I got accepted to Electrical and Computer Engineering at (ECE) at Carnegie Mellon and accepted to the Pratt College of Engineering at Duke. I’m really confused as to picking a college between these two.
The most important factors to me include employability and pay after undergrad, as well as better entry into postgrad.
As for the “college experience”, I strongly believe I can have fun at any college because my definition of fun is more of having a few close friends and spending time with them playing sports/games/going out; I don’t particularly associate fun or the college experience to be Greek Life or insane parties - just fun with friends and going out into the city. But please do let me know if even such basic fun and making friends is a challenge at CMU:sweat_smile:.
It would also be valuable to mention that I’m not particularly interested in pure coding jobs like CS students. I am more interested in engineering/analyst jobs in tech/finance firms (hopefully with an entry into data analysts/engineers in finance). I know Duke has excellent placements in top finance companies, but I assume that’s the reputation for its postgraduate business school (whereas Duke doesn’t even offer finance as a major at undergrad, and CMU is nationally in top 10 for finance).
Does anybody have any inputs/advice as to which college might be a better pick for me?
If you want a career as a working engineer, CM. If you are focused on a path to V&C level leadership, or a something other than a traditional Engineering career, then Duke.
Also, hypothetically if I am confused as to stick to traditional engineering or enter into finance/management, would you think Duke or CMU is a safer choice? Which could offer me the best of both worlds, considering I may want to go into either?
You can do an Mba from either after working a few years. I would put zero import on that.
Here is career data from each.
I set this to bachelor 2024 ECE if it resets. Most seem to earn $110k plus.
Duke - you’ll need to ask. They don’t share - which is bothersome.
As for this statement - The most important factors to me include employability and pay after undergrad, as well as better entry into postgrad.
Tie - neither better.
So do you want a STEM oriented school in the city or a more rounded university, with big sports, in a smaller area. Also does weather matter to you etc -and note Dukes dorms require a short shuttle the first year.
Weather does not really matter. But if the primary factor of employability and pay don’t prove either to be better, Duke would prevail for secondary factors such as college atmosphere and campus…
To me the two schools have very different vibes. And I think a happy student has a better chance of academic success and personal growth. Assuming both options are affordable, I’d strongly suggest you choose whichever school feels like the right fit to you.
In terms of a MBA program, both schools will serve you well. In addition to academic qualifications, you will also need strong standardized tests, excellent LORs and essays, and 2-5 years of meaningful work experience with increasing responsibility.
Employability in the major would be good most schools.
Is CMU better salary wise - perhaps - Duke doesn’t show so that’s why I would ask them. Is it meaningfully different? It’s possible.
When I say employability is a tie, I am not assuming a specific salary - simply that you will have a job - which I think you likely would from both (or wouldn’t - if the economy tanked).
You have two great choices - but yes they are different.
Sounds like you prefer Duke - and you’ll never go wrong wearing that Duke sweatshirt around society.
No wrong choice. CMU is a fit school. It’s not for everyone.
As for VC, CMU does just fine. It’s not Silicon Valley but there are opportunities. Especially with CS and robotics. A degree from CMU would not be a hindrance. One of the first companies I worked for was a CMU startup. IBM bought it.
