Biostatistics PhD comparision: Emory and U Florida

[Fighting Irish]

Hello everyone~ I got the two offers and would like to ask for some suggestions. I think generally the school University of Florida and its location are both less attractive than Emory and Atlanta. However, one thing I am hesitating is the advisor. A senior professor will be my adviser if I go to Florida, and he is now really a big guy in statistics field (e.g. Associate editor of JASA, almost one JASA/AOS paper per year for the past decade). On the other hand, Emory also embraces a much larger department with many good professors, but I cannot ensure who I am going to follow.

 

So any advice? All comments on this comparision are welcomed! Thanks!

[luckyuan]

I think Emory would be better. If you go to Emory, you can choose by yourself. But if you go o UFL, you have no other choice even when  you fell you don't fit the program. As far as I know, UFL biostatistics program is not a very good choice

[juilletmercredi]

Going to a department with many people who can advise you is almost always better than going to a department at which only one person can advise you. What if you don't get along, or he moves, dies, or retires?

[huahuahua]

I am a master student at Univ of Florida. As far as I know, the biostatistics program is a new program. They even don't have many graduates yet. The placements is not yet known. If you have chance, you would better visit the campuses. Absolutely, Emory is a good choice. A good school has best resources and can bring you much more you can imagine!

[Fighting Irish]

I think Emory would be better. If you go to Emory, you can choose by yourself. But if you go o UFL, you have no other choice even when  you fell you don't fit the program. As far as I know, UFL biostatistics program is not a very good choice

The professor I contacted in UF will fit me well I think, on the contrary, what I am concerning is the adviser in Emory

[Fighting Irish]

Going to a department with many people who can advise you is almost always better than going to a department at which only one person can advise you. What if you don't get along, or he moves, dies, or retires?

That senior professor has just moved to the dept in UFL last year, thus I don't think he will leave UF in the next five years. Also he is far from retirement.

[Fighting Irish]

I am a master student at Univ of Florida. As far as I know, the biostatistics program is a new program. They even don't have many graduates yet. The placements is not yet known. If you have chance, you would better visit the campuses. Absolutely, Emory is a good choice. A good school has best resources and can bring you much more you can imagine!

Thank you for your information! Unfortunately I'm an international and cannot visit the campus.

 

It's because they are new that they recently have recruited senior professors to get competitive. The professor I contacted is one of them.

[letsdothis2015]

I cannot speak to biostats, but I can speak to Emory vs Florida. I went to Emory for my MPH and it has been by far the best decision ever. As an international student, being able to access resources like CDC and hundreds of other resources is something that you cannot get at Florida.  I have been living and working in Florida the past 5 years, and the difference is staggering.  Additionally, Emory has a plethora of professors both in the Biostats dept and outside that can get you exposure to great education AND great resources for when you graduate (BEST career services department). Good luck on your decision!

[Fighting Irish]

I cannot speak to biostats, but I can speak to Emory vs Florida. I went to Emory for my MPH and it has been by far the best decision ever. As an international student, being able to access resources like CDC and hundreds of other resources is something that you cannot get at Florida.  I have been living and working in Florida the past 5 years, and the difference is staggering.  Additionally, Emory has a plethora of professors both in the Biostats dept and outside that can get you exposure to great education AND great resources for when you graduate (BEST career services department). Good luck on your decision!

Thank you for the valuable information! By the way, are you familiar with the place where Univ of FL locates? Will it be boring to stay there for five years?

[huahuahua]

Thank you for your information! Unfortunately I'm an international and cannot visit the campus.

 

It's because they are new that they recently have recruited senior professors to get competitive. The professor I contacted is one of them.

I know they recruit senior professors. Actually, I am from dept of statistics. I would say dept of statistics is good. But dept of biostatistics is just so so. A program's reputation can't be established in a short time. I strongly suggest Emory

[letsdothis2015]

Thank you for the valuable information! By the way, are you familiar with the place where Univ of FL locates? Will it be boring to stay there for five years?

Gainsville is a college town - there isn't much to do outside of the UF environment.  I would be bored out of my mind, but that is just me  There is so much culture and fun stuff to do in Atlanta! 

[Fighting Irish]

I know they recruit senior professors. Actually, I am from dept of statistics. I would say dept of statistics is good. But dept of biostatistics is just so so. A program's reputation can't be established in a short time. I strongly suggest Emory

Hi I recently heard that the PhD students of biostat just take the same courses as statistics students do. Is this the case? if so I think there will be little difference btw the two programs and thus, isn't the biostat phd as good as stat phd? Or they have other independent resources?