would it be easier to enter a top uni's weak course, or weak uni's top course?

[idontwannagraduate]

Hi all : )

 

I've been thinking of applying biomedical engineering; my parents are very concerned with university rankings therefore I've been browsing through all the Ivies and their rankings.

 

Yale's ranked 30th or so in BME while Georgia Tech's the 1st. So which one would be easier?

[fuzzylogician]

Which one would be easier, balancing a spoon on your nose or a tray on your head? 

 

Seriously, you are not giving us any information that can help us answer your question any more than mine. Official rankings aren't really the best way to choose schools--I suggest you concentrate on finding programs that fit your research plans and future career goals and worry less about what your parents think. 

[hustlebunny]

LOL at topic headline , apply to both?  post above is on point though, focus on what you wanna do 

[Guest |||]

Tell your parents as follows

 

Mom, dad, I've decided to become a professional pornographic engineer.

 

After they flip out, tell them, well Ok I'll consider going back to being a biomedical engineer, but I'm picking the school.

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

edit

Edited September 10, 2013 by JoeyBoy718

[juilletmercredi]

Even if your question were answerable, your dilemma doesn't match up with your question, as Georgia Tech is not a "weak uni" - it's one of the top research universities in the world, and definitely one of the most recognizable names in engineering and technology.  Their biomedical engineering program is top-ranked, so speaking as objectively as possible it's probably "more difficult" to get into GT's program than Yale's.

But given that grad admissions is based on fit, a student who doesn't fit well with Yale's department but fits very well with GT's may actually find it harder to gain admission to Yale.  And you definitely shouldn't select your grad schools by which one you think is easier to get into.

Grad school has to be your choice, not your parents', especially since you are the one who knows your field (unless they are also in it).  Your parents are going to be wowed by the names they have heard before - my mom was very impressed with my Yale admission without knowing that Yale was lower ranked in my field than some of the other programs I got into.