OR PhD or Bust

Hey all, I was wondering if anyone applied to the HHMI fellowship of Gilliam for advanced study. June is almost over and I haven't heard anything (I assume a bad sign).

To answer some questions The POI at school A, does have students getting internships and positions at great places. The POI at school B is very likely to get tenure by the time I graduate (based on speaking with people at the program) and is well known and liked in the department. I considered fewer classes being a pro because I could more focus on research sooner. The POI is graduating his first PhD students this year so I don't know where his students end up but they seem to have good prospects (two of three of his MS students we on to get their PhD from MIT and the third stayed under him for his PhD)

Thanks for all the input! I'm still a bit torn, but I'm heading in the right direction I think.

I am torn b/w two programs both of which have professors doing research I'm interested in. I'll list the pros and cons of my dilemma. School A: Program is ranked among the best in the world, and I will be working with a very established, well known, and well networked tentured professor. The one problem is the professor is known to not be the best advisor and to keep the students for a long time. This can be mitigated by changing professors, but this professor is the only one doing the EXACT research I'd like, so I can do other things of interest but not exactly what I would like to do. School B: Program is still world renown but just not among the top 5. My advisor would be newer (an associate professor), but all the students seem happy with well balanced lives. The school is international so I'm worried about my ability to network properly in the US (esp with a less senior professor), but the prof has connections in one of the places I'd like to live after I graduate. The city is also more expensive, and I would have to TA (money on top of the stipend) in order to make a living wage (though I LOVE teaching so its not a big deal). The program also requires less classes (which gives more tme to teach) and the professor is respectful of your time, so I'd definitely graduate sooner. I also feel very comfortable with this professor and I feel excited to work with the lab as well. There are also more professor at this school doing my research of interest so if I choose to switch I won't necessarily have to change my topic as drastically. HELP! I feel like there are enough pros and cons that I could convince myself of either.

For the PhD program it took about two weeks get the 2nd acceptance. You'll get an email, and then can you accept or reject online. Hope that helps!

Yeah I think I would agree. Plus LA does have an even larger job market than SD (even though they are close). As long as there is a professor at USC that is working on something you're really interested in (as I personally think that's the MOST important thing). Also, people can tell me if I'm wrong, but having lived in LA, though UCLA is recognized as a better school, USC is equated with it for the most part in LA. That won't happen with UCSD.

I was matched for MONTHS and just recently released. It would be strange and disadvantageous for the applicant if no other company can look at your application while you are matched. Anyway... congrats to those who got this fellowship. The whole process seems very stange. Being in IE/OR, I feel lots of companies don't find our skill set as beneficial/useful. Especially at the PhD level!!

Well then... this makes me feel there are VERY few spots.

So frustrating, I've just stayed matched since December. Has anyone taken the initiative to contact employers of interest?

Yeah GA Tech's weekend is next weekend. I assume they will send out results within a week or two of that. I'll have a better idea after the weekend.

I guess we never got an email.

Ugh I've been listed as matched for a long time, but no calls or emails. How are most of you being contacted? I just think no one wants a PhD in Operations Research.

Yes mine also still says "to dept for review"

Did anyone else apply to GA Tech? I got an email inviting them to their weekend today. Also, I got an interview with UMich but then didn't get invited to the weekend. One of the professors really liked me so something must have happened with the numbers.

When I spoke with the GEM office, they said that employers will look at your application and then decide, and as they do that your status will change from matched to unmatched, etc. I have heard nothing either. I have been listed as matched and unmatched as well. I was told that you can get called by an employer all the way through April. I assume since April 15th is the big deadline for schools for funding that they will ideally let you know by then. Knowing that a lot of people haven't been contacted yet makes me feel a bit better. I will continues to keep you guys posted!!