WashU vs Vanderbilt

[adinutzyc]

So, I managed the amazing feat of reducing my choices to two: Vandy and WashU. Vandy accepted me last, so I visited it last, when I was almost 100% sure I was going to go to WashU. It is amazing that, although I was determined to go to WashU, I REALLY liked Vandy. Not necessarily more than WashU though. So what do you think? If I go to WashU, I'll probably be doing computer vision or maybe even computer graphics. If I go to Vandy, I would love to go do computational biology there more than anything else (although temporarily I'd be doing virtual environments, which is cool too). I've considered everything, I just can't rank the two schools against each other, and the locations neither (of course Nashville has a better scenery and a safer location theoretically, but STL is more of a city from many respects, and has many free cool stuff to do around). The money is about the same, the research is cool in both places and I can see myself going to both. I have some more questions to ask the professors at Vandy, but I think I know the answers. I might try emailing students afterward, and ask how they enjoy the program (I doubt they'll say anything negative in a non-anonymous email though).

Do you know if any of them are better regarded? Any advice? I am feeling more confused than ever... Stressed out and I have to finish my senior project in order to graduate... but I cannot think about anything other that : where should I go?!

[frenzydude]

toss a coin. sometimes that's the best way I have tried it on many decisions.

Edited April 6, 2011 by frenzydude

[lucien2111]

I'm a bit biased, as I just accepted my offer to go to WashU, but honestly, what would you want to do for your PhD? If its computational biology you like, there are definitely lots of options at WashU.

[adinutzyc]

I probably defined computational biology wrong. I like the collaboration between the med school and the CS department at Vandi. There is none of that at WashU. Is that what I'd like to do? No, theoretically not. The point is that that is only one of my interests: at WashU I'd do computer vision/graphics (which is my main interest theoretically), at Vandi I found this collaboration amazing (amazing enough to consider it)!

I think I'd like being a student at WashU better, but I would enjoy living in Nashville more...

I think I might toss a coin just for fun...

[lucien2111]

I probably defined computational biology wrong. I like the collaboration between the med school and the CS department at Vandi. There is none of that at WashU. Is that what I'd like to do? No, theoretically not. The point is that that is only one of my interests: at WashU I'd do computer vision/graphics (which is my main interest theoretically), at Vandi I found this collaboration amazing (amazing enough to consider it)!

I think I'd like being a student at WashU better, but I would enjoy living in Nashville more...

I think I might toss a coin just for fun...

Well, you may want to talk to people in the BME department if you're interested in that stuff. At my BME visit I saw presentations by a lot of computational bio people and the collaboration with the medical school is pretty great. Im sure those professors would like someone who knows their coding.

Just a thought...