A thread on how to choose MS/Ph.D. programs if you have multiple offers (from International Students' perspective, @Omviser1 )
Disclaimer: These are my personal thoughts and do not represent any organizations that I'm associated with.
#gradschool @AcademicsSay #phdstudent
Disclaimer: These are my personal thoughts and do not represent any organizations that I'm associated with.
#gradschool @AcademicsSay #phdstudent
Before I jump in, some background:
When I chose Penn State over my other acceptances (UIUC, Purdue, UC Santa Barbara etc.), my friends and family were surprised to hear that I gave up a top 5 school to attend a top 15/20 in my area.
Sharing my decisioning criteria below 👇
When I chose Penn State over my other acceptances (UIUC, Purdue, UC Santa Barbara etc.), my friends and family were surprised to hear that I gave up a top 5 school to attend a top 15/20 in my area.
Sharing my decisioning criteria below 👇
While funding wasn't an issue to me at all, I encourage everyone to think from a ROI perspective at MS or Ph.D. levels.
I read somewhere that an acceptance without proper funding is essentially a polite decline. $$ matters.
#Funding #PhDposition #Scholarships
I read somewhere that an acceptance without proper funding is essentially a polite decline. $$ matters.
#Funding #PhDposition #Scholarships
Matt Damon says this:
“You wasted $150,000 on an education you coulda got for $1.50 in late fees at the public library.” - Good Will Hunting
You reckon?
“You wasted $150,000 on an education you coulda got for $1.50 in late fees at the public library.” - Good Will Hunting
You reckon?
💡Trick Tip: If you are able to receive a TA or a GA opportunity at a public institution you may qualify for free tuition/health insurance & stipend even as a Master's candidate. This may not be the case with private schools.
#PublicSchools #tuition #ROI #healthinsurance
#PublicSchools #tuition #ROI #healthinsurance
Ivies are great but they aren't the only best places for graduate level research.
As an example, each year Big 10 schools engage in over $10 billion in funded research which is far greater than $4.5 - $6 billion of all Ivies combined.
@BigTenNetwork
As an example, each year Big 10 schools engage in over $10 billion in funded research which is far greater than $4.5 - $6 billion of all Ivies combined.
@BigTenNetwork
Don’t believe me? Search @NSF, @NIH, @DeptofDefense @USDA etc. and their annual report on how much money is being spent on research at each and every school in the country. #research #researchers
Example, ncsesdata.nsf.gov/profiles/site?…
Example, ncsesdata.nsf.gov/profiles/site?…
Do not confuse adviser's reputation to yours
There's a misconception that a big name adviser can get you to "places". While that's partially true you should also think about how many Ph.D.s/Postdocs have actually achieved their dreams SOLELY through adviser's help? Probably None
There's a misconception that a big name adviser can get you to "places". While that's partially true you should also think about how many Ph.D.s/Postdocs have actually achieved their dreams SOLELY through adviser's help? Probably None
Overfitting your decision
"My labmate/postdoc got into X & Y, So I might as well"
Confusing the best outcome from your prospective lab with your anticipated future outcome might disappoint you. Rather, look at career profile of average graduates post-graduation. Conservative?
"My labmate/postdoc got into X & Y, So I might as well"
Confusing the best outcome from your prospective lab with your anticipated future outcome might disappoint you. Rather, look at career profile of average graduates post-graduation. Conservative?
Why I say so?
In simple words,
(1) someone out there is probably smarter than you ?
(2) if you'd graduate from Harvard, someone out there is a Rockstar at Stanford, MIT, Caltech, Princeton ?
(3) competition is real ?
In simple words,
(1) someone out there is probably smarter than you ?
(2) if you'd graduate from Harvard, someone out there is a Rockstar at Stanford, MIT, Caltech, Princeton ?
(3) competition is real ?
a humble adviser is far better than an arrogant big-name adviser
Strike a good balance between a hands-off PI and a micro managing PI. Go for someone who cares about you as a human, someone who will back you up.
A good thread here -
Strike a good balance between a hands-off PI and a micro managing PI. Go for someone who cares about you as a human, someone who will back you up.
A good thread here -
https://twitter.com/kathleen_beeson/status/1487455139078279170?s=20&t=R_YvhfirMFbNIWG2_XFD4A
Research Fit
You know this already. .
Definitely, a super important factor to consider but no need to make a big issue out of this as well. Why?
Continue to read below.
