Anyone hear from UMich AA?

[Coconut111]

A few admission results were posted on results page. I was interviewed by a POI a week ago, but I haven't hear anything yet.

Just a little worried.

[Biostat_Assistant_Prof]

I have not. I just checked my app status and there is no update, but if they're reviewing in order of submission, I did submit mine just before the deadline in December.

Edit: If history is any indication, the results forum shows most Michigan decisions have been sent out in mid-late February, with only a few oncoming this early.

Edited February 3, 2013 by Noco7

[Biostat_Assistant_Prof]

I wanted to update this. I received a decision from Michigan today via Postal, so check your mailbox.

[applyin&prayin]

congratulations noco7! must be a huge load off your back

[Biostat_Assistant_Prof]

I'm incredibly relieved and excited!

 

Although I was admitted to the fast track MS/PHD program, if I get funding, I'm pretty sure I will take the UMich offer over PhD offers from Boston, Pitt, Vanderbilt, and Medical University of South Carolina (if I get accepted), given the strength and reputation of their program compared to the latter 4 schools. Do other people think this would be wise?

 

If I manage to get PhD offers from Yale or Brown, it will be an even tougher decision. I know UMich is ranked higher, but would a funded fast track MS to PHD be a better choice than a guaranteed PhD offer at Brown or Yale? 

The only for sure thing that would have me choosing something else over UMich would be a funded PhD offer from UNC. 

Edited February 4, 2013 by Noco7

[Coconut111]

Congratulations Noco7! Thank you for your input

[bayessays]

Noco, could you post some insight into why you would choose UNC over Michigan?  The decision between these two schools is probably the one I will end up making, so I'd be interested to hear why you would rather go to UNC than Michigan (given that their departments are practically equally ranked).

[Biostat_Assistant_Prof]

Bayessays, 

 

I know both UNC and UMich are both fantastic schools and about equal (4-5) in the rankings. Assuming equal offers, I would lean UNC for 2 reasons:

 

1) Because, at this point in time, my goal is to work in Clinical Trials after graduation and the location of UNC in the Research Park Triangle is a more ideal location than Ann Arbor for this, and 

 

2) UNC is simply closer to my hometown, allowing more frequent visits with family and friends. 

 

However, that isn't to say I will definitely choose UNC over UMich in my situation. If UNC admits me to a Masters without funding, of course I'll take a funded UMich offer. Even if they accepted me to PhD with say, only half funding, I'd still take UMich if fully funded.... Also, In terms of methodology, I'm extremely interested in Bayesian Statistics and I think UMich leans slightly more Bayesian than UNC, so that's also something I'd have to take into strong consideration... Overall, it's still too soon. I'm still waiting on decisions from 3 schools (UNC, Brown, and Yale) that could potentially be more enticing (depending on the offer made) than UMich... Also, I still have a paid interview/campus visit to a lesser department I haven't written off yet either (especially if I don't get funded for UMich). 

 

Overall, I am still absolutely thrilled to have been accepted to UMich's fast track MS/PHD. If I do in fact get funding, it will be very hard to turn down.... Although I just received the offer literally 3 hours ago, I've already started looking at plane flights to visit in March!

 

Good luck with your decision!

[Shostakovich]

Congrats Noco, I think MS/PhD is basically like a PhD program for students getting in without a masters. Personally, I'd definitely choose Michigan over Yale or Brown (think we may already be out of the running for Brown anyhow without an interview invite, and Yale really doesn't accept many students due to their dept size).

 

I still have yet to hear from Michigan, not sure what's going on there... But regarding UNC and Michigan I think it really depends on which area you want to specialize in. From what I know Michigan leans more towards the "newer" areas of Biostats like Statistical Genetics and Computational Bio, UNC tends to be more "old school" focusing on traditional methods although I'm sure both schools have programs big enough to support your interest in many variety of subfields... Some other "rumors" I've heard that may be of importance are that Michigan's candidate exam is difficult and that they give out generous funding (I've seen some people offered deals like 28K stipend + 10K scholarship per year in addition to the tuition waiver), but I guess those are just minor details

Edited February 5, 2013 by Shostakovich

[Teriyakifan]

Shostakovich, do you know if the generous funding applies to MS students as well (and not simply PhD, MS/PhD students)?

 

And congratulations Noco! Michigan is a great university 

[Biostat_Assistant_Prof]

Congrats Noco, I think MS/PhD is basically like a PhD program for students getting in without a masters. Personally, I'd definitely choose Michigan over Yale or Brown (think we may already be out of the running for Brown anyhow without an interview invite, and Yale really doesn't accept many students due to their dept size).

Thanks. I'm still hopeful for funded offers for Brown and Yale because I like options and funding for UMich isn't guaranteed yet. The survey from past years indicates that Yale tends to send out results late, so there is still hope there. With Brown, I guess I always feel hope until I see an official results.

 

Yea, The MS/PHD fast track seems similar to something like that. Its possible I can get full funding though it wont be decided until March (fingers crossed). Also, it looks like it allows the students to start taking PhD courses while still in the MS program, thus still allowing them to finish in 5 years... I could be mistaken, but after reading through a bit on the UMich department website tonight, this is the way it seems to me

[Shostakovich]

Shostakovich, do you know if the generous funding applies to MS students as well (and not simply PhD, MS/PhD students)?

And congratulations Noco! Michigan is a great university

I know Michigan is one of the few schools that provide full support to a number of MS students. But the 38k figure I saw was definitely for a phd student.

[cyberwulf]

If I manage to get PhD offers from Yale or Brown, it will be an even tougher decision. I know UMich is ranked higher, but would a funded fast track MS to PHD be a better choice than a guaranteed PhD offer at Brown or Yale? 

The only for sure thing that would have me choosing something else over UMich would be a funded PhD offer from UNC. 

 

If you are choosing between a fast-track MS offer and a straight-up PhD offer (presumably at a somewhat lower-ranked place), be sure you get as much information as you can about how the fast-track works. Specifically, you should find out:

 

- Is funding guaranteed during the Masters? If not, do fast-track MS students receive funding priority over other MS students?

- What percentage of the incoming Masters class is on the PhD fast-track?

- Is there a separate application for PhD admission, or is it automatic for fast-track students?

- What proportion of fast-track Masters students continue on into the PhD program? What proportion leave with a Masters? What proportion pursue a PhD elsewhere?

[bayessays]

Thanks cyberwulf.  Do you have any insight to add about the pros/cons of attending UMich vs. UNC?

[are_we_there_yet?]

Thanks for the advice, cyberwolf. I received my MS/PhD "fast track" offer from U Mich yesterday as well. I'll be certain to ask a number of questions.

[JZappa]

bayessays, I'm finishing up my undergrad at UNC right now and I can say it's definitely a smaller department than UMich. From being fairly active in the department it's been my experience that everyone is really great and helpful although I think some of the first year PhD sequences are especially difficult (theoretical statistics). I think our probability group may be slightly better than UMich and UMich is definitely better at machine learning, I think we have two people doing ML type stuff right now. Other than that I don't know a whole lot about UMich so I can't tell you about how they compare on little things but if you have any UNC related questions you can PM me and I'll be glad to help out.

[Shostakovich]

I talked to a professor from Michigan today, and seemed like Michigan very rarely accepts a student with just a bachelors into their PhD program. Did seem like funding wasn't too scarce for those "fast-track" MS students though, and many of them do go on to the PhD program eventually.

[Biostat_Assistant_Prof]

Thanks for the info Shostakovich!

Did you call the department? I emailed the department last week, but never received a response. I may have used an incorrect address, but I think I may call for an immediate response.