<p>I’ve applied for an MS in Mechanical Engineering and have got these admits to date.
I’m faced with this confusing choice of choosing a higher ranked univ giving no financial aid and a relatively lower ranked one giving tution waiver and TA for 1 year. What should I choose?
I can manage Stanford for about a quarter or 2 at the most. How is the situation of getting an assistant position(research/teaching) there currently?
I have faculty in my areas of interest in both places.</p>
<p>In Mechanical Engineering, I’m not so certain that Stanford has a significantly better reputation than Penn State. The Penn State ME program is very highly regarded, and has a very strong alumni network. That certainly isn’t to say that Stanford isn’t great, and the university as a whole is far more impressive than PSU. But in that specific area the difference is a lot less than in others, and as a graduate student you should be a lot more focused on your particular department than on the university in general.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply.</p>