You know this already. .
Definitely, a super important factor to consider but no need to make a big issue out of this as well. Why?
Continue to read below.
You will probably change research, change advisers, change departments etc. This is common in grad school.
Going to a school that offers a large selection of advisers and resources just in case you have to make shuffles is a good thing to do. Plan for contingencies.
Going to a school that offers a large selection of advisers and resources just in case you have to make shuffles is a good thing to do. Plan for contingencies.
R1 vs R2 / NSF /NIH / DoA Funding, Nature Index etc.
Educate yourself on these:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_r…
ncsesdata.nsf.gov/profiles/site?…
🚩 R1 --> Higher funding --> aggressive research--> more productivity --> more grants and assistantships for you.
Educate yourself on these:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_r…
ncsesdata.nsf.gov/profiles/site?…
🚩 R1 --> Higher funding --> aggressive research--> more productivity --> more grants and assistantships for you.
Okay, ranking is important but no need to go crazy about it. Instead, look at brackets if you really have to. Example, Top 10, Top 10-30, Top 30-50.
Read "The Trouble with College Rankings"
newyorker.com/magazine/2011/…
❌say NO to #USNews to gauge Ph.D. programs
Read "The Trouble with College Rankings"
newyorker.com/magazine/2011/…
❌say NO to #USNews to gauge Ph.D. programs
🗺️Location
I underestimated this and I regretted a bit during my Ph.D. These are as important as your research topic. You do not want 5-6 years of your life to be miserable.
Weather
Proximity to friends/families
Cost of Living
Crime and Safety
Example, niche.com/places-to-live…
I underestimated this and I regretted a bit during my Ph.D. These are as important as your research topic. You do not want 5-6 years of your life to be miserable.
Weather
Proximity to friends/families
Cost of Living
Crime and Safety
Example, niche.com/places-to-live…
Too early to talk about this but if you are leaning into industry career, going to a school in a state with highest concentration of companies relevant to your field makes sense (example, Boston/SF for Life Science, SF/Seattle/Boston/Austin for Tech, DC/NY for Econ). Plan ahead.
"Even if you get a Ph.D. from one of the elite universities in the world and your supervisor is the most famous researcher in the field, it is very difficult to secure a non-academic job if you have no professional experience." - Postgrad
Source - postgrad.com/advice/phd/com…
Source - postgrad.com/advice/phd/com…
Academic careers -> locations don't factor in as much. Quality (not the quantity) of your research work speaks.
"ONLY 0.45% of all #PhDs will ever become a professor". It's that competitive to become a Ph.D. faculty.🤔
"ONLY 0.45% of all #PhDs will ever become a professor". It's that competitive to become a Ph.D. faculty.🤔
https://twitter.com/cheekyscience/status/1039891621993635841
Public Perceptions / Brand value
Keeping in mind that only about 2-3% of the world's population,1-2% of US population has Ph.Ds., you will likely run over to someone evaluating graduate programs based on their knowledge of the undergraduate or MBA programs. Ignore them at all.
Keeping in mind that only about 2-3% of the world's population,1-2% of US population has Ph.Ds., you will likely run over to someone evaluating graduate programs based on their knowledge of the undergraduate or MBA programs. Ignore them at all.
Having said that, you cannot ignore that public perception matters, and it does influence your career outcome. To balance this, I looked at alumni network and university brand as a factor. @penn_state scored very high for me in this category.
It is not uncommon for the outsiders (without Ph.Ds.) to claim that Ph.D. is boring & you really don't need one. But working 9 am to 6 pm and taking night calls aren't really an exciting thing to do either? Listen to those who have walked both Ph.D. and industry paths. Cut noise.
Here is the final list for you. Make your own decision. This is only the guiding framework. Follow @BikalpaN for future threads. 
I know this may not be the right time to tweet things that might ruin your Ph.D. excitements. My intention is to help you step into a decision with your eyes open. Stay realistic, don't rationalize and plan in advance.
#graduateschool #phdchat
#graduateschool #phdchat
Finally, if you are still interviewing here is my other tweet:
Follow me @BikalpaN and @Omviser1 for threads about graduate school, career as well as data science, NLP and HCI.
https://twitter.com/BikalpaN/status/1485367702604627973?s=20&t=5V8lzsOGCHzy-yypOtXfMA
Follow me @BikalpaN and @Omviser1 for threads about graduate school, career as well as data science, NLP and HCI.
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