Which way to go? DAMN I am so confused!

[buckethead]

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.

[rising_star]

Ummm... do you have funding to go to Calgary?

[mareserinitatis]

I would second the Calgary vote. I'm inclined to think that you'll have more options once you've shown what kind of work you can do as a masters student.

BTW, the first year the cold is hard to deal with. After that, your body adjusts and you'll handle it fine. We have a lot of folks from India who move to my neck of the woods (North Dakota). No one likes it when it gets that cold, but you get used to it. (And then every place else seems too warm in comparison.)

Good luck with your decision!

[buckethead]

Ummm... do you have funding to go to Calgary?

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.

[buckethead]

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

[rising_star]

Definitely go for Calgary. Do everything you can to make yourself a better applicant then apply broadly (and to ASU again) for your PhD after you finish the MSc. I definitely wouldn't attend a PhD program without any funding.