UC Berkeley PDP vs Duke MEM

[Jake~~]

Hey everyone!

I graduated from one of the top engineering schools in US with chemical engineering major. I am currently in the process of choosing grad schools and I am kind of lost between those two programs mentioned above. I really wanna hear from you !

Based on my research,

UCB (M.S chemical engineering -product development program)

Pro: Its related with my chemical engineering background though we will not take any traditional chemical engineering courses in that PDP program like thermo, fluids...It focuses on the product development with concentration on pharm, cosmetic, biotech and entrepreneurship.

Cons: It is only one-year program and the job placement is not shown on the website. I tried to reach out some alumni but got little information.

Duke( Master of engineering management)

Pro: Curriculum with 4 business courses and 4 technical courses is attractive. Strong alumni network. The program can be extended to 1.5 year. 

Cons: Big batch size -around 120 students every year. 

I am an international student and my goal after graduation is simple: just to find a job in US for at least period of time. Most chemical company has very strict restrictions with recruiting international students. Therefore, I wanna choose a program that I can have more open choices after graduation. 

Can anyone give me some advice (location, alumni, job placement, reputation...)?

Thank you !

[rising_star]

I'd probably go with Duke. A longer program could give you time to do internships or co-op type arrangements during the degree program, which could potentially help you on the job market.

[Jake~~]

Thanks for your reply. Any other ideas?

[ClassApp]

I agree with @rising_star. 1.5 years also means that you'll have an empty summer during which you can intern. In addition, there are a lot of opportunities for engineering jobs around Duke--it's in Durham, which is part of the research triangle in NC that spans Chapel Hill (with UNC CH) and Raleigh (with NC State). Both universities probably have offices for international students--I would recommend reaching out to those offices and asking what support they have in terms of helping international students get internships and jobs after graduation. Honestly, public universities in the US have been taking a big hit, and the UC system has been taking a hit for 10+ years. Duke has a lot of money for scholarships, grants, and student support. With a big program, it's important to reach out to specific professors ASAP about research and job opportunities.