Columbia MSCS vs Cornell MEng - which would you choose and why???

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to decide between Columbia MSCS (2-year program) and Cornell MEng CS (~1 year), and I’d really appreciate some honest opinions from people who’ve been in a similar situation.

A bit about me:

- International student

- Interested in ML / applied AI (not very theory-heavy)

- Goal is to get a good SWE/ML job in the US after graduation

- Cost is not a major factor for me

My current understanding:

- Columbia → more time, internship opportunities, NYC exposure

- Cornell MEng → faster, more intense, but no real internship window

I’m trying to understand which option gives better outcomes in terms of:

- Job opportunities (especially for internationals)

- Internship vs full-time recruiting experience

- Overall stress / workload

- Long-term value

If you had to choose between the two, which one would you pick and why?

Would love to hear real experiences or advice — especially from Columbia/Cornell students or recent grads.

Thanks a lot!