there_is_a_so_long_wait

i think this guy has a point from the other thread

No problem. Thanks and good luck with USC
I'm an international student, so take everything with a grain of salt.
I've read both that it helps a lot and also that it doesn't matter as much (as long as you put in the work).
My personal opinion is that between two people with the same amount of work done, a R1 degree might be the deciding factor. But I personally would go for the stronger department, where the faculty can prepare you better.

imo, no
the school will get the $ from whomever regardless... no difference in their perspective 

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!
so CUNY vs UCI?

Would have to strongly consider USC based on the better commute alone.

Ok, I thought so too. Thanks.

USC is interesting in that the campus is located in a not so great area but it has that prep feel to it, I live about 20 minutes away from SC and used to drive past it every day for work for about 2 or 3 years. UCI is all prep all the time. I personally didn't apply to UCI in my field (Crim) because I dislike Irvine (school and area) because of it's air of pretentiousness but I also didn't apply to any CA schools because I wanted a change of scenery. With all that said, gun to my head...UCI > USC.

I prefer the general environment of Irvine over USC, yes.

For what field? I personally enjoy Irvine's campus a lot more. Irvine is a nice city, pretty far away from the downtown LA pollution, has great food, and is very safe. USC's neighborhood is notorious for crime so that's something to keep in mind. But as a private school, USC has more money.
Irvine has no one I'd like to work with.

Had Skype interview with 2 UCI CS Professors. Went well.  They had 2 very specific projects in-mind for me with which they want assistance, but made it seem like my actual work towards thesis would be wide open.  They let me know at end of Skype interview that they are sending a recommendation for admission to committee and I should get formal letter or admission within 2 weeks.  I have not heard a peep from USC CS.  My area of interest is in Computational Neuroscience and AI/ML.

I have been accepted to two programs for biochemistry and molecular bio. I am torn between my two options of UCR and SDSU.
i have advisors for both that I would love to work with and full funding for both.
i am not looking for a party scene, but I am interested in choosing an option which will benefit my career in research and possibly industry in the future.
I am uncertain which school has a better reputation and or to what extent it even has in influencing my career. Both PIs I have chosen for each school seem to have good publication record and I have personally met the PI from SDSU. I will be visiting UCR along with talking to my POI but I would like some outside opinion on the matter.
 
 

Did you already get admits from both? If you are in the US, they will probably have you visit them if you are accepted, some schools do that. Or you could just request to visit otherwise. 
Besides rankings, you will probably want to look at whether you like the working style of the groups you are interested in, whether you like the city, how costly it is to live in, does the city offer the lifestyle you want, and all that. Visiting them will help you answer some of these questions.

Boooo UCSD

calm down bro, how about your other schools?

Be patient man. Have faith!!!

May be USC are done sending out their acceptances. In the last two years, all the PhD acceptances reported on the results page were on the same day. This time there has been a day of multiple PhD acceptances.

guys anyone hear from USC?  bus to the asylum will arrive in an hour

yeah hopefully.... i will start packing for the asylum on Thursday

Man... Waiting isn't fun, but now I just feel so... I don't even know how to describe it. I guess, for other schools that had later projected dates, I'm chill about. But some of my schools have blown past their dates from last year, and I have no idea when to expect anything now. I'm hoping I hear soon. We have to RSVP for the LTI open house by next Monday, and as it's not my preferred option, I'd like to know whether it would be worth me visiting.

It'll be my pleasure.

I got my first admit into a PhD program. I really enjoyed speaking with the POI as well, so I'm sure I'd be happy ending up there. Such a relief!
Any other UMass Amherst people?

I am going mad as well. I hope our suffering ends this week!

I think next week is going to be the "Judgement week". The acceptance offers will either come out then or never. Fingers crossed guys!!!

Exactly. UCR ranks great in csrankings.org, especially in Systems area.
USNews can be very biased and subjective.

Sadly I only applied to CS program. Anyway it's just a lottery. It's very hard to get admission from CMU PhD program without top tier publications and undergraduate university.