help!! compare 2 offers of applied math

[pumpkin123]

Hey guys:) I have an important decision to make: whether funded MS @U washington or Phd @UMCP, both in applied mathematics.

Here are some pros and cons of the two schools:

U washington_Seattle:

+: Great place, clean city. Good academic environment (ranking 16 nationwide). Slight teaching load (I am offered as a TA)

-: Dangerous? (earthquake is coming?) MS program normally needs just one year (I know in other places MS will need two years). Is the study time too short?

U of Maryland_college park_AMSC program

+: Good program(ranking 12). Close to DC. Lots of job opportunities.

-: lower than U washington in overall ranking. Life is not as convenient as in Seattle (I don't drive). TA load maybe higher. Also, I heard the public security there is not so good.

Can anyone help me??

[aber_leider]

It is a though decision. It all depends on whether you want to do ultimately: if you want to get a PhD, then UMCP should be your choice, since there is no guarantee that UW will accept you even if you take the quals during your masters, so you will be suffering once again this horrible admission process. Overall UMCP is bigger than UW and offers a lot more research options for your theses. On the other hand, Randy Leveque is really a top notch worldwide respected authority in scientific computing and systems of hyperbolic PDE's. In my particular case I would maybe go for UW (but that is just because I myself study hyperbolic systems of conservation laws).

PS. I didn't apply for UW and now I'm regretting it, but I wasn't sure if subject GRE was a mandatory requirement, and the graduate assistant never replied my mail, so I simply didn't apply.

[pumpkin123]

Aber: Thanks for your reply. Indeed in terms of environment i prefer UW, but like what your said, they didn't guarantee my PhD. I've sent GRE-sub-math score to UW, I think they highly recommend this. My current interest is about dynamical systems in general, but i need to determine the specific area in the future.

It is a though decision. It all depends on whether you want to do ultimately: if you want to get a PhD, then UMCP should be your choice, since there is no guarantee that UW will accept you even if you take the quals during your masters, so you will be suffering once again this horrible admission process. Overall UMCP is bigger than UW and offers a lot more research options for your theses. On the other hand, Randy Leveque is really a top notch worldwide respected authority in scientific computing and systems of hyperbolic PDE's. In my particular case I would maybe go for UW (but that is just because I myself study hyperbolic systems of conservation laws).

PS. I didn't apply for UW and now I'm regretting it, but I wasn't sure if subject GRE was a mandatory requirement, and the graduate assistant never replied my mail, so I simply didn't apply.