gagga5

Hello All, I have been accepted to Georgia Tech and University of Michigan - Ann Arbor for MS in Mechanical Engineering. I got TA funding from both schools. My issue us, unlike those PhD applicants, I just graduated from undergraduate and I'm still doing my research to find a field for my MS topic. If I knew which research area I'm wanna be focused on, it could be easier to make decision, but I'm not. Potential research areas I might consider are fluid mechanics, biomechanics and design. I haven't been able to find an advisor from both schools yet. Ranking wise, Michigan has 5th and Gatech has 6th. So it really isn't an issue. Location/weather wise, I vote for Gatech without a doubt. Funding situation: 1year TA from both schools, so I won't be worried until next year, but some people have been telling me Michigan has been drowned with funding recently due to GM and other Detroit companies financial crisis. I'm not sure this is really true. Let me know what you guys think?!

I think Georgia Tech's brandname appeals only if you're in engineering programs. I'd say go with the school that is well known for arts&design. Most schools with name "Institute of Technology" are generally bad with liberal arts and non-engineering related programs. However, the well known industry connection (since its location is in heart of Atlanta) of Georgia Tech could definitely keep you in track with job connections.

Will be in Georgia Tech for MS in Mechanical Engineering.

There is no point paying $40,000 a year then get M.Eng from Cornell. It's not even a thesis based degree, just a course-work. Same idea for Duke. Go with the place where you can possibly get a funding. Ask Umich and USC people about how hard it is to get TA/RA funding during their MS/PhD program.

Please indicate your school name. Otherwise, we can't make a good worthy advices

First of all, how are your funding situation? Did you get any funding offer from Georgi Tech or UIUC? The ranking for Georgia Tech EE is 6th and UIUC is 4th. Since the gap isn't severe, I would go with the place where you can get more funding. Since you went to Georgia Tech for an undergrad, you know more faculties and ultimately you will have more chances of getting a funding. Eventhough it didn't come with your admission, you have better contacts than people from other schools. If you believe the funding situation is even for both schools, UIUC isn't bad but there is a big difference between living environment in Urbana Champaign and Atlanta. It's a severely rural place, 2hours away from airport and major city (Chicago). Ironically, engineering students don't have enough time to enjoy the luxury of environment, but if you do care, you might want to think about that point. Best,

I'm still waiting too. The admission's office staff once told me that my application was complete and under review...but that was in January. I have not heard anything yet.. I got an offer from Georgia Tech and Purdue. Concentration area is combustion. I saw some people put their admission results on this website, saying that they only got M.Eng degree instead of PhD (which is worthless).

I'm going to campus visit/interview at Georgia Tech tomorrow for PhD program in Mechanical Engineering (admitted). When they noticed me about my acceptance, they invited me for campus visit (with full reimbursement) for three days and told me I need to find my prospective advisor for financial aid. They told me I will be interviewing with professors I requested and some professor who requested to meet me (However they won't give me this list until the day of my interview). Weird thing is they asked me not to contact them in advance, therefore my selection was purely based on their research website and few information about them that I heard from ME students at Gatech. This will be my first time interviewing with graduate school faculties so I need some advice. I plan to prepare things about myself, research experience and little research about each professor. Would it be rude to ask them directly if they have funding? Worst case scenario would be that all professors have no funding for next year and they won't give me RAship. Then I guess I'm going to have to talk to the department about getting some TAship. Any comments about doing a good interview would be helpful (questions to ask/things to avoid/what are characteristics of good professor/funding and etc).