PhD in ECE, University Selection

[mt32]

Hello all,

Until now, I have been accepted to 4 universities to pursue a PhD degree in electrical and computer engineering, and at this point I am a bit confused. These schools are:

1. USC (Computer Engineering), in contact with professors in computer architecture.

There are professors showing considerable interest in working with me.

Location-wise: very enjoyable weather, close to very good places for travelling and close to industry but I heard that the neighborhood is not very nice. 

2+2 year guaranteed fellowship: I have the first two years to decide which professor that I want to work with, and for the other two I think the school pays still but I should have an advisor. 

2. CMU (ECE), in contact with professors in comp arch and wireless networking

Similarly, a few professors have shown their interest in working with me, sent emails. But their topics do not intrigue me as much as the others do.

The weather is not very nice, and I did not like my travel options very much. However, the city looks good.

I am with fellowship but it seems I need to find an advisor in the first few months of arrival.

- EPFL (EDIC), in contact with professors in comp arch

Just exchanged a few emails with professors but nothing in detail. Will attend Open House in two weeks.

Its location-wise plus is that it is close to home but I'd really rather study in US.

I have one year to find an advisor, and almost none of them seems to have a problem funding students.

- UT at Austin, accepted to the computer arch track

Just a quick interview and an acceptance followed like a month ago. Not much contact since, but I am planning on getting more information from current students and professors.

I definitely rather hot weather than cold. They say that it is also close to many tech companies. And Austin looks like a great city to be a student in.

I am told that I have a 4 year fellowship but I need to find an advisor in one year. 

 

My primary interest was in computer architecture, and I had mentioned in my SOP that I might also do some things in networking. Research and that I like what I do are the most important aspects but I also give a lot of importance to the location and amount of financial support. Luckily, all of them seems ok regarding financial concerns. 

I am now closest to choosing UT at Austin, but I might as well choose CMU or maybe others. I cannot be sure which one would be better, or if there is even a great gap between them. Which one do you think is best in comp arch field? Or more generally, what would you do if you were in my shoes?

 

Your comments are all appreciated greatly. Thanks all in advance,

[iloveOM]

1 hour ago, mt32 said:

Hello all,

Until now, I have been accepted to 4 universities to pursue a PhD degree in electrical and computer engineering, and at this point I am a bit confused. These schools are:

1. USC (Computer Engineering), in contact with professors in computer architecture.

There are professors showing considerable interest in working with me.

Location-wise: very enjoyable weather, close to very good places for travelling and close to industry but I heard that the neighborhood is not very nice. 

2+2 year guaranteed fellowship: I have the first two years to decide which professor that I want to work with, and for the other two I think the school pays still but I should have an advisor. 

2. CMU (ECE), in contact with professors in comp arch and wireless networking

Similarly, a few professors have shown their interest in working with me, sent emails. But their topics do not intrigue me as much as the others do.

The weather is not very nice, and I did not like my travel options very much. However, the city looks good.

I am with fellowship but it seems I need to find an advisor in the first few months of arrival.

- EPFL (EDIC), in contact with professors in comp arch

Just exchanged a few emails with professors but nothing in detail. Will attend Open House in two weeks.

Its location-wise plus is that it is close to home but I'd really rather study in US.

I have one year to find an advisor, and almost none of them seems to have a problem funding students.

- UT at Austin, accepted to the computer arch track

Just a quick interview and an acceptance followed like a month ago. Not much contact since, but I am planning on getting more information from current students and professors.

I definitely rather hot weather than cold. They say that it is also close to many tech companies. And Austin looks like a great city to be a student in.

I am told that I have a 4 year fellowship but I need to find an advisor in one year. 

 

My primary interest was in computer architecture, and I had mentioned in my SOP that I might also do some things in networking. Research and that I like what I do are the most important aspects but I also give a lot of importance to the location and amount of financial support. Luckily, all of them seems ok regarding financial concerns. 

