Univ. of Florida vs Univ. of Rochester (Chemistry PhD)

[mgd71]

Hey,

 

First off thank you for reading this and thank you even more if you have any input for me!  i am between two schools for a PhD in (physical) chemistry.  I'll try to keep this as short as possible for me.  

 

UF - Massive Department!  The professor I want to work with is fairly well known in the field.  H index of 20.  Stipend is 22,000 (minus 1700 in fees).  School is ranked 36 in US News.

 

U of R - Smaller Department.  Prof. I want to work with has an H index of approx 15, but he is quite a bit younger.  US News ranking of 49.  Stipend is 25,500 with a 1,000 signing bonus.  No fees (which is nice).

 

I know the the U of R is (in general) more well known than UF, atleast in general school rankings.  Seems like UF, with the size of the department and all, edges out U of R when it comes to chemistry rankings.

 

The fine print of the academics seem very similar.  Classes, cumes, and entrance exams...  In talking to the PIs I would definitely be put on RA much faster from the U of R than UF.

 

As for post PhD plans I'm not exactly sure what I want to do, leaning towards industry though.  I want to keep as many options open as I can.

 

Ugh!! Please help!! I'm so torn, I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments.  Thank you so much for reading this, and let me know if I can ever help you with anything.

[annieca]

First question - do you like cold?

 

I'm for Rochester just because smaller departments usually mean better connections and you actually get to know your department.

 

Which labs do you like better?

[mgd71]

As far as cold, I'm from Michigan... So I'll live lol.

 

Both labs are doing awesome research.  I think I'd have more instrumentation time with Rochester.  Its a smaller group.  4 (UofR) vs 8 (UF).  Which is significant.  Student outcomes are tough.  At Rochester the POI hasn't graduated a student yet, and at UF the POI has a student that recently was tenured (not sure where).

 

I guess its difficult to say outcomes.

 

phds.org says this

 

U of R - 85% of students are employed at graduation. 78% post docing.  with 15% in the private sector.

UF - 55% employed at graduation. 35% still seeking.  and some various other things, faculty non post doc etc.  with 48% post docing and 35% in the private sector.

 

I'm not too sure how accurate these statistics are.  But thats what I could gather.

[nesw4314]

University of Rochester is not more well known than the University of Florida. UF is one of the largest universities in the country. The alumni network is phenomenal. Their endowments are both between 1.3 and 1.6 billion. U Rochester is only famous primarily because of it's world renowned Eastman School of Music, one of the leading music conservatories in the country and world.