Both schools have high reputations on ranking in general and in my specialty. Stanford program is 1 year course program without thesis and ETHz for 2 years with thesis. I intend to continue obtaining a PhD degree but don't want to be faculty, maybe I'll seek a job in industry. I have been exchange to Europe for a semester and really like there, but I've never experienced the study in US.
The only thing I am confused is that Stanford accepts too many self-funded master each year and I am not sure about the chance of turning to PhD a year later. If I couldn't, the one year program is too risky for me to continue a PhD elsewhere. But if I choose ETHz, Stanford will still be my top choice for PhD, but there's been rumor that Stanford will consider its own master first.
The tuition fee of Stanford is quite high and ETHz offers a partial scholarship, half amount of ESOP, but my parents are willing to fund me and money is not the most crucial problem. But considering the fact that environmental engineers don't acquire such high salaries(compared to CS), the investment seems too large. But my mum thinks it's worth to experience something new.
My professors' advice is Stanford, but that's kind of biased, since they don't get in touch much with Europe. But I myself is biased too, since I've never been to the States.
Sincerely looking forward to your advice thx a lot
