Duke/Northwestern PhD or NYU MS?

[plzinsertcoins]

Hey guys, I'm applying to Applied Math programs, and trying to decide what to do....here's what's happening:

Duke math PhD looked pretty nice(from the recruitment weekend) and the stipend is very generous. Northwestern applied math also offered me a good deal, but not as good as Duke. Considering only PhD options, I think I would prefer to go to Duke over Northwestern. The thing is that I really want to go to NYU applied math since it's got a great reputation and I like to live in a big city. But they're not offering me any funding so I would have to find one myself. Now I do have some possible fundings I could apply to, but the decision for those won't be out before late July. So I'm in a huge dillemma as to whether to just accept Duke's offer, or try to see if I can go to NYU. If I do end up going to NYU by any chance I plan to continue to PhD after getting the master's.

Does any of you guys have any ideas? It's basically a decision on either a PhD program with full funding that is not as prestigious, or a masters program from a top notch school with not-guaranteed funding(at least by April 15.) Is there any solution? Thanks

[dino88]

If you plan on continuing to a PhD at NYU after the MS, you should take the Duke offer. From what you said, it doesn't seem like the PhD at NYU is guaranteed. You can always transfer from Duke if you are not happy with it later, but it seems like you will like it. Also, you'll be able to afford to live in NC much more than NYC. A lot more. Rent is probably 3 times cheaper. Think about how your career opportunities would change if you had an MS in math versus a PhD in math. What if it ended at an MS? You might also have a big loan to pay off for living in Manhattan and paying for a masters. Seems like an easy decision?

[eldar373]

totally agree.

about living in big city - i wouldn't count that while making a decision what school to attend.

Also, it's not the situation when one school is much worse than other - Duke is a top school.

So, choose Duke and if you don't like it there (highly unlikely), you can reapply or transfer to NYU.

[doriang101]

There are posts here about NYU and financial aid. If you weren't offered funding I highly recommend NOT going. There is a

huge difference between how unfunded students are treated versus funded students. I know first hand because last year I applied

to NYU and was admitted to PhD without support...they didn't give a damn what I did or didn't do and took very little interest in me.

This year I was offered financial support and all of a sudden everyone's my best friend at NYU..go figure. Also, NYU offers acceptance

to the masters program w/o funding to EVERYONE by default..realize that they will take very little interest in you there. Duke is a solid

school, and you could alway take a bunch of advanced courses there and reapply to NYU next year.

If you consider tuition costs, along with the price of living in NYC, it's just not worth it. What I did, was I worked really hard and

got some more research experience under my belt, and reapplied. Note I did this with a < 80percentile GRE score as well. I had

an external grant when applying to NYU as well, but it wouldn't cover my tuition costs. So I repeat, dont' dont' don't do the NYU masters...

you're way better off going somewhere with funding and reapplying there afterwards. If you happen to have an NSF type grant which covers

everything including tuition, then maybe you can think about it..but I would not recommend it. Chances are, the NSF grants only work for PhD

programs anyhow.