PhD in Chemical Engineering vs MS in Biotechnology

[Magnetar]

Hey forum!

Here's the deal: I can go to a respectable PhD program in chemical engineering (Case Western) in which the tuition is already covered and well as receiving a stipend.  However, I can also go to a top university in Biotechnology with some merit aid (Northwestern), but it will still be much more expensive. I still need to find out if the aid is renewable, but assuming it is, should I still go the route of chemical engineering (which will be my BS degree, by the way) at the okay-ish university? There are certainly some faculty I am interested in working with, but I realize that employers will definitely recognize the university's name for the biotech program.

There's also the fact that the ChemE university is in a mediocre city (Cleveland), but the Biotech university is near Chicago, which I know I'll enjoy a lot more. I know it might seem superficial to place emphasis on location, but I've read from others that it really does make a difference, so I thought I would mention it.

Of course, if my scholarships are not renewable, I will definitely not go into debt when I can just jump into doing a PhD. But assuming not, I was wondering if anyone else had any useful input/suggestions.

I know I want to do research, although I haven't thought far ahead enough to know if I would still want to do a PhD after getting a Biotech masters (which takes 2 years).

There's also the pay..I feel like I would make a lot more whilst still doing work I enjoy with the ChemE degree. I'm also definitely more of a math person. So maybe I'm overthinking it and Case is the obvious choice.

[Magnetar]

I don't like bumping threads, especially when they're not even a day old, but this scenario just sprung up on me rather last-minute, so any potential input needs to be asap.

[user12616]

Hi,

As someone that did a Master's in biotech at another program (only to decide to do a PhD in BME/ChemE/MSE), never ever take the less funded option unless you can truly justify it. I was also accepted to Northwestern biotech (but decided to go to Brown because it was a considerably cheaper and had a thesis component, ideal for me because I wanted to do a PhD after). 

If it helps I was accepted to Northwestern for PhD and was just there a few weeks ago, and was told by grad students that Northwestern's biotech placement isn't great because there's not really much industry in the Chicago area. Look for programs in either the bay area or Cambridge, MA for placement. Most of Northwestern's strong BME faculty have opened their own startups and that is where a lot of their students place. I don't know that this is helpful for you though since I remember the Northwestern biotech master's doesn't have a thesis component...

Also-- why on earth would you want to pay money to do a master's at a marginally better school when you are fully funded for a PhD in ChemE? Take the funded offer! Case is a great school, and you're guaranteed to earn a 6 figure salary after! Biotech masters? Maybe 50k, if you're lucky. It's not really considered engineering. You can always do research in bio and work in biotech industry post grad, or absolute worst case scenario leave your program with a Master's if you need to work right away. Good luck!

Edited April 4, 2016 by user12616

[Magnetar]

That's what I was expecting/looking for, thank you haha.  I suppose the only reason I didn't dismiss the offer from NU was because I was not only admitted into the program, but I was given one of their top merit aids, which is something I'm not used to.

(I don't know about guaranteed six figure salary..But I certainly like to be optimistic!)

[user12616]

 haha fair point, you're right, nothing is guaranteed. good luck to you!