[sophix]

Originally Posted by representative_agent

I doubt that!!! A school that has no money for books but spends a lot of money on advertising definitely goes into the wrong direction. It shows that the department cares more about future students than about their current students. The only way to build up a reputation is to provide the best possible training and to provide a good infrastructure. The BGSE took over the old UPF MSc program and its reputation, and the administration is doing its best to ruin this reputation. After one year at BGSE I still don't know whether they saw us as students or as a cash cows.
This is very sad since the teachers are excellent and very accesible. They are much more motivated to push you forward than at the schools I've seen before.

I had pointed out the incapability of facilities as well. Particularly, I was very disappointed when most of the books that I am interested in turned out to be available only in Spanish or Catalan. I have nothing to say against the availability in these two languages, but an apparently international school, which claims to aim fostering research at advanced level, cannot afford not to have copies in English.

It is true that, to my knowledge, UPF is a distinctively well-funded school. Maybe they just do not know how to allocate their resources efficiently. E.g., I was very impressed when I saw the brand-new Macintosh computers provided at BGSE office, but it was at the same time meaningless to spend such huge amounts for equipments that you could use to take care of simple tasks. But, as you pointed out, maybe they just want to show off. The ground that I am using to convince myself is that they can convince some prospective students with this magical tricks, however, I do not think same tricks would work in the case of professors. More and more brilliant professors have been coming to BGSE, and I think they would come if they are promised to be provided the adequate infrastructure for a proper teaching & research exercise. Maybe I am simply too naive.

Besides I do not know much about the possible political motives (if any) that could influence the transition. (from UPF to BGSE) From what I observed, BGSE is not popular among undergraduate students because it is a private organization. They object to the integration of such private structures into UPF. Well, this issue itself needs special discussion, so I am not gonna bother myself or you by trying to dig something. However, my point is that it is too early to make conclusive judgments about BGSE given that it is living throught this transition. So do I say that it is not a good time to have a 1-year education at UPF - BGSE ? Well, not exactly, but what I say is that one considering UPF - BGSE among her options should be well aware of what she expects (e.g., getting in touch with a particular professor). This is valid for any decision maker, however, in this case I feel that I should emphasize it more given the prospects that UPF - BGSE is likely to offer.

Originally Posted by representative_agent

Admissions decisions were not based on results at UPF. And it is almost impossible to get a letter in the first year, because application deadlines are in December while results from the first term are posted in January. However, the reputation of the UPF MSc definitely helped (let's hope it stays that way).

I do agree - except that I think it would not be true to say that results at UPF (or BGSE if you'd prefer) have not played any role. What is essential about UPF / BGSE is the excellent professors. Program itself might not have made a contribution in the admissions decisions, however, I believe some students took good advantage of such excellent professors.

Yet, concerning the very early application deadlines, I acknowledge the difficulty and limited possibility to get a letter. As you might know, many of the students accepted to this programme have already very good backgrounds such that they hold degrees with honors from respectable universities. Having said this, even though the contribution of UPF /BGSE at the admissions decisions may be arguable, I think these students knowingly chose this programme so that they can get in touch with some particular professors. Some students prefer to stay for the second year simply to get the opportunity to work with one of those professors. And others did their best to create these opportunties throughout the academic year while running against the early application deadlines.

Originally Posted by representative_agent

Sophix, why don't you mention the PhD admissions procedure at UPF? I think that the way things are handled at UPF is a true scandal. They constantly keep changing the rules, cannot stick to their announcements, and have a lousy information policy and no accountability. In short: I've never seen a school treating their students so disrespectfully.

I did not mention the PhD admissions procedure at UPF simply because I do not have any clue. I do not want to make an offensive argument regarding Spanish (or rather Mediterrean cultures) culture but lousy information policy is likely to have something to do with the culture itself. I know that it cannot be an excuse but, on the other hand, I cannot really say that I have been fully surprised when confronted with what you describe as lousy information policy.

ps. Sorry for the late reply. I just noticed the replies.