kacyn Posted April 9, 2013 Posted April 9, 2013 My top two choices originally were Stanford and Johns Hopkins. I'm an MS admit for Stanford (applied for PhD) and PhD admit for Johns Hopkins. At first, I wasn't accepted to JHU but I got the NSF fellowship and they changed their minds after they found out about the fellowship. I had the Stanford decision before I found out about the NSF fellowship. I let them know about the fellowship, but they had already finalized their admissions. There are lots of things I like about Stanford (if I got accepted to the PhD program there, I'd definitely go). I like their entrepreneurial culture, reputation, research, location (it will be near many of my college friends and my boyfriend of over 2 years). I already will be working there over the summer in my top choice research lab. However, it will be a risk to accept this offer since I may not get into the PhD program. Johns Hopkins also has excellent research, which is why it was one of my top choices. However, it's not as strong of an EE program. Since I'm interested in interdisciplinary research, I'm worried that it'll be hard to take classes outside of ECE. Also, the location is not ideal for me. The benefit would be being able to go directly into a PhD program. Note that both would be funded fully for me since I am a NSF fellow. Does anyone know how easy it is to get into Stanford PhD with an NSF fellowship and research at a Stanford lab? If it's probable, then it probably sway my decision. I've wrestled with this decision for a long time and have asked lots of people, but what do you guys think?
MikKar Posted April 9, 2013 Posted April 9, 2013 Well, at least you won't waste 2 years doing a M.Sc if you went to Johns Hopkins... Then, it depends on what you want for yourself. Last I heard, Stanford gave all their MS positions to those who applied for a Ph.D. so I don't even want to start thinking about what exactly it is that they want. In my opinion, If you have a Ph.D. offer vs a M.Sc offer, there's nothing to hesitate about. Even if it's Stanford. And I am guessing your Ph.D. is fully-funded ? That makes it even better.
Arcanen Posted April 10, 2013 Posted April 10, 2013 Doesn't Stanford allow masters students to take the PhD qualifying exams? If so, as a masters student with full funding, you're essentially in the exact same position as the PhD students in all but name.
kacyn Posted April 10, 2013 Author Posted April 10, 2013 That's how it used to be, but they just recently changed their policy. Now I'd have to reapply just like anybody else.
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