Would masters in Industrial engineering be good?

Which universities are good for masters in engineering?

• I am planning to complete a masters in chemical engineering, environmental engineering or sustainable engineering. which are the best universities in the US/UK for these courses? also, is post grad study in the UK recommended for an Indian student? thanks a lot!

• Answer:

  In my opinion, the best engineering programs prepare you effectively for a job. First, it should have a strong network to help you get a job. Such universities should have an alumni network, job placement office, campus recruiters from engineering companies, etc. The reality is that some schools are located in areas where the economy is very strong. Conversely, some excellent engineering schools are situated in cities with poor job opportunities. So the key is to find a good program in a good location with a strong alumni network to help you get a job. So start by looking at the jobs that are in demand and the locations in which they tend to be found. For the USA, go to http://www.dice.com/ and type in the following search keys: * chemical engineering * ASTM * polymer * heat transfer * HVAC * chemistry The list goes on. Once you figure out what types of jobs are most common for chemical engineers and a geographic distribution of locations, then apply to the best program in that area. For example, I know for a fact that petroleum engineering and chemical engineering are strong in Texas. So apply to master's programs in that state like University of Texas, Houston, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, etc. For medical applications of chemical engineering, the tri-state area has been known to be strong. So apply to Rutgers, Maryland, etc. Conversely, the midwest tends to be strong in pharmaceutical projects, which often require chemical engineers who specialize in pharmacy. Abbott Labs is located in Chicago. So try Illinois, Northwestern, Wisconsin, etc. if you want to go that route (and don't mind freezing winters). There are also many biomedical companies in the northeast that often require chemical engineers. So you could try MIT, Boston College, Connecticut, etc. California also has many chemical engineering projects. So one could try UCLA, UC Berkeley, San Diego State, UC Irvine, etc. I found that some excellent engineering schools are situated in areas that do not have a lot of engineering jobs. For example, Michigan is a top-rated engineering college and very prestigious. But Detroit and other cities in Michigan don't really have a lot of job opportunities right now. The University of Arizona has an excellent engineering school but is situated in Tucson, a somewhat small town without major industries to provide jobs for a large number of local graduates. If you really want to learn the most about American culture while attending college, I would recommend attending a large public university with a well-rounded sports program. That way, you could experience the culture of American people. College isn't just about academics. The social life, introduction to the American lifestyle, sports, college-town atmosphere, etc. can also make college interesting if a healthy balance is desired. I would recommend the "Public Ivies" in areas of the country with strong economies. This means schools like Texas, UCLA, UC Berkeley, U. of Washington, Wisconsin, Virginia, etc. The private schools tend to veer away from the average American experience and cater to the wealthy (i.e. Yale, Harvard, Stanford, etc) and do not always reflect regular Americans. The average American doesn't own a yacht (i.e. Harvard). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Ivy