Biostatistics PhD : Univ of Florida vs. Emory

[jbc409]

There are only two PhD biostat acceptances, from UF (RA $20000/year)and Emory(FL $23000/year), how to choose?

 

I know the program in Emory is a nice program and ranked 12th according to this: .?do=embed' frameborder='0' data-embedContent>  Emory locates in a nice city(Atlanta) and near CDC. There are many more professors in Biostatistics department. And Rollins school of public health is very famous. (Emory rank 6th in public health school according to this:  http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/public-health-rankings )

 

But I email to several faculties in UF. They said Biostat in UF the new department so there is no rank in USNews. However, they are also very competitive. Their senior faculty members, in particular Drs Ira Longini, Peihua Qiu, Fei Zou and Faming Liang are internationally recognized top researchers who have had many student now in faculty positions. Also, They are expanding as  they are recruiting more  junior and senior faculty, especially this year.  Their PhD students take core courses with the statistics department at UF, which is traditionally strong ( rank 22 or 23 according to ).  

 

 

Any comments are very welcomed, like the pros and cons for each of them? Any professor here? 

 

Thanks! I appreciate that very much.

 

 

department link:

 

http://www.sph.emory.edu/departments_centers/bios/index.html

 

http://biostat.ufl.edu

Edited March 28, 2014 by jbc409

[Biostat_Assistant_Prof]

I'd vote Emory.... Reasons are as follows: Emory has a fairly large department with a good number of faculty members covering all the different areas from whom you could possibly work with. The proximity to the CDC could provide some interesting opportunities no other school could offer. The stipend of $23k in Atlanta is better compared to $20k in Gainesville. Atlanta as a city has more to offer than Gainesville. Emory, at this point, has a better reputation in both Biostatistics and Public Health in general. 

 

Honestly, unless there is a particular faculty member at UF you would really like to work with, I think Emory is all around the better option. 

[Fighting Irish]

Hello~ I'm an applicant this year (fall 2015) and have exact the same condition as the poster, namely two offers from Emory and UFL, both biostat phd. Would you guys please share more comments on this comparison now?

BTW: I have connected Prof Faming Liang and if I go to UFL my adviser would be him

[luckyuan]

Hello~ I'm an applicant this year (fall 2015) and have exact the same condition as the poster, namely two offers from Emory and UFL, both biostat phd. Would you guys please share more comments on this comparison now?

BTW: I have connected Prof Faming Liang and if I go to UFL my adviser would be him

Emory is much more competitive when you are looking for a job!

[StatsG0d]

I believe Liang has a very strong track record of placing students (at least when he was at Texas A&M). I would think VERY carefully about this. Arguably, the best predictor of your success is highly correlated with your advisor and his/her previous placements. 

[bayessays]

Working with a top faculty member at UF would probably put you in a better position for academic jobs than working with a less renowned professor at Emory.  I think you should be looking at which program is a better fit, whether you will have the opportunity to work with top faculty (some are busy, especially at larger programs.  Newer programs like UF may be more invested in their students' success because they are trying to establish themselves), and which city you would like to live in.  If the decision were between Florida and Washington/Harvard, I would probably advise you to accept the higher ranked program, but I don't think the ranking difference is large enough here to be THE deciding factor.

[Fighting Irish]

I believe Liang has a very strong track record of placing students (at least when he was at Texas A&M). I would think VERY carefully about this. Arguably, the best predictor of your success is highly correlated with your advisor and his/her previous placements. 

Thanks. I have to say it's really hard to decide. BTW: I'm also on the WL of UCLA stat and pray for an offer......

[Fighting Irish]

Working with a top faculty member at UF would probably put you in a better position for academic jobs than working with a less renowned professor at Emory.  I think you should be looking at which program is a better fit, whether you will have the opportunity to work with top faculty (some are busy, especially at larger programs.  Newer programs like UF may be more invested in their students' success because they are trying to establish themselves), and which city you would like to live in.  If the decision were between Florida and Washington/Harvard, I would probably advise you to accept the higher ranked program, but I don't think the ranking difference is large enough here to be THE deciding factor.

Thank you very much! Actually I'm leaning to hunt a job after PhD (though this mind may be changed during the next a few years) and I heard that Emory is better for a job, what do you think? And in terms of city, I think there is no doubt that Atlanta is better.

[Fighting Irish]

Emory is much more competitive when you are looking for a job!

Thanks for your answer. Are you talking about this generally or you have considered the field (stat/biostat)?

[huahuahua]

Thanks for your answer. Are you talking about this generally or you have considered the field (stat/biostat)?

Both！

[luckyuan]

Both！

I agree. If you are an international student, you will know the importance of school location when you come the US. As I know, when you are looking for a job, people prefer to hire alumnus. By the way, a promise is just a promise, and it is not reality. Everyone would say their program has a good future, but we never know. 

[sild]

Emory has a strong history and some great mid-level faculty members; would be hard to justify Florida over Emory to me unless you have family considerations....