abhi.verma87

NCSU is the clear winner among your admits when it comes to reputation in CS related courses. It is a very nyc university and its proximity to RTP means there are decent job opportunities available there. I have heard that its very competitive to get on-campus jobs and all but since you have a PhD admit and must be already funded, it shouldn't be you primary concern. Anyways, you should probably go ahead and look at professor profiles of both the universities and check if there is someone who is doing good work in your preferred research area or there is someone you would like to work under. Also how flexible and wide the courses offered are in the field of ur choice. These should be the deciding factors according to me. But it's your call in the end....

UIUC is an awesome admit... @goku_supersayan. Congrats for the same ...... its totally worth those extra bucks. It's a huge difference in reputation that we are talking about ..... and UIUC won't be ranked amond the top 10 for no reason. I totally agree with what you said about Prof Skienna.... he would be my first choice professor in case i end up at Stony Brook (haven't got the admit though). And anyways I would have accepted the offer any day because of my interest in Algorithms and Systems in which Stony has an awesome reputation. It's just that Mayank here is interested in AI and Machine Learning and not sure how good the course for AI at Stony Brook is.

Thanks for all the help Yihuan

Well... congrats on your admits. I have been stuck in the choice between Rutgers and NCSU for a long time now. MS CS admits at Rutgers are a breed very hard to come by must say. Rutgers and Stony Brook are both awesome Unviersities. Both of them hold a very good reputation when it comes Systems oriented courses or courses related to Algorithms and Theoretical Computing(my intended specialization), because then it would mostly be the cost factor ruling my decision though Rutgers is still a better program but not worth the large difference in cost. Now as for your decision... the first thing you would want to consider is how are both of these schools as far as Machine learning or AI courses are concerned. What courses they offer, how the respective professors are and if there is any interesting research going on in these areas at either of these universities. Cost will be a factor secondary to the one mentioned above. If both the schools fair well for AI, Stony Brook would be an obvious choice. Well all the best with your decision.... am guessing 15th April would be the deadline to choose for Rutgers 'eh. I just hope i can make up my mind by then too :/

Thanks Yihuan and skyentist Btw skyentist .... considering that the annual tuition for NCSU and Rutgers doesn't differ by much (22K at NCSU vs 24.5K at Rutgers) ... its the cost of living in Jersey area which is causing the gap. However, I have heard that it is relatively easier to bag an on-campus job in Rutgers CS dept (very low intake) which could help you out with living expenses.... where as at NCSU the large number of international(Indian mostly) students at NCSU stiffens the competition to get on-campus jobs by quite a margin. Sometimes ppl don't gt any on-campus jobs for the entire duration of course. I know these are variables and subject to change over circumstances ........... but still the low batch size of Rutgers is pretty enticing in terms of better learning/interaction with professors. Also the large number of research and PhD profiles around would provide a better learnign environment. Just my thought ...... would love to know your views about the same. Btw congrats for your admits..... UIUC and Stanford ...... don't know how high they rank for their courses in Material Science/Physics, still I have crazy respect for those Universities being a CS grad

Hey Kleene, When i mentioned lower batch strength, I had no intention of commenting on the competitiveness of the students in the batch. It simply meant lower NUMBER of students ( I should've gone with batch size ). As it is NCSU gives admits to approx 250 students for their Computer Science courses where at Rutgers the batch size is somewhere around 30-40 (massive difference). About competitiveness, I would say that at Rutgers most of the students are admitted for PhD and have research profiles so that will only make up for a more competitive environment with a lot of research profiles around but what the lesser number of admits accounts for is better on campus job opportunities which would eventually help me with my finances. Hope i made myself clear there..... and I totally agree with you on whatever you said. I reckon having good competition does provide an ideal environment to grow

Heyy ... thanks for your suggestion. Well job would be the first priority ... as I would be taking heavy loan for the studies and would like to repay it asap ..... However, i can't say that I am not totally enticed with the idea of going for a PhD....so yeah, will have to wait and watch on that. And yes you are correct, the tuition doesn't differ for both schools by much.... but the cost of living is pretty much on da heavier side for Rutgers...and that accumulates over time :/ ... That was bothering me........... Well hopefully i will end up in Rutgers itself ...... just trying to get a plan in place

