Stanford v. GaTech BME

Graduate School
1

<p>My parents are not pleased that I decided to go to GaTech rather than Stanford for BME. I like everything about Tech better than Stanford and my parents are convinced that Stanford would lead to better and higher paying jobs no matter what b/c of alumni, prestige in overall engineering, and industrial connections. It doesn’t help either that we know someone (same class as me) who did BME at Duke and will be doing BME at Stanford. Apparently, I’m taking a big step “down” and she’s taking a big step “up.” I’d like to think that I know a little more about BME academia and industry than my parents, who are both in management in hi-tech industry (EE and CS), but maybe I don’t. I can appreciate that a company wants people in top positions with impressive pedigrees.</p>

<p>Is there anyone out there who has gotten good advice on this kind of situation, choosing the research and environment you want over a more prestigious school that you don’t really like at all?</p>

2

<p>GaTech is a premier BME program. Stanford is a new BME program. So actually GaTech for BME is more prestigious, particularly if you want to stay in academia. </p>

<p>One of the plusses of grad school as far as this sort of situation goes is that your parents won’t be paying for your education, so they have less say in the matter than for undergrad.</p>