LiminalSpace

No it's not a major factor. But it's funny 'cause I was told this in my interview. Clearly one of us misunderstood.

Thanks for your points, they're all helpful. Unfortunately I don't have the liberty to choose OSU (made the stupid mistake of applying to the mechE program instead of robotics, thinking it would be safer; wasn't admitted). I have to choose between Columbia and NU, so NU is the clear choice for me. Some pros about their program which helped me make the decision, from talking to their students and faculty: If you're sure you do not want to pursue a PhD immediately after MS, the one year program can help you join the industry faster. Companies don't really read your thesis, they just want to know you've worked on relevant things. I think a portfolio does as great a job (if not better) as a thesis in conveying your potential to them. Agreed, it might not go as in-depth as a thesis MS, but the reason you were underwhelmed by their current portfolios is that the final quarter, which will be dedicated to doing your own project under a professor, is yet to come. The ones till now are mini-projects which were part of their courses. Also, you will have a lot of freedom in the final project - you can propose your own idea, instead of working on a project your supervisor is already leading. (What the professor gains from this is preliminary work which they can expand on later and propose for grants). The cohort model (15-20 students in the batch) fosters a much more personal interaction with your professors and peers, rather than being just another name in the crowd. In that sense, it is actually conducive to establishing lasting relations in a short time. Finally, NU has a formidable reputation and global ranking, which I think does matter in the long-term. Their industry links are also very strong. Again, my bias is toward NU since I chose that. But if I had the option of OSU too, it would've been a tough decision.

Hey everyone, My goal is to start a career in the robotics industry after my master's (no PhD plans for now). I have to decide between the MS Robotics program at Northwestern and the MS MechE program at Columbia. I definitely prefer NU over Columbia due to the active robotics research going on there, but the catch is, it is an accelerated 1 year program (10 courses + final project in 4 quarters). I am unsure if this is a good or a bad thing in view of job prospects after graduation. And the program just started last year, so there are no stats. I heard from some people that 'networking' is really important for getting internships/job interviews. To what extent is this true? Will being immersed in an accelerated program allow me to devote time to seek these opportunities? Based on what I got from grad students at Columbia, the job scenario in NY is bleak (in mechE/electronic hardware), and they're having a tough time finding internships. I'd be grateful if someone could share insights about the robotics industry in Chicago area. Also, is it typical for students to intern (or recruiters to take interns) only at places close to their university? Thanks in advance!

Maybe search on LinkedIn or Facebook and message them...

I talked to a guy there. He said chances of TA/RA are very low for MS students. You can get after first sem if you're really good in a subject and they have vacancies. But they prefer doctoral students first.

Oregon State University. It's not highly ranked but apparently is good in robotics.

I applied way back in Nov end. Have to reply by 15th Apr. I don't think they provide funding to all international students. But a few students can get RA/TA positions later I think.

Hey everyone, I just got an admit to the MS Robotics Engineering program at WPI (no funding). Would love to know others who have also been admitted here, and whether or not they are planning to join, getting any funding, etc. It would also be great if someone who is already at WPI could describe their experience. Cheers!

I've also applied to MechE master's programs with an interest in robotics. Got rejects from UPenn, Oregon, CMU (no email notification from CMU, had to check the portal). Accepted by Columbia. But I have no idea about the chances of getting RA/TA over there. Without any funding, the fees are just prohibitively high :/ Would really appreciate if someone could tell more about the funding situation at Columbia.