UWisc-Madison vs. Rice vs. UMass

[gradSchoolBound]

I am interested in research related to computer architecture, programming models (compilers, tuners, runtime activities) that make programming multi-core, many-core system easily and efficient.

If I go to Wisconsin, I am most likely to work with Prof. Hill or Karu - Wisconsin's architecture group is, I believe, very well known. My reservation with this place is that there is no advisor assigned right away (this is the standard mode of their operation). Go there, TA for a semester, take classes, do independent project and then choose an advisor if things work out. Also weather sucks!

If I go to Rice, I will probably work with Prof. Sarkar, who is also very well known for research in languages for parallel computing. Also there is a lot of expertise in the area of compilers and programming languages at Rice. My reservation with Rice is small department and lesser number of profs. to choose from.

If I go to UMass, I will probably work with Eliot Moss and Charles Weems, both of them are again well known for work in programming language and computer architecture. Again, not very many people working in this area there and also only one or two graduate student currently working in this area.

In insight into this would be greatly appreciated at this point.

[timuralp]

I am interested in research related to computer architecture, programming models (compilers, tuners, runtime activities) that make programming multi-core, many-core system easily and efficient.

If I go to Wisconsin, I am most likely to work with Prof. Hill or Karu - Wisconsin's architecture group is, I believe, very well known. My reservation with this place is that there is no advisor assigned right away (this is the standard mode of their operation). Go there, TA for a semester, take classes, do independent project and then choose an advisor if things work out. Also weather sucks!

If I go to Rice, I will probably work with Prof. Sarkar, who is also very well known for research in languages for parallel computing. Also there is a lot of expertise in the area of compilers and programming languages at Rice. My reservation with Rice is small department and lesser number of profs. to choose from.

If I go to UMass, I will probably work with Eliot Moss and Charles Weems, both of them are again well known for work in programming language and computer architecture. Again, not very many people working in this area there and also only one or two graduate student currently working in this area.

In insight into this would be greatly appreciated at this point.

I'll start by saying all are good schools so you won't make a terrible choice; hope that relieves the tension a bit.

As far as U-W TA requirement, personally I would not worry about that too much for a few reasons:

1. Coming in, it is unlikely you're going to be able to do great research; there is a learning curve as with anything and, personally, I've found myself looking for a topic for a while after coming to the university, even though I was working with a professor

2. TA is a good experience, especially if you decide to stay in academia. Further, doing a semester of TA later on in grad school will not be easier, but only harder as you will want to be pursuing research ideas 24/7, probably (I thought it would get easier, but no)

3. It is ok that you are not assigned a professor right away. A lot of students are not sure with whom they would like to work and often in what field. This gives you a chance to try working with a few professors and get a feel for how they interact with students, the problems they're interested in, etc. As long as you figure it out by the end of the first year, you're doing fine.

As general advice, make sure you always go to a school that has options. You don't know the professors and their research/advising style at this point; it may turn out that you work better with someone else. It could also turn out you want to work in a slightly different area. If you don't have an opportunity to switch you're kinda stuck.

Anyway, I won't tell you where to go, but hope this advice is helpful. All things being equal, you can also consider location, setting, proximity to places of interest or whatever other metric you can come up with

Good luck with the decision! I know it's tough.

[newms]

Congrats again on your admits! Your problem is a pretty nice problem to have since you have 3 really good choices.

If I were in your place, I would consider the following questions:

Which of those places would give you the best chance of succeeding in grad school?

Which of them gives you the best chance to be successful after grad school? i.e. Where do their graduates tend to go?

At which school do you think you'd have the best relationship with your adviser(s)?

Are there other profs at each school that you could conceivably work with if your POI were to leave?

How easy or hard is it to change advisers when you're there?

Are the current grad students that you talk to happy about the program?

Could you enjoy living at this place for the next 5 years? Or at least enjoy it enough to do productive research?

It's a tough choice, with 3 very good options. Personally, I'd be wary of going to a place that had only one prof I could work with. I agree with timuralp about Wisconsin - it's not a bad deal that you don't have an adviser assigned right away - you'd just have to make sure to find one in your first year.

Good luck on your decision!

[fangsout]

GradSchoolBound, Have you made your decision? I'm debating between UVA with guaranteed funding and UNC with a "good chance" of funding

[gradSchoolBound]

No I have not decided. I know I have to decide it by tonight. So that I can fax my decision tomorrow. I visited Rice last week and liked it. But, I liked Wisconsin as well, and both are strong in one of the two areas that I am interested in. So, it is a tough decision.

Edited April 14, 2011 by gradSchoolBound

[fangsout]

GradSchoolBound, what school did you choose?

[gradSchoolBound]

GradSchoolBound, what school did you choose?

I chose Rice University

[newms]

I chose Rice University

Nice choice! Congrats again and good luck.

[frenzydude]

I chose Rice University

Great Choice. I have a slight feeling that when comparing among similar universities, opting for private rather public ones is better.

[gradSchoolBound]

On 4/30/2011 at 4:07 PM, frenzydude said:

Great Choice. I have a slight feeling that when comparing among similar universities, opting for private rather public ones is better.

Thanks! Good luck to all of you guys as well.