Hello,
I have been offered admits to the Master's program in Chemical Engineering at the University of Washington, Seattle campus and Ohio State University, Columbus (both unfunded). There are several pros and cons to both universities which has made this a tough decision for me. I'll be grateful if someone on the forum will provide some useful insights into the situation.
University of Washington (Thesis/Non thesis track to be chosen by me)-
I'll enter into the 2nd batch of MS students in ChemE, so it's not that well estalished.
Rankings put UW, for chemical, above Ohio,
Being a non-CS/EEE branch, job hunt after MS will be difficult
There's a lot of flexibility in the courses that I can take, even among the compulsory ones
They take 10 MS students, so small class strength
I have close relatives in Seattle, plus I've heard Seattle is a great place to live in
Some temporary assistantships are available, not exactly like RA/TAships
Ohio State University (Thesis)-
There are greater opportunities for RA/TA appointments, esp in allied depts
Not sure if good opportunities are available after graduation, and if the dept is very recognized
Research fields under the professors are more diverse than at UW
Courses are pre-determined and electives can only be taken if they help my thesis
They took 40 MS students this year (huge jump from 5-10 taken in the previous years)
Climate-wise both these places can be harsh and very different from where I currently live. I have worked on catalysis and nano-materials before this, and both research areas are represented in these colleges. So, everything seems to have averaged out and I am confused. If someone can comment on any/both of these colleges/departments, I'll be highly grateful.