Columbia University vs New York University in MS Applied Math

[alicia_aly]

Get two admission from Columbia University vs New York University in Master of Science Applied Mathematics program.

Confused to select because someone says NYU's program is practical but useful and easy to find a job after graduation, but others say Columbia is more famous even its APAM department is kinda small.

I'm thinking to transfer to a PhD program, but someone also tells me it maybe hard to transfer to a PhD program and get fund in an Ivy school.

Does anyone know which program is better? If going to NYU, I will work after graduation. But if in CU, I will try to transfer to a PhD program. Does anyone know if it is really hard to transfer to PhD program during master years and get the fellowship in Columbia? Also, if I go to CU and cannot continue as a PhD, is it hard to find a job after graduation?

Plz give me any information you know or you think is valuable. The deadline is approaching and I really need your guidance!

[NaqmeK]

Hi, I applied to the EE PhD program at columbia. I contacted one of the professors there and after he told me that there would be no PhD position, I insisted to be considered as a MS student, This is his response:

"I very strongly advise against attending our program as an MS student if you are interested in a Ph.D. at our institution; the probability of transfer from the MS to the Ph.D. track is very low, and you are very likely to be disappointed if that is your goal. There are not that many Ph.D. slots, and our MS program is a professional degree, and not intended to be a recruiting pool for the Ph.D. program. The MS program is not research oriented (and quite expensive), so it really only makes sense for students that are planning to work immediately afterwards."

I hope it helps

[alicia_aly]

Hi, I applied to the EE PhD program at columbia. I contacted one of the professors there and after he told me that there would be no PhD position, I insisted to be considered as a MS student, This is his response:

"I very strongly advise against attending our program as an MS student if you are interested in a Ph.D. at our institution; the probability of transfer from the MS to the Ph.D. track is very low, and you are very likely to be disappointed if that is your goal. There are not that many Ph.D. slots, and our MS program is a professional degree, and not intended to be a recruiting pool for the Ph.D. program. The MS program is not research oriented (and quite expensive), so it really only makes sense for students that are planning to work immediately afterwards."

I hope it helps

Thank you for your replying. That's what I am worried about and now it seems to confirm my worries. I have talked with my friends in Columbia and they said to transfer to a MS-PhD track program is possible but hard and depend on departments. So at this point, I think NYU maybe a better choice for me. THX!