starting in major day one, and ME programs known for doing “hands on” things from day one.
Often students aged 17 or 18 don’t know what their priorities are for major and/or school types. Some of the more flexible ones could thrive in a variety of settings.
Don’t know if the OP has decided yet, but WashU is probably better for pure Chemistry. Mellon is definitely the better Engineering school by reputation/ranking.
thanks to all! committed to WashU
Great choice! Enjoy your time there!