UCSD MS or UMD PhD...

[Rbcc]

Hi there,

I was just notified that my PhD application at UCSD was downgraded to MS admission. I also got an offer from UMD. My interest was in machine learning and computer vision.

My concerns:

For now, I want to pursue a PhD even after a MS, which means it will take more time if I choose UCSD.. but it seems UCSD has better prof. in my interested area ( is it?)

If I get a CS MS at UCSD first (my undergrad major is not CS) and manage to get some good recs there, it should increase my chance to get in schools like UCB etc.

Is it easy for MS students to get TA/RA at UCSD? I can afford the cost but it is a large amount for me..I also heard many prof. at UCSD now do not accept any more PhDs (probably because of funding?)

Really appreciate if you guys can share your thoughts.. Thanks a lot!

[frenzydude]

UMD PhD.

[beanbagchairs]

Since you want a PhD anyway, I think you should go for UMD. It is just not worthed, in my opinion, for taking an unfunded master over a funded PhD offer when your ultimate goal is getting a PhD.

congrats on the admits

[newms]

UMD (College Park, right?) is a top 15 CS school and has a very good computer vision group. Go for it.

[Rbcc]

UMD (College Park, right?) is a top 15 CS school and has a very good computer vision group. Go for it.

But I think California is an awesome place for CS, isn't it? Also, I'm wondering if it is worthwhile to give it a shot to the top 4 schools after finishing the MS..

[newms]

But I think California is an awesome place for CS, isn't it? Also, I'm wondering if it is worthwhile to give it a shot to the top 4 schools after finishing the MS..

Remember that it's the quality of your research that will make or break you in your career, not the name of the school you got your degree from. At UMD you should (I'm not particularly familiar with UMD, but I know it's a good CS school) be able to have the resources needed in order to successfully complete your degree and pursue your research interests. If it's a funded offer you have from UMD and the research there fits well with your interests, then that would be the option I would choose.

Remember also that f you were to apply to the top 4 schools in the future, there would be somewhere at best around a 20% chance that you'd get into any of them since they get so many applications - MIT had 3000 applications this year and I'm sure Stanford, CMU and Berkeley each get >1000 applications as well.

Edited March 29, 2011 by newms

[explorer-c]

UMD is at least as good as UCSD in computer vision. IMO it's not a good idea to delay your PhD just to shoot for the top 4 because of 2 things: 1) it was a crapshot before and it'll be a crapshot then; 2) UMD is already a very good school in computer vision. Larry Davis is a professor in UMD and he's a pretty big name in computer vision. Steve Seitz is a famous computer vision professor in UW and he is a graduate of UMD. I honestly think if you're already in a top 20 school, you have all the resources needed to succeed. So no need to be too narrowly focused on getting into the top 4.

Edited March 30, 2011 by explorer-c

[crackd]

If you don't mind sharing, me and another user are wondernig what type of funding UMD has:

BTW, I'd go with the PhD as well. I debated on a similar topic, and have decided on PhD. You will most likely get research opportunities in your first few years of PhD, but in MS program, you will be less likely to have these opportunties (I'm guessing this). Since PhD is all about the research, you want to establish your research asap, thus finishing asap. My logic anyway

Edited March 30, 2011 by crackd

[hyper]

I also favour UMD PHD. UMD is a top cs school, quite worth going. A MS degree does not necessarily increase the chance for you to get into the top 4. As I know, it's even very hard for a Stanford MS student to stay and continue a PhD degree in Stanford. Some MS programs are course based, aiming preparing you for the future job seeking. Some MS programs are thesis based, which may focus more on research, and help you in the future application of PhD. I don't know what the UCSD MS program is like, but they seem to admit quite a few people, which means it might be difficult to find an advisor to work with. Also, the fianance of UC is not that good, I don't think you can get some financial aid for the MS program.

[Rbcc]

Thanks a lot for all your inputs!

Actually I already decided to go to UMD, but then the UCSD MS came... Its location is a big attraction to me (I always want to go to cali..), plus the possibility to go to a better school or work in industry later.

Fortunately, now I feel it's just kind of a crush.

Anyway, thanks again and best wishes to you all~