I am now closest to choosing UT at Austin, but I might as well choose CMU or maybe others. I cannot be sure which one would be better, or if there is even a great gap between them. Which one do you think is best in comp arch field? Or more generally, what would you do if you were in my shoes?

 

Your comments are all appreciated greatly. Thanks all in advance,

Well I am outside of Computer science field, so my opinion my not be that correct. But if I were you?

-Cross out EPFL as you want to study in US.

- I visit USC before. While the school is good, the structure is...well you know. And the neighborhood is really unsafe (to me), with some area even without light and dog barking everywhere.

So the choice for you is CMU vs UT austin. They are both top schools. Good luck!

[blacknighterrant]

7 hours ago, mt32 said:

Hello all,

Until now, I have been accepted to 4 universities to pursue a PhD degree in electrical and computer engineering, and at this point I am a bit confused. These schools are:

1. USC (Computer Engineering), in contact with professors in computer architecture.

There are professors showing considerable interest in working with me.

Location-wise: very enjoyable weather, close to very good places for travelling and close to industry but I heard that the neighborhood is not very nice. 

2+2 year guaranteed fellowship: I have the first two years to decide which professor that I want to work with, and for the other two I think the school pays still but I should have an advisor. 

2. CMU (ECE), in contact with professors in comp arch and wireless networking

Similarly, a few professors have shown their interest in working with me, sent emails. But their topics do not intrigue me as much as the others do.

The weather is not very nice, and I did not like my travel options very much. However, the city looks good.

I am with fellowship but it seems I need to find an advisor in the first few months of arrival.

- EPFL (EDIC), in contact with professors in comp arch

Just exchanged a few emails with professors but nothing in detail. Will attend Open House in two weeks.

Its location-wise plus is that it is close to home but I'd really rather study in US.

I have one year to find an advisor, and almost none of them seems to have a problem funding students.

- UT at Austin, accepted to the computer arch track

Just a quick interview and an acceptance followed like a month ago. Not much contact since, but I am planning on getting more information from current students and professors.

I definitely rather hot weather than cold. They say that it is also close to many tech companies. And Austin looks like a great city to be a student in.

I am told that I have a 4 year fellowship but I need to find an advisor in one year. 

 

My primary interest was in computer architecture, and I had mentioned in my SOP that I might also do some things in networking. Research and that I like what I do are the most important aspects but I also give a lot of importance to the location and amount of financial support. Luckily, all of them seems ok regarding financial concerns. 

I am now closest to choosing UT at Austin, but I might as well choose CMU or maybe others. I cannot be sure which one would be better, or if there is even a great gap between them. Which one do you think is best in comp arch field? Or more generally, what would you do if you were in my shoes?

 

Your comments are all appreciated greatly. Thanks all in advance,

They are all good. The thing about USC area being dangerous is overstated, it is no better or worse than any other city, if you live in a decent area and don't stupidly wander alleys at 3 am nothing will happen to you. That said USC is probably the worst of the schools at computer engineering (Do not look at closeness as a factor, USC is still very far from Sillicon Valley. That said all the schools and programs are top tier, although if you want to get super picky, CMU is slightly more prestigious than the others at CE. It would be best to choose based on research interests and potential advisors, remember guaranteed funding >>> partially guaranteed funding.

[mt32]

Thank you @iloveOM and @blacknighterrant for you responses.

I am now mostly between CMU and UT Austin. I am closer to UT Austin but I do not wish to just jump onto the offer and accept it. I want to get the best opportunities that I could get in the future, especially in the computer architecture field. 

Generally, CMU seems better for CE even though there is no great difference between them and UT Austin. However, my findings for specifically the computer architecture field suggests that Austin is more successful. I was wondering if that's true. I guess neither of these two would be a bad choice but still...

These days, my choice fluctuates (goes from definitely Austin to maybe others and vice versa) and I think I need to clear even the tiniest question in my head before coming to a firm decision.

Thank you again for all your comments!