Berkeley M.Eng. vs Cornell M.Eng. in Electrical Engineering

[jkooh85]

Hi there,

 

I still have trouble in deciding between Berkeley M.Eng. program and Cornell M.Eng. program.

 

For sure, Berkeley is better engineering school than Cornell. But, I have to graduate at Berkeley in 9 months while Cornell I can  take 3 semester before graduation. What I am concerning is 9 months looks pretty short to find a job for me because I am international student. I saw many international graduate engineering student did internship in their first year and offered full time job after that. 

 

Can you guys help me deciding between these two schools?

 

Thanks,

[ssk2]

What sort of work do you want to do afterwards? Berkeley's location looks like it will be massively beneficial if you want employment in the technology sector / in California. That's one of the primary plus points for me. I imagine it is pretty lucrative for EE graduates as well as CS graduates.

 

Do you have work experience already? I think internships are less useful if you do have significant work experience in the same or similar field - both because you gain less experience from them and because employers don't really need the positive reinforcement that having an internship adds your resume. Definitely useful to help differentiate your application if you're fresh out of undergraduate though.

[jkooh85]

Hi,

 

I just graduated, and I do not have internship experience before, just one-year research experience. That is because I want to do internship first in the U.S. and find full-time job. I think that will increase possibilities to get a job in the U.S. 

 

If I attend Cornell M.Eng. program, I can secure my internship next summer, however, I have to find full-time job right after attending Berkeley M.Eng. program. That is the reason why I still didn't make decision between them.

 

Can you give me any advice?

 

Thank you very much.

[compiler_guy]

Hi,

 

I just graduated, and I do not have internship experience before, just one-year research experience. That is because I want to do internship first in the U.S. and find full-time job. I think that will increase possibilities to get a job in the U.S. 

 

If I attend Cornell M.Eng. program, I can secure my internship next summer, however, I have to find full-time job right after attending Berkeley M.Eng. program. That is the reason why I still didn't make decision between them.

 

Can you give me any advice?

 

According to your argument, Cornell is the safer option because it allows you to get an internship and build up your experience before getting a full time job. And as an international student you don't want to be stressed out to quickly find a job or return to your home country...

 

So - go to Cornell! it is a great school.

[kcyc]

Don't you have 1 year after graduation to look for a job before you would have to return to your home country?

I imagine it is a lot easier to look for a job in Berkeley, since you can go to Silicon Valley in 1 hour. From Cornell it would be harder to go to the companies to do interviews. Usually employers do on campus interviews first and then onsite interviews for new hires. Also Berkeley carrying more prestige may give you a leg up in securing a job.

[Icydubloon]

Berkeley. More companies = higher chance of someone hiring you.

[Rantar]

Berkeley. More companies = higher chance of someone hiring you.

 

I don't think this should be taken too seriously considering Cornell is the other option.

 

Honestly this isn't even a hard choice - it isn't a "sacrifice" to go to Cornell over Berkeley... it is simply a "choice".

 

Go to Cornell since it is the more secure option for your future. If this was an equal choice, you would probably go to Berkeley just because you can. Don't get it in your head that you're "giving up" Berkeley.