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flounder · 04-12-2004, 05:02 AM

Hi

I have been really preoccupied with my job lately. Work is hard for a junior SAP consultant. Sob sob hehe. Thanks everyone for your useful advice.

I am sticking with UIUC's offer of Ph.D. Thanks once again for making it clear for me.

Regards,
Ali

vishwa · 04-12-2004, 03:46 PM

Ali - I would go with UIUC. There is nothing like having financial support. Remember that Stanford is located in perhaps the most expensive part of the bay area. I live in Palo Alto within two miles of Stanford and know a thing or two about living expenses there. So, unless you can comfortably afford living and tuition, which will not reduce with time at Stanford unlike public universities, it is a hard sell for me, considering UIUC has already offered support for Ph.D. Also, UIUC is very reputed, which makes it by no means a compromise to choose UIUC over Stanford. You can always transfer or even attempt MIT after joining UIUC and working there for a couple of years and completing their requirements for a Masters.

Don't even think about accepting two places. Universities do have a database and such practices of accepting multiple offers could jeopardize your plans to study. If you are that particular about Stanford, then ask them for a deferal without accepting their offer for fall admission. I wouldn't jeopardize an offer of admission for a Ph.D. with support for a Masters without support at Stanford. There is really no comparison. I hope this helps.

If you are still undecided and money is not an issue, then take a look at faculty in your area of interest and decide. But remember that faculty prefer to work with their Ph.D. candidates. So, unless you attract their attention by stellar performance in their courses (A+ in grad level courses through extra earned credit), Stanford faculty will not be willing to give you face time.

ritendra · 04-13-2004, 07:13 PM

Hey ...

go for UIUC ... the quality of UIUC CS PhD is amazing ... very little difference from Stanford for CS PhD atleast ... don't mess up both offers by trying anything risky/tricky ... If PhD is your final aim then you end up saving a year by going into Direct Phd ... infact I don't see where your confusion is coming ... I know a 4-5 people who have MS CS offers from Stanford, but very very few PhD CS UIUC, they don't compare .. seriously.... MS from Stanford one of my batchmates got too this year ... but I just wish I had a PhD CS from UIUC .. it's a great offer ... ofcourse if it was a PhD from Stanford then the comparison would come up, but here there isn't any... so don't mess up .. nothing will go wrong ... the little "risk" and "back-up" you are talking about 99% of us are also gonna be in the same boat after this 15th April when we reject our other aid offers and commit on one.... so practically no extra risk...

thaiva · 04-13-2004, 07:27 PM

I'd also say go with UIUC. There's no doubt that is the better option.

Regards..

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04-12-2004, 05:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
flounder Within my grasp! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: IL, USA Posts: 162	Hi I have been really preoccupied with my job lately. Work is hard for a junior SAP consultant. Sob sob hehe. Thanks everyone for your useful advice. I am sticking with UIUC's offer of Ph.D. Thanks once again for making it clear for me. Regards, Ali

04-12-2004, 03:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
vishwa Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: USA Posts: 27	Ali - I would go with UIUC. There is nothing like having financial support. Remember that Stanford is located in perhaps the most expensive part of the bay area. I live in Palo Alto within two miles of Stanford and know a thing or two about living expenses there. So, unless you can comfortably afford living and tuition, which will not reduce with time at Stanford unlike public universities, it is a hard sell for me, considering UIUC has already offered support for Ph.D. Also, UIUC is very reputed, which makes it by no means a compromise to choose UIUC over Stanford. You can always transfer or even attempt MIT after joining UIUC and working there for a couple of years and completing their requirements for a Masters. Don't even think about accepting two places. Universities do have a database and such practices of accepting multiple offers could jeopardize your plans to study. If you are that particular about Stanford, then ask them for a deferal without accepting their offer for fall admission. I wouldn't jeopardize an offer of admission for a Ph.D. with support for a Masters without support at Stanford. There is really no comparison. I hope this helps. If you are still undecided and money is not an issue, then take a look at faculty in your area of interest and decide. But remember that faculty prefer to work with their Ph.D. candidates. So, unless you attract their attention by stellar performance in their courses (A+ in grad level courses through extra earned credit), Stanford faculty will not be willing to give you face time.

04-13-2004, 07:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
ritendra Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: India Posts: 15	Hey ... go for UIUC ... the quality of UIUC CS PhD is amazing ... very little difference from Stanford for CS PhD atleast ... don't mess up both offers by trying anything risky/tricky ... If PhD is your final aim then you end up saving a year by going into Direct Phd ... infact I don't see where your confusion is coming ... I know a 4-5 people who have MS CS offers from Stanford, but very very few PhD CS UIUC, they don't compare .. seriously.... MS from Stanford one of my batchmates got too this year ... but I just wish I had a PhD CS from UIUC .. it's a great offer ... ofcourse if it was a PhD from Stanford then the comparison would come up, but here there isn't any... so don't mess up .. nothing will go wrong ... the little "risk" and "back-up" you are talking about 99% of us are also gonna be in the same boat after this 15th April when we reject our other aid offers and commit on one.... so practically no extra risk...

04-13-2004, 07:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
thaiva TM Guru-in-Training Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New Zealand Posts: 761	I'd also say go with UIUC. There's no doubt that is the better option. Regards..

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