Deciding on PhD program in applied math

[ozborne]

I am trying to decide which of these offers to go with. I am interested in applied math, especially the areas of applied probability theory and optimization. I have offers from the following schools:

• University of Colorado Boulder (PhD in Department of Applied Mathematics). Funding: TAship + $3,000 during first year
• University of Colorado Denver (PhD in Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences). Funding: TAship + $3,000 during first year
• North Carolina State University (PhD in Department of Mathematics; I would do the applied math track). Funding: TAship
• University of California Santa Cruz (PhD in Department of Applied Mathematics & Statistics). Funding: RAship
• University of California Merced (PhD in Department of Applied Mathematics). Funding: TAship

I have visited all schools except CU Denver and NC State, both of which I hopefully will visit next week. Right now, I'm leaning towards either CU Boulder or NC State. Here are some pros and cons with each program that come to mind:

CU Boulder, pros:

• Two faculty members doing applied probability, plus a couple of statisticians. One faculty member doing things in continuous optimization which seems in line with my interests. I was also told they have a third faculty member joining this fall who is focusing on areas in applied probability theory I'm interested in.
• It's a department dedicated to applied math.
• I like the structure of the program: You can spread out doing the qualifying exams over the first two years; it seems like I could start doing research pretty much right away.

CU Boulder, cons:

• The biggest potential con in my head is not related to the program, but the city of Boulder. It felt very small and isolated when I visited. I have previously lived in London and Seattle, and I'm worried I will feel "trapped" here.

NC State, pros:

• They seem to have quite a few people working both in probability theory and optimization.
• The research triangle area sounds pretty awesome.
• Housing in Raleigh seems quite cheap.

NC State, cons:

• Applied math is a track within the math department rather than its own department.

I'm very happy to hear any and all thoughts and advice on my situation. Even though I'm leaning towards CU Boulder or NC State, please feel free to also comment on the other programs I've been admitted into.

Many thanks in advance for helping me with this important and difficult decision! 

[jaymeowmeow]

How are the TAship amounts comparatively? You don't have to give exact amounts if you don't want to. I also got an offer from Santa Cruz and Denver, but won't be going now that I know I prefer a straight-up statistics program. I thought CU Denver's TAship amount was pretty nice, but the program seems a bit small for me. Also, since I want to do stats and there are only two profs there who do stats, I would feel limited. I also applied to Boulder, but haven't gotten a decision yet so I must be waitlisted/rejected. 

I think it sounds like CU Boulder sort of wins in terms of the program (based on the pros you listed). You might be one a a smaller group at NCSU. However, I don't think location should be weighed less than you think. If you aren't happy where you're living, then maybe it's not worth it to go there! I personally love Colorado and the Boulder area is very nice and open with mountains/hills closeby, but it's so expensive!!!! 

I visited NCSU's stats PhD program and just didn't like the campus or Raleigh enough. In addition, the program didn't feel like the best fit for me, so that was ultimately why I ruled it out. Raleigh is a city, but it's not as lively as somewhere like Seattle or even London (never been there). For me, I don't really like big cities, so if I were to live in one, it'd better be a big, lively one with lots of stuff to do like Seattle, Boston, NYC, LA (meh), or San Francisco. 

Those are my two cents! Are either programs more prestigious than the other? I personally thinks rankings are bulllll, but they could be a tipping factor. Good luck! 

[ozborne]

The TA amounts are pretty much identical at around $18k for 9 months, which seems quite standard for TAships. The only major difference is that CU Boulder only covers 85% of health insurance, so that would be an extra cost of around $500 for the most expensive option on offer. Neither TAships cover student fees, which are $1500/year (ugh!) at CU Boulder (not sure what they are at NC State).

Yeah, I definitely agree that CU Denver's program might not be optimal if you want to do stats. CU Boulder's applied math program is similar in that sense, with two statisticians and two applied probabilists, so you maybe would feel the same way about that program.

I've asked some professors in my current department, and all of them seem to indicate to varying degrees that CU Boulder is stronger. CU Boulder does better than NC State on all measures except diversity on the NRC 2010 applied math ranking (http://chronicle.com/article/NRC-Rankings-Overview-Applied/124704/).

Were you at the Santa Cruz visitation days? I was there, so perhaps we met then if you were.

[jaymeowmeow]

No, I didn't attend. Wanted to, but felt overwhelmed with the traveling I was doing and knew that other programs I was admitted to would be a better fit. I bet Santa Cruz is crazy beautiful! Sad to have missed it. 

I think NCSU student fees will be between 1200-1300 from what I remember seeing in their website. Hm, sounds like a tough decision. You seem to hint that on one hand, Boulder is a better program on paper. On the other, you will probably like Raleigh better than Boulder and NCSU has more people working on what you're interested in. Boulder would also be more costly, especially given that they don't fully cover health insurance in addition to the fees. 

I think once you visit Raleigh, you'll know your answer. I think it would be hard to live somewhere for so many years and not like it, so in many ways location/happiness there > rankings. That is sort of up to you  though. If you end up feeling similarly about both cities, then maybe it would make sense to pick Boulder in that case. 

Enjoy your visits!!!

[sciencebob]

One aspect that shouldn't be overlooked: I don't know much about Raleigh, but Boulder is an EXPENSIVE city to live in, even as a cheap grad student!

[ozborne]

Thanks for your replies guys. I ended up accepting CU Boulder's offer. I never went to NCSU since I would have had to pay for the flight myself, and since I don't think I would have picked it over Boulder. Also, I talked a bit more with the folks at Boulder and there's people doing research which seems very interesting, so I think it will be a good fit. I'm excited to get started there this fall.

Thanks again for all replies. I'm glad to be at the other end of the application process.