Caltech vs Stanford vs UCB for PhD in Systems

[Dawnbreaker]

Hello guys,

 

It turns out that I have got into all my dream programs except MIT (their loss!). This is absolutely wonderful, since I never expected to have this scenario when I filled out the apps (I would have happily taken any one of these offers). I have narrowed down my choices to the following: Stanford, Caltech, UCB. My situation is a bit peculiar, so I'll try to put down relevant points here.

 

I am a very non-traditional applicant (Bachelors in Chemical Engg, but focus on advanced process control and signal processing) who wanted to branch out into cyber-physical systems and the theoretical side of statistical signal processing (as opposed to applications). I want to work in academia after PhD. My thoughts on the program (in the order in which I got the acceptances):

 

Stanford

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Gave me an offer comparatively early. I applied for MS (huge mistake!) but was able to find a professor kind enough to take me as an RA.

 

The problem is the MS is non-thesis, and I have to pass an insanely difficult quals and take an insane number of courses (course requirements last well into the 3rd year for the ICME PhD program) in addition to doing good research work (I can't let this kind prof down).

 

Pros: excellent campus, brand value, and quality of life.

Cons: MS offer, no "guaranteed funding" though I am almost certain of being funded. I really hit it off with a prof at Stanford, so will be very hard to let him know won't be coming 

 

Caltech

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Was initially put on the wait-list and was accepted off the waitlist. This program is insanely difficult to get into (class size is 4, # applicants is 400+), so I wouldn't count it against them for waitlisting a non-traditional applicant. 

 

Pros: Very diverse group - Control, CS, Math are in one department. So I can pretty much work and take courses on whatever I want. Got Fellowship, and I have heard Caltech is pretty liberal with funding. Great track record for academic placements (which is what I want to do). Spoke to two professors, both of whom seemed cool to work with.

 

Another thing I have in mind, but not sure if it is possible, is to also get involved with the EE and applied math department in UCLA. They seem to have some giants working in signal processing and allied areas like compressed sensing. Would be nice if I can spend a couple of quarters in their lab.

 

Cons: Same as the pros, extremely small program. Might be hard to find good friends. Brand value may be slightly lesser than Stanford or UCB (is this true?). Some guys have told me that Caltech is in general a very depressing place and has poor social life. But oddly enough, it comes from students who either didn't get into, or didn't apply to Caltech. 

 

UC Berkeley

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Again was placed in the waitlist, and got off it in the last moment.

 

Pros: Brand value, have lots of friends who are going there (but in EECS as opposed to ME).

 

Cons: I applied to the ME department, which in hindsight might not have been the best option. My interests are not directly the focus of the program, but I can get to work with some profs who have joint appointment with EECS. Have to do other ME courses about which I have absolutely no clue, so passing quals will be very challenging! Currently on fellowship, but finding an appropriate PhD adviser acceptable to ME department might be difficult.

 

 

I am almost set on Caltech, but would be great if someone else can give me a perspective too. I have not visited either of the schools since I got the offers pretty late, and its too late now anyways! The only negative I find with Caltech is some people describe it as a depressing and boring place - if this were not true, I will have absolutely no regrets about choosing Caltech. Otherwise, I may have to rethink. Thanks in advance.

Edited April 11, 2015 by cheme_pse

[doomination]

with this info in mind, it seems like caltech might be the best option for you. At least in chemE, they have the best academic placement of any school, and it's vastly the best when you normalize for the size of the school.

 

Best of luck!

[eeee1923]

Caltech all the way. I mean who the heck says its a depressing and boring place?