Hey guys! I recently found out that i was admitted to JHU’s BME program, Carnegie Mellon’s School of Computer Science and College of Engineering, Cornell University as a Huntington Scholar, and Duke. I’m very confused and I have only like a month to decide where I want to go.
I know that CMU has amazing recruiting while JHU has a terrific BME program. Cornell is an IV and Duke is just an overall good school. So if anyone can tell me a little bit about the opportunities I’ll have at any of these colleges and beyond (after undergrad), please enlighten me! I’m especially interested in the kinds of internship and job opportunities I may have, as well as the startup cultures at each of the schools.
I don’t plan on being pre-med right now. Kind of looking to take a management/business/entrepreneurship path in conjunction with a solid engineering foundation. What do you guys suggest?
Thanks!
Duke’s BME is definitely competitive with JHU’s, fwiw.
You are in a really interesting (and enviable) position!
On the one hand, JHU’s BME program and CMU’s CS program are both fantastic. However, Cornell and Duke also have great BME and CS programs. In fact, Duke’s BME program is probably the best after JHU’s and Cornell’s CS program is definitely top 10.
Since you are not entirely sure what you want to do. I’d pick the most versatile school that will still provide you with an excellent education and great career prospects. Duke and Cornell excel in many disciplines. JHU and CMU are a little more focused. I’d pick Duke because of its undergraduate focus, entrepreneurial culture (it’s not quite Stanford but there has been a big push to equip students with the skills they need to be great entrepreneurs), stellar academics and excellent job prospects. Duke graduates earn the highest starting salaries and consistently do better at securing admission to the best MBA programs.
You simply cannot go wrong but I think that Duke is the best “complete package” in this situation. If you want to attend graduate school in BME or CS it may make sense to pick JHU or CMU but I don’t think you’d be at a significant disadvantage if you picked Duke or Cornell.
I second this this ^^ and would also go with either Cornell or Duke. (if you were studying CS, then definitely CMU, but otherwise, the other two give you more options). Between those 2, if pressed I’d probably go with Duke for the same reasons as NerdyChica.