Help...
Ok loyal readers, I need your opinions. I am completely torn between going to graduate school at either NC State or Virginia Tech. Here's what I've got, tell me what you guys think:
NC State:
Large department, lots of variety +
Large department, so less personal attention -
Lots of applied math research w/ opportunities to get on Research grants in the first or second year +
Can go straight into PhD program + & -
But I also need to get some teaching experience, so -
In a city, so lots of stuff going on nearby +
In a city, so it's crowded, there's no parking, it's loud and noisy -
No luck in finding a roommate thus far -
They gave me a TA ($13,000 plus health insurance), plus a fellowship for an additional $2,000, plus lots of opportunities for summer support (teaching, research, etc) +++
Far from Joe and family (provided they don't move to San Diego...) -
Graduate students and faculty very friendly and helpful +
Math building is quite possibly the ugliest building on campus -
But they are getting a new building in the next couple of years +
Claim to have a good bus transit system, but I barely saw any buses running while I was there -
Parking permits cost $250/semester, if you're lucky enough to get one -
Virginia Tech:
Large department, though not quite as large as NC State +
Probably get more personal attention +
Lots of applied math research that looks really interesting, but master's students don't really get involved in that + & -
Everyone starts out in the master's program + & -
They really ease you into teaching +
Town is very small, basically consists of the university -
Town is pretty, relatively quiet, and the university brings in lots of events that otherwise wouldn't come there +
Campus is gorgeous, parking is not a problem at all, and the bus system is amazing ++
No luck in finding a roommate thus far -
But Joe would be there next year +++
But after that year he'll be leaving -
They gave me a TA ($13,000 plus 70% of health insurance) +
Some summer support available, but not for the whole summer and not guaranteed -
Closer to home (if that stays in MD) than NC State +
Graduate students and faculty very friendly and helpful +
Hmmm...am I forgetting anything? Let's add up to totals here:
NC State: 0
Virginia Tech: 8 +
So right now it looks like Virginia Tech is winning, but I still don't know. They seem so equal in my mind right now. I'm also toying with the idea of getting my master's at Virginia Tech and then going elsewhere for my PhD, maybe NC State. I wasn't really planning on that before, I was thinking I'd just go straight for the PhD. But the difference is basically just one year, if that. So I guess that doesn't really matter. Ok you guys, help me out here!
NC State:
Large department, lots of variety +
Large department, so less personal attention -
Lots of applied math research w/ opportunities to get on Research grants in the first or second year +
Can go straight into PhD program + & -
But I also need to get some teaching experience, so -
In a city, so lots of stuff going on nearby +
In a city, so it's crowded, there's no parking, it's loud and noisy -
No luck in finding a roommate thus far -
They gave me a TA ($13,000 plus health insurance), plus a fellowship for an additional $2,000, plus lots of opportunities for summer support (teaching, research, etc) +++
Far from Joe and family (provided they don't move to San Diego...) -
Graduate students and faculty very friendly and helpful +
Math building is quite possibly the ugliest building on campus -
But they are getting a new building in the next couple of years +
Claim to have a good bus transit system, but I barely saw any buses running while I was there -
Parking permits cost $250/semester, if you're lucky enough to get one -
Virginia Tech:
Large department, though not quite as large as NC State +
Probably get more personal attention +
Lots of applied math research that looks really interesting, but master's students don't really get involved in that + & -
Everyone starts out in the master's program + & -
They really ease you into teaching +
Town is very small, basically consists of the university -
Town is pretty, relatively quiet, and the university brings in lots of events that otherwise wouldn't come there +
Campus is gorgeous, parking is not a problem at all, and the bus system is amazing ++
No luck in finding a roommate thus far -
But Joe would be there next year +++
But after that year he'll be leaving -
They gave me a TA ($13,000 plus 70% of health insurance) +
Some summer support available, but not for the whole summer and not guaranteed -
Closer to home (if that stays in MD) than NC State +
Graduate students and faculty very friendly and helpful +
Hmmm...am I forgetting anything? Let's add up to totals here:
NC State: 0
Virginia Tech: 8 +
So right now it looks like Virginia Tech is winning, but I still don't know. They seem so equal in my mind right now. I'm also toying with the idea of getting my master's at Virginia Tech and then going elsewhere for my PhD, maybe NC State. I wasn't really planning on that before, I was thinking I'd just go straight for the PhD. But the difference is basically just one year, if that. So I guess that doesn't really matter. Ok you guys, help me out here!