2018 Statistics Decisions

[WonderingWondering]

Hi everyone,

Making decision is a tough thing. So I'm asking questions to you, and if someone helps me, I will appreciate it very much!

I major in mathematics and now apply to PhD programs in statistics. Now I have offers from the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago, and both of them are with full funding. I think both of them are attractive, so I'm very struggling now... My career plan is to be in academia. My current research interest is about machine learning and statistical learning. But to be honest, I'm not quite sure about whether I will maintain this interest because I just have a very limited knowledge of other areas in statistics now.

Thank you in advance!

 

 

[Bayesian1701]

UChicago is arguably slightly more prestigious  but at that caliber of program ranking don’t matter as much.  And I don’t know much about machine learning faculty and which would be better in that respect.  I go with the place that has the most advisor options for what you are interested.   If one of them has given you a better package after cost of living (Chicago is going to be more expensive) that’s also something you can consider.  You can’t go wrong either way so go with your gut. 

[WonderingWondering]

12 hours ago, Bayesian1701 said:

UChicago is arguably slightly more prestigious  but at that caliber of program ranking don’t matter as much.  And I don’t know much about machine learning faculty and which would be better in that respect.  I go with the place that has the most advisor options for what you are interested.   If one of them has given you a better package after cost of living (Chicago is going to be more expensive) that’s also something you can consider.  You can’t go wrong either way so go with your gut. 

3

Thank you for your reply! 

I'm an international student, and in my country, UC is very well-known but Umich is not so famous. I don't know much about how the ranking of program matters when finding a faculty position after graduation in the US. Could you give me any suggestions about that? Does the ranking of program or the ranking of university matter much? How do Americans think of Umich and UC?

Thank you again!!

[Bayesian1701]

In the US it shouldn’t matter much.  UMich as a whole is less prestigious as UChicago but for stats UMich is a great program.   For a public institution,  UMich is better overall than most other public institutions. I wouldn’t consider the difference as a major factor.