CMU vs. Michigan PhD Statistics

[ar_rf]

There was a on this that I found very helpful, but I was hoping to get an updated (and conditional on my situation) perspective. 

 

So far, it looks like my top two choices are Michigan and CMU Stat (not CMU's joint stat/ml). My primary interest is machine and statistical learning, though I have a couple other related interests as well. I am not sure whether I would prefer academia or industry, but I would definitely like to keep my options open (i.e. aim for academia).

 

CMU is generally ranked a couple spots above Michigan, and given my interests you'd think that it would be a clear choice. Indeed, when talking to various professors they usually seem to assume that I will be going to CMU.

 

Would it be crazy to consider Michigan over CMU though? It seems to me that it might be just as good of a place to do ML and related work as CMU, especially if I am not in the Joint Stat/ML program. Even without access to ML and CS faculty, CMU Stats obviously has some great people working in that area. But to me it seems that Michigan has even more very good people working in that area. They also seem to be in a great place in the demographic cycle, with a ton of just pre- or just post-tenure faculty who are very productive and active.

 

For me, the location also isn't a huge factor. I would love to hear anyone else's thoughts.

[statisticsfall2014]

Hey, I wrote a "sales pitch" based on my first year at CMU thus far: 

http://statisticalsignal.com/?p=258

 

I think if you're specifically interested in in machine learning, CMU gives you lots of options. We take two ML classes the first year, including "Statistical Machine Learning" http://www.stat.cmu.edu/~larry/=sml/which I think is quite unique. Lot's of our faculty are joint, and there's lots of opportunity to work with whoever you want here, everyone I've e-mailed is very friendly and open to communication/collaboration. (at least 3 of us work with ML professors, and there's a statistical machine learning reading group that is great: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~aarti/SMLRG/)  

 

I can't say anything about Michigan since I don't know too much about it, but I'm sure it's a great experience as well. Either way, you have two great options. I would give a good amount of weights to the visits, and see which department you feel more comfortable, the people there, etc...