Funded PhD at UC Riverside or unfunded masters at Brown University

[fysix]

Hi All, 

 

I've been accepted to UC Riverside's PhD program in physics and Brown University's ScM program in physics for Fall 2014. UCR is funded and Brown offers no financial support with a tuition of ~$46,000. So its a risk of possibly paying ~140,000 with tuition/living expenses/etc…, but I will be supported by my parents though. I have the option to apply for the PhD program at Brown during my first year, and if accepted my second year will be covered, but this is not guaranteed. I want to get a PhD but I'm not 100% sure what I want to do after I get it. I think Brown would look nice on an application compared to UCR, if I go into something other than physics. Also, for industry, which holds more weight, masters from Brown or PhD from UCR. Any advice/information would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[praxismakesperfect]

Um.... are you serious? UC Riverside!! No question. 

[Rolling Circles]

I am finishing up at UCR, and it is definitely good enough to take funded over unfunded Brown.