Math Masters. NYU vs Warwick

[julian.lee]

Hello guys, I'm having a difficult time choosing between masters offers from New York University and University of Warwick. 

I'm a student from South Korea, freshly graduated, and I majored in Economics and Statistics, but suddenly changed my mind to major in mathematics at my final year. I intend to do a phd in math, but due to my short exposure to mathematics, couldn't apply to any phd programs and applied to masters instead. Offers from NYU and Warwick are most enticing, both 2 year programs. 

My preference right now is Warwick for a number of reasons. First, I'm interested in stochastic analysis, and Warwick is one of the best in this area. In SPDE, they have Martin Hairer, the greatest name of the field, and also they have many interesting and challenging courses that I can take on this area, so I think if I choose to pursue this field then it would be more advantageous to join Warwick. Also, I prefer the environment there. I heard Warwick is very collaborative, while NYU isn't so much interactive. And having compared the courses offered to masters students, I see that Warwick's courses are more advanced, I think this is a general aspect of UK schools. 

That being said, I'm going to have to apply to schools in U.S. for phd in the future, and I think for that NYU may be better. I'm interested in UK schools as well, Warwick's surely a great option for phd, but UK schools offer much less scholarship to non EU students. Also, NYU says that masters students in their school are more favorably considered for phd applications. I don't know how much but this is what they say so...

Anyways both are great schools. The faculty profile seems great in both schools, though I'm not very sure what the reputation of professors in Warwick are to other top schools in the States. And since this is a decisive factor in applying for phds, I must consider it. Meanwhile, cost differences are not much of a concern for me. If there's anyone in this forum who can give me any advice, I'd sincerely appreciate.

 

[MathCat]

This is a gut-feeling answer and I haven't thought about the pros and cons that much, so take it with a grain of salt. I think that a Masters degree in the US is not viewed as well as Masters degrees in other countries are, because of the common direct-to-PhD model in the US. A lot of people seem to view American Masters degrees as somebody either flunking out of or failing to get into a PhD - not many people intending to go into academia would choose to do the Masters first if they could get into a funded PhD program directly in the US model.

 

My impression of NYUs Masters program is that it's the booby prize they offer to people they don't want to admit to funded PhDs, so it doesn't seem very prestigious to me. I wouldn't count on getting into the PhD program just because you were in their Masters program, and I would question how you will be treated as a Masters student (you might be invisible to the faculty).

 

Based on these thoughts, I'd lean towards Warwick. But I don't actually have any first hand knowledge of either school or program, so you shouldn't base too much off of what I've said (double check that what I've said is true!).