M.Eng in CS at Cornell over M.S.E in CS at Johns Hopkins

Colleges & Universities Cornell University
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<p>Hi</p>

<p>I have an admit from Cornell University for an M.Eng degree in Computer Science and from Johns Hopkins for an M.S.E degree in the same. I have done projects in Bioinformatics and am interested in working at the integration of Computer Science and Medicine/Biology and would like to do a PhD later on. Which university should I opt for?
Firstly, I read on some forums that the M.Eng program at Cornell is a really hectic course-based professional program which is more industry oriented and people usually don’t want to do research who go in for it. Johns Hopkins on the other hand is giving an academic degree which is more research oriented. Is that really true? If so, Hopkins has the edge here.
However living etc is easier at Cornell (they give on-campus housing to all graduates) and it is safer compared to Baltimore. Also Cornell is an ivy-league and their department of Computer Science is highly ranked (higher compared to Hopkins).
I definitely want to stay in the academic field and go in for a PhD later.
Suggestions desperately needed:)</p>

<p>Thanks a lot</p>

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<p>“… M.Eng program at Cornell is a really hectic course-based professional program which is more industry oriented and people usually don’t want to do research who go in for it.”</p>

<p>I don’t know about “really hectic”, seemed about the same as undergrad to me. They did a design project instead of a thesis; I guess how hectic would depend on the project one undertakes. The rest is correct, it was course-based and industry-oriented. The idea is it’s like a 5th year of undergrad, with advanced studies and more specialization in sub-areas of particular interest, and culminating in a capstone design project. It is not a research degree.</p>

<p>Above is all dated information, for how it was long ago, BTW, I have not followed it in recent times, could be all different for all I know. And I don’t know how it works/worked specifically in CS either, my comments were for engineering in general.</p>

<p>You would want to explore with someone at Cornell the extent to which you can turn it into a perfect platform to pursue your personal objectives. I don’t know the answer.</p>

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<p>Today there is a sizable contingent of Cornell undergrad engineers who are very interested in research. You can browse the following link (if you haven’t already):</p>

<p>[Undergrad</a> Engineering Research at Cornell](<a href=“http://www.engineering.cornell.edu/research/undergraduate/index.cfm][b]Undergrad”>http://www.engineering.cornell.edu/research/undergraduate/index.cfm)</p>

<p>In the meantime, let’s hope that some current Cornell engineers involved in research will notice your thread and chime in.</p>

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<p>

Source: [url=<a href=“http://www.cs.cornell.edu/grad/MEngProgram/MEngAdmissions/FAQs/index.htm]FAQs[/url”>http://www.cs.cornell.edu/grad/MEngProgram/MEngAdmissions/FAQs/index.htm]FAQs[/url</a>]</p>

<p>I wouldn’t say that going into M.Eng program means that you wouldn’t have a chance to go to PhD. Yes, it’s a professional degree, but if you work on a project that is research oriented, and the professor likes you, you might have a very high chance of getting on for PhD working under the same professor. So, in other words, it really depends on what your interest is, and what project you would work on.</p>

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<p>@pragya
…should have put the following link to engineering research in general, rather than the the focus on undergrads from the link listed in post #3:</p>

<p>[Engineering</a> Research at Cornell](<a href=“http://www.engineering.cornell.edu/research][b]Engineering”>Strategic Areas of Research | Cornell Engineering)</p>

<p>You may have already browsed these pages, but I list it nonetheless – others may have an interest. After having read your original post more carefully I realize that you have a interesting path to navigate. The post by fri3nds is a start, but let’s hope that you get additional feedback from people in the know.</p>