Hi guys, I have admits for MS in CS from NCSU and Rutgers University. Both the admits are non-funded. My specialization track is Algorithms and Theoretical Computing. I have received reviews that Rutgers is awesome when it comes to Theoretical Computing and Algorithms with an overlap between computers and mathematics dept (very highly reputed) and some really awesome faculty around. All the factors are ruling in favour of Rutgers in terms of location(proximity to NYC), lower batch strength, higher on-campus job opportunites, better faculty and research opportunities when it comes to algorithms etc... however, cost is one factor which is letting me off. Higher tuition and higher cost of living sums up for a considerable cost difference among the two. What do you guys opine my choice should be? Is it worth trying to fight your way out in large CS batches (120+ MS students) at NCSU or if the environment at Rutgers with lower and quality crowd(mostly research profiles) is worth those additional bucks. [P.S. from what I have heard, I am already at a loss trying to figure out admits whereas many a courses like algorithms, advanced data structures etc are already filled out at NCSU ]

Hi guys, I have admits for MS in CS from NCSU and Rutgers University. Both the admits are non-funded. My specialization track is algorithms and theoretical computing. I have received reviews that Rutgers is way better when it comes to these subjects with an overlap between computers and mathematics dept (very highly reputed) and some really awesome faculty around. All the factors are ruling in favour of Rutgers in terms of location(proximity to NYC), lower batch strength, higher on-campus job opportunites, better faculty and research opportunities when it comes to algorithms etc... however, cost is one factor which is letting me off. Higher tuition and higher cost of living sums up for a considerable difference among the two. What do you guys opine my choice should be? Is it worth trying to fight your way out in large CS batches (120+ MS students) at NCSU or the environment at Rutgers with lower and quality crowd(mostly research profiles) is worth those additional bucks. P.S. from what I have heard, I am already at a loss trying to figure out admits whereas many a courses like algorithms, advanced data structures etc are already filled out at NCSU

Got and admit for MS in CS at Rutgers New Brunswick/Piscataway. Decision communicated via mail on 25th March'14.

Hey Yihuan... good that you got your confusion sorted out and the funded PhD admit is pretty much an obvious choice. However, I am in a similar dilemma between the same colleges.....just that the funding part is missing and both admits are for MS. I have admits for MS CS from NCSU and Rutgers University. Both the admits are non-funded. My specialization track is algorithms and theoretical computing. I have received reviews that Rutgers is way better when it comes to these subjects with an overlap between computers and mathematics dept (very highly reputed) and some really awesome faculty around. All the factors are ruling in favour of Rutgers in terms of location(proximity to NYC), lower batch strength, higher on-campus job opportunites etc... however, cost is one factor which is letting me off. Higher tuition and higher cost of living sums up for a considerable difference among the two. What do you guys opine my choice should be? Is it worth trying to fight your way out in large CS batches (120+ MS students) at NCSU or the environment at Rutgers with lower and quality crowd(mostly research profiles) is worth those additional bucks. P.S. from what I have heard, I am already at a loss trying to figure out admits whereas many a courses like algorithms, advanced data structures etc are already filled out at NCSU

That's so weird. ..... no meeting and greeting happening around among Rutgers' admits :/ Heard about the low intake.... but this is scary

Thanks Colin, Reading through those links has already weighed me towards Rutgers been reading about the faculty and their research work still totally overlooked these awesome collaborations happening at Rutgers Would definitely get back to you with any queries I have and also otherwise ........... you are the only guy that I have run across who is bound to visit Rutgers CS dept this fall... so yeah I might just bug you a bit

Hey Colin... I just got an admit from Rutgers-New Brunswick for MS in CS for Fall'14. Pretty inclined towards joining it but still confused between admit from NCSU and this one. I am pretty sure you must have done your bit of research going for PhD in CS at Rutgers. Are there any key highlights from it which you would like to point out to help me decide? By the way what is your area of interest for research? My interest inclines towards Algorithms and theoretical computing or may be AI. I have heard Rutgers has good professors and coursework concerned with theoretical computing. Any insight about the same? Don't know why its so hard to come across seniors from the college.... having a real tough time collecting information about the same. Would really help if you could provide me some information. Anyhow congrats on your admit .........