buckethead

I am still waiting to hear something from Berkeley. Already got accepted in Stanford but I was really looking forward to visiting Berkeley during the Stanford's visit weekend on 10-13th March.

Accepted: Stanford and SCI Institute of U of Utah. Didn't hear from Berkeley, Harvard and MIT yet. Looking at the situation, seems like it will be a reject from Berkeley and MIT, not sure about Harvard yet. But I would have digged Stanford anyway.. so it doesn't matter now

Just wondering how is Simon Fraser University viewed in USA for its Computer Science (MSc Thesis) program. Also, how is it rated in Canada compared to other schools?

Hi, just wondering how is University of Calgary viewed in general among American academia. I know everything depends on a particular program but I just want to know the general impression, specially in the field of computer science. Say, after completing my MSc from Calgary how my chances might shape up for a PhD in USA (good schools)?

any wise suggestions , specially in the field of Computer Graphics!

Yes, there is the catch; I have fairly good funding offer from Calgary. On the other hand, no funding offer has been yet made by ASU. The funding offer from Calgary is (MSc): 14k (TA) + 7K (RA) + 50% Reimbursement of tuition (~5586 CAD). Also there is a very slim chance that I might also get the Graduate Research Award (~6k) upon entrance. The professor also apparently seems quite good; at least I saw him among famous graphics personnel and conferences. The deal with Calgary (even without that entrance scholarship) is such that even in worst case scenario I may not have pay anything from my own pocket. However, the professor's line of interest and research is a bit off-the-line from mine but that is fine for MSc I suppose. The deal with ASU is (PhD): No funding offer has been made ( and honestly, without funding I am not going there anyway ). The professor is perfectly in-line with my research interest (which is Real-Time Rendering and Physically Based Rendering). He is also very young and very energetic type and has been conducting very exciting researches in ASU. The PRISM lab seems good with good people and equipments. The only thing right now (without that funding offer) is pulling me towards ASU is that Graphics Programs are best in USA ( infact it is almost a USA thing ). So I just feel like being pulled towards USA for that reason. Also wondering if it is possible to switch my PhD offer at ASU to MS or is it possible to take MS and then transfer to some other schools for PhD. But whatever, I want do do my PhD in Graphics from US. University of Calgary is placed higher in status in Canada than ASU is placed in US (is that right?). More suggestions would be appreciated and I really would like to know how University of Calgary is viewed from US universities.

Ok, seems like things have boiled down to either 1. Arizona State University [PhD] OR 2. University of Calgary [MSc] Though I have a couple of decisions pending ( one from SFU and the other from USC) but lets just assuming I am not going to make either of them. Now comes the confusing part. I basically applied in Computer Graphics and Visualization. Now both universities has got some pros and cons 1. ASU: The professor is young, ethusiastic and very much in line with my areas of interest. However, ASU didn't mention anything about funding yet and that particular professor also hasn't confirmed that I will be working under him either. So that makes things a bit uncertain on this end. The PRISM (graphics) lab seems well equipped and good things are apparently going on there. Btw, it is a PhD offer. Among negative things: I still dont know anything about funding and also ASU is not a very highly ranked univ for Graphics and Visualization. 2. Calgary I dont know the exact ranking of Calgary but apparent it is named among the top as a research university in Canada. The professor is really good, though a bit older and may not be as energetic as that of ASU's. But he seems quite well known in the graphics world, also in SIGGRAPH and etc. Most importantly, Calgary offered very good funding. But point to be noted is that I applied for MSc here. Among negatives: It is a good university but apart from UBC and U of Toronto , Canada is not very popular in the graphics world. Also the location Calgary is like HELL in winter (I heard temperatures can reach -40 deg sometimes!!! can you beleive that). What do I do now ? :roll: My undergrad professor is suggesting me to opt for Calgary because it is a MSc program and therefore after completing my MSc from Calgary I might be able to apply for PhD in better US schools later on. I am totally confused. Any suggestion will be appreciated.