Columbia MS vs Conell MEng. Please help me to take the decision!

[delon]

Hello,

I got admission in the ECE department. I did plenty of research about the Cornell MEng but I don't know a lot about the Columbia engineering.

I am in doubt about the industry reputation and job placement scenario of Columbia SASE. Everyone is saying that the industries know columbia for their business and law school. So, I want to know a bit more about the placement scenario in engineering. Does the major companies visit the campus in career fairs?

Both of these schools have great courses in EE. Please help me and share your thoughts.

[delon]

bounce

[adelashk]

If you are going back to the industry after your master's then go to Cornell. If there is a chance you would do a PhD or get a research gig then go with a master's of science (i.e. Columbia). Both are great schools, Cornell is more known and might be more competitive in engineering though. If location is a factor, Columbia trumps Cornell any day. I would try to connect with Columbia EE students to get a better perspective of the job opportunities/career fairs that go on over there. Good luck.

[delon]

I am concerned mostly because of the poor on campus job placement scenario of Columbia. It seems that major Computer Engineering companies don't visit the career fairs. So, I have to search jobs only by myself (online, networking etc etc). What is your opinion in this issue ?

I don't know about the weight of Columbia- tag in engineering jobs.

[adelashk]

I am concerned mostly because of the poor on campus job placement scenario of Columbia. It seems that major Computer Engineering companies don't visit the career fairs. So, I have to search jobs only by myself (online, networking etc etc). What is your opinion in this issue ?

I don't know about the weight of Columbia- tag in engineering jobs.

Career fairs help a lot, but they are not everything. I graduated from a top 10 engineering school and went to the career fair where I landed over 5 interviews with major/global companies. Job offers? 0. I ended up with an offer from a global company by applying online through their new grad. system. Morale of the story is do not expect the job offer to knock on your door. In the end, if you want to do research or go for a PhD go for an MS (i.e. columbia) if the industry is your main goal then do an M.Eng. (Cornell)

[delon]

Career fairs help a lot, but they are not everything. I graduated from a top 10 engineering school and went to the career fair where I landed over 5 interviews with major/global companies. Job offers? 0. I ended up with an offer from a global company by applying online through their new grad. system. Morale of the story is do not expect the job offer to knock on your door. In the end, if you want to do research or go for a PhD go for an MS (i.e. columbia) if the industry is your main goal then do an M.Eng. (Cornell)

Thanks a lot. It really helped. Actually, I have a vague idea about getting into a Phd program after MS. To be honest, I didn't make the decision yet. But I always prefer to keep the Phd door open for me. So, if I think in that way then I guess Columbia is the deal.

[profoundquiet]

Thanks a lot. It really helped. Actually, I have a vague idea about getting into a Phd program after MS. To be honest, I didn't make the decision yet. But I always prefer to keep the Phd door open for me. So, if I think in that way then I guess Columbia is the deal.

It's definitely better to have an M.S. on your name than an M.Eng. You can do an M.S. and go either industry or PhD. If you decide to do a PhD during your M.S., there's usually an opportunity to do a Masters thesis. But the strictly course-based M.Eng will completely cut off the PhD option.

Both are amazing schools. But M.S. is the wiser choice imo. I wouldn't be worried about job hunting conditions in NYC... there are plenty of opportunities outside of career fairs. Definitely contact people at Columbia about your concern.

I'll be at Columbia for an M.S. as well this Fall

[delon]

Columbia - Biomed admit!! Great. Congrats I guess, I am going to Columbia.