yg87 Posted March 4, 2009 Posted March 4, 2009 I'm graduating from a fairly decent state school (but nothing special) with an undergraduate degree this May, looking to get a PhD in Electrical Engineering - Optics. Career-wise I'm strongly considering a career in academia after I graduate, but I'm also pretty open to working in the industry if that doesn't end up working out for whatever reason. While I was applying, Stanford was my top choice, I applied to the MS\PHD program there even though I didn't think there was a prayer that I'd get in (Well I was half right). I was accepted to the MS program at GT w/ first year TA funding (comes out to ~20k/yr, tuition remission) and to the MS Only program at Stanford (no funding, no nothing haha...), and I've been having a really hard time deciding between the two. I went on a paid visit to GT and really liked the research the professors were doing, and the environment in general (Atlanta... not as much from what I got to see of it at least). The qualifying exams seemed like they were hard but not impossible, and the progression from a masters to PhD seemed natural (you just sign up for the exams). All in all, I got a very good impression of the school, and it seems like a good fit for me. Stanford on the other hand is a big unknown, you hear all these horror stories about their Quals, how cutthroat it is there, and the lack of funding opportunities for masters students. If i want to visit I need to shell out quite a bit of cash, and I just don't know what to make of it. Just to take the Quals I need to find a professor who will write a letter of support for me to take the exam. On one hand I'd really love to live in California, but going to Stanford will put me 80k into debt and I just don't know if its all worth it in the end. Besides the financial reasons, I'm a little intimidated by Stanford as well, I can't shake the feeling that they made some sort of mistake admitting me there or something... Anyhow, any sort of feedback\comments either way would be awesome. Don't think I can figure this one out on my own...
daydaydvd Posted March 4, 2009 Posted March 4, 2009 I'm graduating from a fairly decent state school (but nothing special) with an undergraduate degree this May, looking to get a PhD in Electrical Engineering - Optics. Career-wise I'm strongly considering a career in academia after I graduate, but I'm also pretty open to working in the industry if that doesn't end up working out for whatever reason. While I was applying, Stanford was my top choice, I applied to the MS\PHD program there even though I didn't think there was a prayer that I'd get in (Well I was half right). I was accepted to the MS program at GT w/ first year TA funding (comes out to ~20k/yr, tuition remission) and to the MS Only program at Stanford (no funding, no nothing haha...), and I've been having a really hard time deciding between the two. I went on a paid visit to GT and really liked the research the professors were doing, and the environment in general (Atlanta... not as much from what I got to see of it at least). The qualifying exams seemed like they were hard but not impossible, and the progression from a masters to PhD seemed natural (you just sign up for the exams). All in all, I got a very good impression of the school, and it seems like a good fit for me. Stanford on the other hand is a big unknown, you hear all these horror stories about their Quals, how cutthroat it is there, and the lack of funding opportunities for masters students. If i want to visit I need to shell out quite a bit of cash, and I just don't know what to make of it. Just to take the Quals I need to find a professor who will write a letter of support for me to take the exam. On one hand I'd really love to live in California, but going to Stanford will put me 80k into debt and I just don't know if its all worth it in the end. Besides the financial reasons, I'm a little intimidated by Stanford as well, I can't shake the feeling that they made some sort of mistake admitting me there or something... Anyhow, any sort of feedback\comments either way would be awesome. Don't think I can figure this one out on my own... Personally, I do not think that it is worth 80k for a MA in Stanford. As you mentioned that your aim is phd, you have a chance to apply for PHd admission after you get your MA in GT. You never know what admission you will get when you have MA that time. On the other hand, your MA in stanford with 80k debt will not increase much chances to get a decent Phd admission.
liszt85 Posted March 4, 2009 Posted March 4, 2009 The history guy meant MS but I'd follow his advice!
lightyears Posted March 4, 2009 Posted March 4, 2009 I'm having to make a similar decision. Funding worth $40k/yr at UT-Austin or pay out of pocket for Stanford. I'm visiting both in a couple weeks and I hope that will help me decide...
person Posted March 5, 2009 Posted March 5, 2009 USC vs Stan for me I still havent heard from Gatech and UCSB. And I had sent applications to the applied physics programs at Cornell and Harvard (hahahaha). But no word from them either. I fear i'll get offered just the MS at Cornell and get balled by Harvard.
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