Decision between two engineering programs

[bsteinma]

I applied to only a couple of graduate schools for engineering. I applied to U. Minnesota for mechanical engineering and U. Iowa for biomedical engineering (my alma mater). I also applied to U. Minnesota's biomedical engineering program. Minnesota's mechanical engineering program has accepted me and I am waiting to find out from their biomedical program. I graduated with a biomedical engineering degree and want to pursue cardiovascular or cardiopulmonary devices. I am reluctant to only find a few areas of interest within Minnesota's ME program and a lot in their BME program (but I haven't received their decision yet). I have been working with a physician at Iowa on a few projects that I have recently become more interested in. Would it be better for me to go to Minnesota because of its reputation even if I can't pinpoint something right away that I am interested in. Or would it be better for me to stay at Iowa and work on what I have been working on for the past year and a half.

Any advice or recommendations would be very helpful.

Thank You,

bsteinma

[Aceflyer]

You should go to the program that fits your interests and passions better. Don't go to a program just on the basis of its reputation or 'prestige'. However, at the same time, I think you shouldn't be afraid to consider switching to a new project/new adviser. If you do get into Minnesota's BME program, I would recommend looking at the faculty pages and going for a visit to see whether there is anything there that turns you on. Take a good look at both Minnesota and Iowa and then go where you feel you would be happier. Don't stay at Iowa just because you could continue working on your current project; don't go to Minnesota just on the basis of reputation. Rather, consider all the factors and the pros and cons at each place and then go from there. Best of luck!